strange / sick behavor?

[Jombolo]

I thought one of my balls was dead today...he was laying motionless with his head kinda twisted into the ground cover with his mouth open...i flicked the glass, nothing, i reached in to get him out and he started moving. But he is acting very strange. He lays almost upside down with his head up in the air and mouth open. I dont know if anyone has ever seen this and could tell me what is going on. He's got water and was just feed 2 mice about a week and a half ago, and i got them new mice today, haven't stuck them in there yet, dont know if i should. He doesn't look like he's in shed mode, idk, thought maybe someone could explain. All environmental conditions are unchanged for the last 3-4 months, dont see how that could be it either.

[tbowman]

Sorry I can't really help you. But I know that snakes take a long time to show illness and it could have been going on for a while but now you're just starting to see it.

[DustinB]

How are your temps? Has he been making any noises? Do you see any mucous or bubbles aound his mouth? Either way you need to take him to a vet asap.

[Vypyrz]

Have you recently used any different chemicals to clean tanks or sprayed any kind of bug spray in the area?...


Rob

[Jombolo]

Temp is good, 92 on the warm side, haven't seen any mucus or anything like that around the mouth....Maybe he's got a case of the lock-jaw? jk he can close his mouth, and he does, but he keeps it open for long periods of time.

[iCandiBallPythons]

What substrate are you using?

[tbowman]

Any Weezing?

[Jombolo]

NatureBark...which is heat treated bark from fir trees.

[Jombolo]

Now there is a mucus coming from the mouth area, i guess if he doesn't get better on his own....wont be able to afford the vet, will have to count it as a loss i guess.

[tbowman]

My guess is it could be an RI. You need to take him to the vet and get antibiotics or else he will eventually die. And it is contagious so it can spread to your other snakes.