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  1. #1
    Registered User greenacid's Avatar
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    Exclamation Sick? Stressed? Something's wrong

    I've had my BP for almost 2 years now. I use to post a lot here in the past but now I need help

    i recently moved in the last 6 months and he took it Very well. He's shed and eaten normally. No problems. He's usually in his hide during the day and out at night. Normal behavior.

    He recently shed perfectly and so I fed him. He hasn't gone in his hide since and it's been 2 days. He's just crawling around the enclosure (around the back) and occasionally I'll see him in the hide but half way out.

    I noticed he's been laying down flat stretched out and has his head up all the time. Not like peri scoping but almost like what a back slash looks like. Occasionally he'll have it down but every time I see him it's not. I have no idea what's going on. If maybe he has something stuck in his throat or he can't breathe. I can't pick him up since he just ate, so I can't inspect him.

    Help?

  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran
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    Images: 32
    Do you have a picture? What's your setup?
    0.1 Onyx Pastel
    0.1 Bumblebee Het Red Axanthic
    0.1 Cinnamon Fire
    0.1 Mahogany
    0.1 Mojave Bumblebee
    0.1 Super Pastel Pinstripe
    0.1 Super Pastel Spinner
    0.1 Sherbert Fly
    0.1 Calico
    0.1 Mojave
    1.0 SuperFly
    1.0 Enchi Lesser Spider (possible pastel)
    1.0 Pastel Vanilla
    1.0 GHI Het Red Axanthic

    0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
    1.0 Albino Corn Snake ("temporarily" caring for him)

  3. #3
    Registered User BCS's Avatar
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    Look around the glass for clear to yellowish mucus. The only time I have ever heard of a snake holding it's head up constantly is when they have an RI. Mucus and popping noises is the best way to find out if your snake has an RI.

    Otherwise, I have a 5 year old female who has, over the years, become more bolder to the point she will stay out of her hides for days, especially after a good feed. The head raising is what concerns me about your snake. If it is constant like that, I would be keeping a close eye on him and watch (and listen) for other signs of sickness.

    If you have other snakes or reptiles, be sure to remove him from the room for the time being, until you know for sure nothing is wrong with him.

  4. #4
    Registered User SamO's Avatar
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    Check for mucus, listen for weezing or popping. If there is none of that he may be hungry. Is the raised portion of his body flat and neck slightly coiled (head about 30 degrees off the ground) and is he looking directly at you? This is one way ball pythons say "I'm hungry". Even though he ate you can inspect him, but if he is in feed mode, distract him before touching him. Get him out of feed mode by doing the things you do when he's not going to get feed, this is where people use a snake hook to tell their snake "no food", but not common with ball pythons. Use a cardboard tube to touch him.

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