New Baby BCI Boa - Possible sickness

Hi everyone,

I was wanting to share this here, as I am very concerned.
I bought a baby male BCI boa today from the reptile store.
I got him home, set him up in his temporary RUB tub, hide, waterbowl. For substrate, I used paper towels, a little aspen bedding, and some sphagnum moss for humidity.
Hot side 33, cool side 24.

He went inside the hide, so I left him. I went to check his temps etc before bed, and noticed some bizarre behaviour. I am very concerned that this could be early stages of IBD or some neuro disease? What do you guys think? The head and neck are twitching back,
and he keeps opening/closing his mouth fast, every now and again. https://youtu.be/dN4x6jJmfcY

I have moved him to a different room on the other side of the house. I am afraid for my ball python.
I will call the reptile store first thing in the morning, and really hope that they help sort this out.

Any input is most appreciated. If I'm honest, it's just nice to post here, as it's 1am and there is nothing I can do about it right now.

Hmmm... maybe he got some of that moss in his mouth? Just a guess, but hopefully someone else will chime in soon with an answer. I hope your baby will be alright. Please keep us posted and hang in there!!

Yeah that doesn't look good. He was laying kind of strangely as well, I would be concerned. Have you checked him for mites? Does he move around normally at all? I'd either take him back to the store or to the vet.
A random twitch or the mouth thing once, I wouldn't worry, could have woken up weird or got startled but the fact he keeps doing it is what has me worried.
Deff need to keep any new additions away from your established collection in quarantine.
I hope things turn out okay.

Another vid which highlights the issue.

https://youtu.be/8k7jneoYFeA

That was my first (and most hopeful) thought, that he may have got a bit of moss in his mouth, but combined with the repeated jerky twitches, I don't think this is the case unfortunately.

Thank you for your time, I will keep you posted.

Something is amiss. Check inside his mouth for a piece of aspen or moss. Also you can just hold the boa by the tail and let his body hang down. He should be able to double back on himself and climb back up to your hand no problem. Usually boas with IBD would corkscrew and not be able to climb back up.

But yeah, other than the mouth deal, his head movement and laying looks weird. I would probably take him back to the pet shop. Did he not do this stuff when you held him at the pet shop and examined him?

Thanks for the advice, I do agree with you. I don't think this is right at all.
I literally only got him this afternoon, so I have not even had time with him. I left him to get settled, he went in his hide. It was when I went to check on him tonight that I saw this.
I didn't see any mites, but I am not sure. As this is his first night here, I just want him to be as comfortable as possible, and not touch him.

Being that I only just got him, I will contact the store first thing in the morning.

No, I let the lady hold him infront of me, and to my eyes he looked fine. Admittedly I am not an expert, and this is something that I probably wouldn't have noticed in the shop.
This is my first boa, and I was a bit nervous of him at first.
Now, in the comfort of my own home I noticed the problem.

Well, like i said, did he do this stuff or move weird when you examined him at the pet shop? Also make sure you dont have it too hot in there as i assume you got heat tape on the floor of the tub under the hide? Too hot coupled with no other hiding spot can overheat the snake. Snakes arent exactly the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes and will sometimes sacrifice their welfare of being too cold or too hot in favor of a secure hiding spot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FractalVision

No, I let the lady hold him infront of me, and to my eyes he looked fine. Admittedly I am not an expert, and this is something that I probably wouldn't have noticed in the shop.
This is my first boa, and I was a bit nervous of him at first.
Now, in the comfort of my own home I noticed the problem.

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Ah, should have held him yourself and did a basic check like look for mites under the chin between the skin flap, around the eyes, around the cloaca. And hang him by the tail and see if he can climb back up to your hand with no problems. Also feel for any weird lumps/bumps, dry skin, stuck shed etc. A bite from a baby boa is nothing. I actually got tagged by my 6.5 foot girl for the first time in over 5 years and it didnt hurt. Was more of a shock as i stood there just staring at me arm as she latched on and then let go lol. Lots of blood and hurt feelings but that was it.

I wouldn't leave him till morning id pick him up and grab him behind the head and open his mouth. Something could be stuck right there and effecting his breathing or something.


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I also agree to check the mouth for something foreign as that's what the mouth opening was making me think. I asked about mites since the twitching reminded me of it but it could also be a neuro issue, possibly from overheating as well as the way he was laying half out and limpish. Double check your temps. if you're up for it, take him out and see if he crawls normally or is limp. I know normally you shouldn't mess with a new addition but boas are hardier than BPs, it's not going to do anything bad to check him over plus with possibly issues going on, I'd be doing some poking and prodding. It could be something amiss as simple as a stuck piece of substrate in the mouth causing all of this and the stress is just making him freak out a bit.
I'm really sorry though, you must be stressed out and worried! Heck I am just seeing the vids.
good luck and hang in there, no matter what happens.

