What is this? Boa Issue

I purchased this boa about 3 weeks ago. He ate fine twice but the reguged this time about 2 days after eating. Then last night I noticed he was moving strangely. Tonight upon closer examination he appeared to be constipated. I soaked him in warm water and gave him a gentle massage. That apparently work because he was able to defecate. While he seems to be more active now, i am still concerned. I plan to go to the vet next week but I was curious what you guys thought. Have you have seem anything like this before?

Temps are 80 ambient and 90 in the hot spot. 21qt tub with aspen shavings. I do use no pest strips in the enclosures but pulled it out last night after reading about potential poisoning from them and neurological symptoms. Only snake showing these or any other health symptoms.

Here is a video. Oh I turned the snake on its back so you could see the movements.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/9478503/boa1/

Whoa...that is strange! His neck looks a little off...and I don't mean the movement. I mean his actual "neck". But the movement is very odd! I've never seen that before. Definitely take him to the vet.

As for the constipation...my BCI used to get that when she was younger. I cut her feeding schedule back to 10 days to give her a little more time to work it through her system. She's been fine ever since.

His neck looks very stiff in one spot. Did he have a fall recently where he might have done some damage to that spot, or did you notice anything "off" in that area when you purchased him?

Definitely x3 about getting the vet to check out that neck kink, or whatever it might be. The only kind of snake that I've ever seen move like this are Sidewinders (which he's obviously not one). It's like he tries to move, but can't coordinate his body. My first thought is a neurological problem, either from a birth defect or from an injury.

Hope you get good news from the vet. :please:

The thing that concerns me is this happened right after he regurged a meal. He was fine previously. As far as I aware, there wasn't a way for him to injure himself unless its possible he strained his neck with the regurge? I didn't handle or mess with him after he ate of course so there is a chance he did it eating as well. The meal was frozen thawed.

That neck doesn't look right. I would get to the vet.

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The fact that he's taking so long to right himself is a key sign of a neurological issue. A healthy boa will fight being put on his back in the first place and will immediately twist upright. I am thinking that is what caused the regurge and not the other way around. Regurgitating is often the first sign of a neurological problem. Could he have possibly overheated?? He can move his neck just fine - in the first scene of your vid, you can see the s-coil from his head down his body when you moved him. And later his neck is kinked from the opposite side. It is "kinked" because he's not right in the head, not because of a physical injury. I am sorry, but that's what I see. The good news is that if he developed some neurologial issues due to overheating, and because he's so young, some of these symptoms may go away with time and care. Only a qualified herp vet can tell you for sure.

I would immediately quarantine if you haven't already. Lower his temps a bit - like an 86ish hotspot for now with 78ish ambient. Get him to a vet asap. Don't try to feed again until he's seen a vet. And keep us posted please. Wishing you luck.......

Today he shed completely. I too was suspecting heat so I turned off the heat. He is at ambient temps between 78-85.

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Originally Posted by reptilelover123

Today he shed completely. I too was suspecting heat so I turned off the heat. He is at ambient temps between 78-85.

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Good. Let us know what the vet says.

Neurological, either from overheating or no pest strips. Removed both last week. He actually seems to be moving better. I'll continue to update progress.

He was able to constrict a pinkie mouse and eat it all by himself! Now to see if it stays down.

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Originally Posted by reptilelover123

Neurological, either from overheating or no pest strips. Removed both last week. He actually seems to be moving better. I'll continue to update progress.

He was able to constrict a pinkie mouse and eat it all by himself! Now to see if it stays down.

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Is that what the vet said? Hopefully he continues to do well. That is good news about the mouse! Do NOT feed too often until he's fully on the road to recovery. If he keeps that pinkie down, wait 10 days before feeding again. Feed no more than every 10 days for a couple of months - in fact, you can just feed every 10 days for good as boas do well on slower feeding schedules, even babies. Anyhow, you don't want to over stress his system.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!! :gj: