Jungle Carpet Python Help

[Ben Biscy]

Hello, my name is Ben, and i'm new to this place. I also happen to be new to jcp's. I have one up and coming, which i'm a little concerned about. This is the oddest snake i've ever seen. The movements are strange, the behavior is strange. Let me explain....

I purchased this snake at the Reptile Exhibit in Columbia SC a week ago. It is a young snake, but has obviously grown quite a bit from hatchling size. It is roughly 2' long, about 1/2'' in diameter at the largest spot. The head is bigger than the body. Upon physical examination it seems to be in top shape. It is alert, flicks tongue regularly, and has explored the viv and made use of the water bowl and hide.

However, this snake has some quirks to it. Twice I have noted him tying himself in a knot, then immediately untying himself. I've witnessed him doing some strange up and down motion while hanging on a branch. It is almost as if he can't figure out how he's supposed to move. Now, after watching this unsettling occurrence, he straightened out, cruised over all the branches, and after an hour of exploring, made his way into the hide (approx. 1 hour before dawn).

As with all my new arrivals, i offered him a small meal upon arrival, which he ignored completely (not unusual). Since, I have moved him twice, from the viv to a starter tub, and back from the starter to the viv. When handling the snake rears into a striking position, but does not strike. The body inflates, and it becomes very rigid. After placing him in the enclosure, he does some tying/untying before finding a nice spot to run to.

My question is if this is normal CP behavior, or if i need to be looking for more serious problems. If needed, I'll try to take a vid and post it here for all to see. Here is a picture of the little guy, as is right now. Please be aware that he is housed in our snake room, which is 85f ambient, 62% rh as of this morning. Health requirements are met, so this issue (if it is an issue) is related to the health of the animal before I bought it.

Here he is! Sorry for the poor quality pictures... Any and all posts are very appreciated!

[DutchHerp]

That does sound peculiar.

I don't know much about it, but it does sound a little bit like IBD? I'd get the snake to a vet ASAP and also post a video here...

[Ben Biscy]

Vid is uploading now. Pretty disturbing, he leveled out and headed to the hide shortly after I finished filming. I really hated bothering him in his hide...

[SRX]

Is it a Jag sibling?

[Ben Biscy]

Is it a Jag sibling?

What is a Jag sibling?

[Ben Biscy]

YouTube - jungle carpet is sick

[SRX]

Well, it looks like either IBD symptoms or the neurological issues associated with the Jaguar trait/morph in carpet pythons. The Jag morph is an incomplete dominant trait that has a neurological disorder similar to the wobble linked trait in the spider mutation of ball pythons. It seems that recently a few of the non Jag siblings in a clutch are being reported to express the same disorder. Here are a couple of links...

http://www.moreliapythons.com/forums...ighlight=neuro

http://www.moreliapythons.com/forums...ighlight=neuro

[DutchHerp]

Whoa man, that looks messed up.

I don't know much about the neurological problems, but I think jags have them. If he's a jag sib it could be that..?

It also looks like IBD... maybe Colin, Joshua, and David can chime in.

[Ben Biscy]

srx, it seems very similar to the neuro issue of the male in the video, second link. Thank you.

[letstalksnakes]

I do not mean to but in guys...

It seems your poor babe is doing the "star gaze".
In short your animal looks to be having tiny seisures or allready had one either or.
I have seen that kind of movement before in certain snakes,and it turned out to be associated with a kinda of parasite or disease in the brain that unfortuanly makes your animal act in this manner.
I am onley making estimated guess here from what i have seen from the video.
I would say that you should really take him or her to a reptile specialist as soon as you can.
Keep us posted.