Yes, I accept ignorance on my part.
No, the heat mat that I have is positioned under the tub, covering a third.
I have the thermostat connected with that.

I just feel really anxious about this.

I checked him over - no substrate in the mouth.
He is limp. There was a rounded piece of moss, I wondered if it had been eaten and regurged or something, but I think I am clutching at straws.
The temps never went over.
I am truly at a loss. I am struggling to think if it was anything I did in the few hours that I've had him.

I know I won't sleep tonight. I want to thank you all for your advice.

I have nothing to add and I am late to the thread.

My heart is with you and the little guy.

Sending positive energy and nice thoughts. This must be exceptionally difficult.

Please keep us in the loop.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate your kind words.

Whatever is wrong, it’s almost definitely not your fault. You literally just got him. I would take him back to the pet vendor immediately.


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If he's being limp in hand as well, I'd prepare for the worst sadly.
The moss you got is just standard moss for reptiles, correct?
Unless he was exposed to some sort of toxin or severe overheating, I highly doubt there's anything YOU did within half a day that would have caused this.
Sometimes there is something wrong internally that we just cannot see that can cause a rapid decline in a baby that otherwise appears healthy (they are really good at hiding illness in order to survive in the wild). Some will shed, eat and seem to be fine for a few months and then suddenly pass.
sending you virtual *hugs* I'm real sorry you and the little one are having to go through this.

Thank you guys, your support really helped me through the night. I couldn't get to sleep until 3.30am.
Yes, I have to say, I did mentally go through everything with a fine tooth comb, what I had done when I brought him home etc. I just couldn't work it out. Anyway, I have called the shop this morning, and the manager told me to take him back today. He said that he will examine the boa and arrange for him to see the vet. I told him everything that I told you guys.

Yes, it was sphagnum moss. I've been using it for my ball python, I really like the stuff.
I checked the little guy about an hour ago. He actually seems a bit stronger actually, he gripped my hand better. I didn't get a good chance to look at him though. I will pick up my car from the mechanic now, and take him back straightaway. I hope you all have a good day.

Like mentioned, i doubt it was anything you did in half a day. Sounds like the snake might have had an issue to start with. For future reference, always hold the snake you plan to purchase and do the check i listed above. Dont beat yourself up, stuff happens and sometimes we have no control over it. Best of luck on the little guy.

Keep us updated.. Try not to be upset, 99% its nothing you caused..


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What was the outcome?


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I suspect that there are quite a lot of people on this thread who want to have that question answered!

<><Peace

Do you know, I thought I had already posted what happened today - it goes to show that my mind hasn't been clear!

Well, I took him back to the shop. They examined him, and could not see the issue at first, but when they placed him in a tub, they could see the issue of the head twitching now and again.

They said that they are going to arrange a visit to the vet, and that if it is not life-threatening condition, they will keep the boa as a pet, and that he should be fine to live a fulfilling life, with the twitch.
They apologised and were sympathetic, and gave me a refund.

I will be getting another common boa, but I will be sure to hold him properly, and check him as you've told me, Sauvo.
I really hope the boa is not dangerously ill, and gets the treatment he needs. I am truly relieved that he will be in the right hands, at least.

I was just wondering, what temps do you guys keep your boas at? I was told in the shop that 29 degrees celsius is good to aim for the hot side.

Do you have or can you find a breeder in your area.

Getting from “shops” is always risky and you would be in much better hands with a reputable breeder.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FractalVision

I was just wondering, what temps do you guys keep your boas at? I was told in the shop that 29 degrees celsius is good to aim for the hot side.

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That's a little low for the hot side, usually I aim for 78-88*F (26-32*C).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FractalVision

Do you know, I thought I had already posted what happened today - it goes to show that my mind hasn't been clear!

Well, I took him back to the shop. They examined him, and could not see the issue at first, but when they placed him in a tub, they could see the issue of the head twitching now and again.

They said that they are going to arrange a visit to the vet, and that if it is not life-threatening condition, they will keep the boa as a pet, and that he should be fine to live a fulfilling life, with the twitch.
They apologised and were sympathetic, and gave me a refund.

I will be getting another common boa, but I will be sure to hold him properly, and check him as you've told me, Sauvo.
I really hope the boa is not dangerously ill, and gets the treatment he needs. I am truly relieved that he will be in the right hands, at least.

I was just wondering, what temps do you guys keep your boas at? I was told in the shop that 29 degrees celsius is good to aim for the hot side.

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I keep all my snakes with an 88F hot spot via flexwatt and a cage ambient of around 77-80F.

Yes, that is what I thought.