BP acting crazy

The other day my BP started acting weird. He was thrashing his body around knocking over everything in his enclosure. It's like he turned into a monster. Is this an act of stress? If so, why the thrashing of the body?

Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

What was happening when it started? What was it doing? What did it do after? What did you do?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

What was happening when it started? What was it doing? What did it do after? What did you do?

---

Well it happened twice. On Saturday my son went into my other son room and said the snake is acting weird. That's when I first so him doing it. I left it alone until tonight. I picked him up because he was acting normal but I could tell something was off. When I went to put him back into his enclosure, he was trying to run out my hands. Once he was back in the tank, he started going nuts again.

Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

Did you try to pick it up again once it started going crazy? If you didn't, I wonder if it would have stopped.

You got a picture of the cage? Or a description at least.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

Did you try to pick it up again once it started going crazy? If you didn't, I wonder if it would have stopped.

You got a picture of the cage? Or a description at least.

---

No I didn't, I had to go to work. The last time this happened, I read something that said put a sheet up and cover all sides of the enclosure. After a week he stopped that time. I'm just trying to figure out what triggers it.

Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

Did you try to pick it up again once it started going crazy? If you didn't, I wonder if it would have stopped.

You got a picture of the cage? Or a description at least.

---

It's a 40 gallon tank. He's been in it for 4 years now. He's 7 years old and weighs about 1400grams

Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

That sounds strange and concerning, and honestly I would lean towards a vet visit. If you decide to take him to the vet, I would try to get a video of the thrashing behavior to show them.

Has anything changed in the enclosure recently? I've heard of thrashing motions in bps being associated with high temperature spikes - what are the temperatures in the enclosure?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by arpowell

I've heard of thrashing motions in bps being associated with high temperature spikes - what are the temperatures in the enclosure?

---

Me too, not just BPs either.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by arpowell

That sounds strange and concerning, and honestly I would lean towards a vet visit. If you decide to take him to the vet, I would try to get a video of the thrashing behavior to show them.

Has anything changed in the enclosure recently? I've heard of thrashing motions in bps being associated with high temperature spikes - what are the temperatures in the enclosure?

---

I keep the ambient at 80. The hot side is 91 and cool side fluctuates between 75 and 77.

Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by breadpython14

I keep the ambient at 80. The hot side is 91 and cool side fluctuates between 75 and 77.

Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

---

The hotspot is a uth it bulb?

You check this with a IR gun?

You could drop the hotspot to 85 to give you more wiggle room on fluctuating temps. I don't have any hotspots higher than that.

And not to harp on the heat point, but are you controlling it with a thermostat? Without one, temperature fluctuations are very possible - especially in the winter when everyone has their heaters going.

Barring temperature spikes as a possible cause, I'm really going to restate that I would get him to a vet ASAP. The thrashing you describe makes me think something neurological and that has me worried. A few more questions - have you noticed anything else off with him? Is he eating? Have there been any chemicals (like pest treatments or similar) near the room he's in or even in the house?

Since this is the second time this has happened, does it happen this time each year? If so I'm wondering if it's a mating thing. Although I'm pretty sure if it was he would still wiggle around in your hands. If it's just his enclosure then like others said the temperatures are a likely cause if it's not regulated/if you don't have the equipment to check easily.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Sounds like something is going on with this snake- I'd see a vet too, but make sure the one you see has enough snake experience.

This may help: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

He might be in pain*, or have some sort of neurological issue that may or may not be related to overheating. What you describe is NOT "normal".

Also, if you can get a video of the behavior, that would really help the vet diagnose, because you cannot rely on the snake to do this when the vet is examining him.

*Does this snake eat live prey or has he EVER eaten live prey? It's very possible he has intestinal worms- they can migrate within his body & cause pain & internal damage- I'd thrash too! :O

So when you see the vet, try to take a FRESH stool sample for them to check for worms- and please don't delay, okay? He sounds miserable to me. Let us know what the vet thinks?

With the snake having been in your care for this long, I would definitely look for a good reptile vet.

What your describing sounds like a seizures which can be from things like tumors or encapsulated parasite cysts. As Boger said, it can also be a pain reaction too from still active parasites as well.

Double check all your temps with a good temp gun just in case, but I would go the vet way with as fresh of a fecal as you can grab. You can ziplock baggie and pop it in the fridge if you have to.