Stargazing

[cerastesruber]

if the belly is pink you may wanna make sure the temps on the floor where he's laying arent too high, that can cause that pinkish hue to the belly, if his hide is right on the heat and its too hot he'll get that, i think there are other reasons for it tho, just suggesting that tho. good luck with him! :/

[thegoalie22]

The temps are fine and he is due for a shed

[WingedWolfPsion]

Turn the snake with his head and upper body hanging straight down and hold him that way for at least a minute or two. Then check for signs of bubbles, spit, or mucous coming from around his lips and nostrils. If his mouth isn't full of spit at that point, it's probably not RI.

Another sign--place your hand under his body, where his lung's located (check an anatomy chart if you're not sure). If he has an RI, you will probably feel a clicking, rattle, or vibration inside him as he breathes.

If he continues to sit with his head angled upward, this is another sign of an RI. Stargazing is more extreme in appearance--a stargazing snake will generally be looking straight up, with its head flexed back at an unnatural-looking angle, and will show other signs of ataxia and weakness. Once you've seen photos or vid of a snake stargazing, you won't mistake an RI for it again.

Caution--the following are hard to watch if you love snakes.

Here's a vid of a Redtail boa with IBD.
YouTube - Inclusion Body Disease (in a red tail boa)

This boa is stargazing:
YouTube - snake with ibd

This is a ball python with IBD: YouTube - sick snake

Another BP with IBD: YouTube - Snake problem

Yet another: YouTube - My python before it died of IBD :/

For contrast with all of this, here is a very good video of a Spinner ball with a bad wobble:
YouTube - Spinner Ball Python Wobbling
You can see the difference as the snake eventually rights itself and tongue-flicks normally, and the shaking of the head which is the actual 'wobble' referred to with this condition.

[thegoalie22]

Thanks WingedWolf that was very helpful
After watching the vid of the snake star gazing, I realized my bp's action was different than that. Seth(my bp)'s head was definetely not upside down.
I conducted the first test. Let me tell you: Seth does NOT like being vertical lol.He definetely did not secrete any spit or anything. When I looked in his mouth, between the sides of teeth, like (1-1) If you imagine that to be his mouth with the parentheses the outside of his mouth, the 1's his teeth and the - between the two sets of teeth, there was some saliiva and small bubbles there, but I am assuming that is normal. A few minutes later after I did the test, the bubbles were still there.

I also tested if he was able to right himself, and he was.

[thegoalie22]

His nose was pointed straight up when he "Stargazed" this morning.

[Kaorte]

Your snake just probably has some stuck shed in its nostril or some loose skin from the upcoming shed.

I think trying to diagnose your snake with IBD is a big extreme. Unless the snake has been in contact with other snakes or boas then there is no reason that he would just randomly get IBD.

[WingedWolfPsion]

The bubbles may NOT be normal, but of course we can't tell just from a description. Snakes don't usually have a lot of saliva in their mouths. I would keep an eye on him, and re-do the upside-down test every day for a few days, particularly if you see any further suspicious behavior. If you see more bubbles or any sign at all of spit coming out around the edges of his mouth or nose, even briefly, get him to a vet right away.

(Unless they've just been drinking water, snakes shouldn't drool).

[thegoalie22]

The bubbles are very small. They are near where the mouth ends and the neck begins,if you know whAt I mean.

[BPelizabeth]

Wow those are really hard vids to watch!

I can't believe how bad that wobble on the spider is...holy smokes

[SiscoReptiles]

The bubbles are very small. They are near where the mouth ends and the neck begins,if you know whAt I mean.

Just a few bubbles is normal. No worries. If your snake has a RI, you would know without a doubt. Just watch your temps and humidity, it will probably clear up after the shed.

Rick