Weird

One of my new guy's isn't flicking his tongue much.I was wondering if this was normal when they are adjusting to their new enviroment?I've haven't noticed this before , I have noticed that when my snake's are scared and or your close to their head they won't flick it.Well just wondering if any of you ever noticed this.

Is he cold? I have seen snakes that were underheated (at my friend's pet store, had just gotten there) and they had little or no tongue flicking, and when they did flick, it was really slowly and the tongue sometimes lolled out of the mouth! But you seem to know what yer doing, and I don't think that's what's happening w/yours.

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Originally Posted by emilio

One of my new guy's isn't flicking his tongue much.I was wondering if this was normal when they are adjusting to their new enviroment?I've haven't noticed this before , I have noticed that when my snake's are scared and or your close to their head they won't flick it.Well just wondering if any of you ever noticed this.

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You said, "normal when they are adjusting to their new enviroment?" I'm no expert but I would say if they were adjusting/investigating they would be flicking like crazy. I just changed my little guy's substrate from Aspen to Newspaper and he must of looked around flicking his tounge like crazy for almost a half hour before he finally settled in and went in his hide.

Its been a month and still I have not seen the tongue flick at all I see movement but only on the tip of the mouth. I plan to take him to the vet. Has this happened to anyone? Adam where are you?

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Originally Posted by emilio

Its been a month and still I have not seen the tongue flick at all I see movement but only on the tip of the mouth. I plan to take him to the vet. Has this happened to anyone? Adam where are you?

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Does he eat? What does the breeder that produced him say?

-adam

It must be a hatchling @ 100gms. It ate once in the month that I have had him the breeder says to give it time, he hasnt specificaly commented about the tongue I have been assured that they will take care of me if anything is wrong. Everything looks normal it just isnt interested in food. I left him alone for a week and I will try again. Could he be really stressed out?

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Originally Posted by emilio

It must be a hatchling @ 100gms. It ate once in the month that I have had him the breeder says to give it time, he hasnt specificaly commented about the tongue I have been assured that they will take care of me if anything is wrong. Everything looks normal it just isnt interested in food. I left him alone for a week and I will try again. Could he be really stressed out?

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Either the snake is "not right" or your husbandry is off ... I've never seen a hatchling not flick it's tongue ... especially when offered food off of tongs ... even if they don't take it, they tongue flick like nuts.

Try filling the enclosure with crumpled up newspaper ... security, security, security ... keep him very warm and make him feel safe .... if there is nothing "tweaked" about him, my guess would be that the breeder just didn't give him a real good start ... maybe just a single meal and out the door ... hard to say.

I would be up the breeders ace if it were me.

-adam

Even stressed snakes flick their tongue. I would try to look in the mouth to see if there are any obstructions. The only time I have seen a snake not flick its tongue is on a rescue that was severely dehydrated, its mouth was literally stuck shut. Once soaked and we opened her mouth to check for mouth rot, she began to flick her tongue again.

thanks guys. I am going to take care of this, tomorrow I will take him to the vet and then to the bredder with the results. I will keep you posted

Well I called the vet and they couldn't sqeeze me in today.The main vet is going on vacation just my luck , they gave me an appointment for thursday.Meantime I'm going to offer a hopper today when I get home.I put the extra paper in last night , I can barely see in there hopefully that help's.Also I opened his mouth yesterday and everything looked normal to my eye's.WHAT A MYSTERY!!! The funny thing is the other snake's I got from these guy's are eating like crazy and thriving in the same set up.

I saw a baby boa at the pet store I used to work at that either simply did not have or tounge or there was something wrong with the related muscles or whatever control devices they have to use it properly. We thoroughly examined its mouth and I think for some crazy reason it was born w/o a tounge.

Thats not the first time I've heard of this happening. Pretty rare, but certainly possible.

No he has a tongue he just hasn't extended it like every other bp I have.

Good new's he took large hopper yesterday.I'm a little happier but still going to be watching the little guy.The breeder I bought him from has been very helpfull and has offered an exchange if I'm not happy with my purchase.

Thats good news on both accounts. Defintely keep us updated. Maybe even a pic of the little guy???
:)

Neil

Congrats on the feeding emilio. And, Brad beat me to the punch, as I have heard of snakes that had no tongue. So long as they eat good, I don't think it is that big of a concern. Keep us posted on his health and future eating.

Finally saw some tongue action today while he was drinking water.Good very good.