Normal with a "wobble"?

Probably 3-4 months ago I got a pretty little normal from a pet store. I thought she was beautiful and unique so I picked her up. She was returned to the store a week before I bought her because she wouldn't eat (shes a mouser and they were only offering her rats).

I noticed that she was "different" after the first time she ate for me. When she gets excited its as if she goes blind. Super fast, twitchy, strikes prematurely, wiggles the tip of her tail, shakes her head...I have 5 other ball pythons and 4 other snakes. I have NEVER seen any of them show this behavior!

I have woken up to her doing the corkscrew thing once in her WATER, head flat at the bottom of the water bowl upside down. I freaked out and opened her enclosure. Before I even touched her she went back to normal snake: right side up with the normal snake pose look to her. A week later I found her curled up under her water dish completely upside down. Almost like she didn't know up from down.

What really gets me is she acts normal the rest of the time. You would never guess that she is my "problem child". She eats just fine. Shes shedding fine. But her behavior is frightening honestly. Does this sound like a wobble? My Bumblebee doesn't have a wobble so I don't have anything to compare it to. Or do you think shes sick? I would love to take her out of quarantine. Any insight would be much appreciated thank you!

I would be suspicious that she overheated at some point and suffered some neurological damage as a result. If that is the issue (I can't say for sure that it is) there's not much you can do. She'll either slowly recover to some extent (maybe fully, you never know) or it's permanent. Can you get any video of her doing any of these things? It might help. Best wishes for you both!

I will see what I can do about a video. I have a dinosaur of a computer and uploading may be a pain. The next scheduled feeding is on Friday so lets hope I can get a video up then! If this is caused by overheating it IS possible for a recovery? I don't think in the few months that I've had her I have seen her get better or worse.

It is possible yes, my understanding is that recovery time is 6 months + though, and it can be a partial recovery only. Neurological issues are tricky. It's good that she's eating and shedding ok, but a vet check wouldn't hurt either.

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Originally Posted by RissaEst

I will see what I can do about a video. I have a dinosaur of a computer and uploading may be a pain. The next scheduled feeding is on Friday so lets hope I can get a video up then! If this is caused by overheating it IS possible for a recovery? I don't think in the few months that I've had her I have seen her get better or worse.

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We livein the day and age of smart phones and tablets,don't know if you know that. There are other ways to put videos on the internet with out using a computer and having to upload stuff.

anyway,best of luck with your snake.

If my girl shows signs of degrading a vet visit will be in her future! As for those snazzy smart phones and tablets? I don't see the value in getting them just to upload things a bit easier. I am content with my awesome prepay phone and dinosaur computer :) I would rather spend my money on my reptiles anyway!

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Originally Posted by RissaEst

If my girl shows signs of degrading a vet visit will be in her future! As for those snazzy smart phones and tablets? I don't see the value in getting them just to upload things a bit easier. I am content with my awesome prepay phone and dinosaur computer :) I would rather spend my money on my reptiles anyway!

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Hmmm.... I have iPods and iPads and droids and still spend money on myself and my cats and my reptiles and up until 6 weeks ago my girl and still banking $$$.. I work hard for my money, so I enjoy it. As for the smart phones and tablets,they are useful,very useful for a multitude of things,not just uploading videos,lol,wow...how old are u?

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

Hmmm.... I have iPods and iPads and droids and still spend money on myself and my cats and my reptiles and up until 6 weeks ago my girl and still banking $$$.. I work hard for my money, so I enjoy it. As for the smart phones and tablets,they are useful,very useful for a multitude of things,not just uploading videos,lol,wow...how old are u?

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Not everyone sees the value in the smart phone/tablet revolution, there are those that would rather not have them. Why belittle them for their beliefs. Now back to the matter at hand, I have a normal who does some weird things every now and again, but not like what you're describing. That sounds like spider wobble crazyness. I wish you the best of luck and hope your little one is okay

My concern would be IBD, but if she seems otherwise healthy, then it seems unlikely? Personally, I'd quarantine her for a full 6 months.

http://i39.tinypic.com/2gtu1zt.jpg

Here is my little one. I just took her out and she was crawling all over the place. Like I've mentioned her motor skills are a bit iffy. When she moves she seems to get off balance every once in a while. Everything she does I've seen described as a wobble. After the few months I've had her I am pretty positive she will be fine. Even if she turns out to be a bit silly the rest of her life.

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Originally Posted by Shera

My concern would be IBD, but if she seems otherwise healthy, then it seems unlikely? Personally, I'd quarantine her for a full 6 months.

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THIS is why she has been in quarentine for so long. I was HORRIFIED she might have it. But she has been like this the entire time I have had her with no sign of getting better or worse. The little one does eat regularly. She sheds regularly. I've been keeping a shed and feeding chart on her. She is gaining weight. Over all my baby girl seems healthy.

IBD kills ball pythons fairly quickly, the op's snake is well beyond that time frame.

As was said, it's probably been over heated and the damage is done.
It doesn't usually fix itself very much, when you over heat them the damage is done.

Not sure if you're into breeding, but with that pattern u should throw a pastel at her and see if u get any bees!!
(Then I would throw an iPad at a certain someone)

I'm glad that IBD is ruled out. I was thinking about breeding her but if this IS a wobble I don't want to make more super wobbly babies. However I'm not sure how else to prove if its a wobble than by breeding her...is there a way to distinguish it from neorological issues caused by overheating rather than genetics?

Normals do not have "wobble" in their genetics.

If she eats well, and is capable of breeding, then that's your call, but she won't produce wobbling babies.