Do you guys see what I see?

[Mindibun]

The rescued ball python has been giving me more reason to worry lately. I tried to get a video of it tonight, but he wasn't cooperating very well. The video I'm including is from a few weeks ago. I'm sorry it's not very good quality - it was taken with my cell phone.

Watch the video, and you'll see how he is indecisive about moving forward. He goes out, and then comes back in. He didn't use to do this and now that's ALL he does. He doesn't move. This in itself is not that big of a deal. It is a ball python, afterall. However, the part that concerns me is the fact that he continually falls to one side or another. It's like he can't keep his balance. Also, if you're watching really closely, you'll see his head sort of "quiver" up and down or side to side (I don't remember which). It's not that bad in the video - he only does it once or twice, and it's slight. But tonight when I had him out, he was like an elderly person with Parkinsons. He couldn't keep his head still, it just kept wobbling up and down and back and forth fairly rapidly.

I know it may seem like I'm blowing things out of proportion based on this video, but he has gotten worse since this was taken, and he shakes like that every time I take him out. This is the snake that is "loaded" with parasites every time I take him to the vet (he's going again in a few days for another treatment). Is there any possibility the parasites have affected his motor skills?

Anyway, sorry for the ramble. This snake just makes me really nervous...

Here's the video:
http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...=Video0006.flv

[Mindibun]

Well, I'm guessing that's a "no" unless someone chimes in during the day today.

[Doxster]

I have never had a sick snake so this is just from the top of my head (if you feel that what I'm saying here is totally out there then you might not want to take my word for it).

I know there are some parasites that can affect motorskills, especially if the snake is "loaded" with them that might be the case. It sounds to me like massive stargazing, is that about right?

I'm not one of the ones that wants to shout "IBD!" every time a snake gets sick and frankly I am not that knowledgeable about the dicease. However, from the little I know about it, this sounds a bit like it. Make sure the snake is far away from the rest of your collection!

As for advice all I can say is keep getting it treated (as long as your wallet allows it) for the parasites and give it some space. I had an injured snake recently and they seem to heal best when left alone. If you are lucky it's the parasites that is affecting it and then it will most likely go away with the proper care, hopefully your vet is a good one, and pretty soon you'll have a new happy camper in your collection. If worse comes to worse you will see the results pretty quick i reckon...

Good luck
-D

Edit: I just watched the vid and couldn't determin anything from it, sorry.

[Drew87]

I cant watch the video, but from what you said i would take the snake to the VET. Whenever stuff like that happens a VET always can help.

[Morphie]

Does he always do that? It kinda looked like a smell or something was freaking him out a little - he was all tense and strikey with the tongue going going going - not like in cruise mode where i'd expect more fluid motions.

If you're concerned, definitely get him to a vet to do a fecal, and of course, maintain a strict quarantine.

[Egapal]

Well its really hard to tell from the quality of the video and because the movement of the snake appears to be from her resting place on a pant leg or some other fabric. Is the snake acting like this in her normal enclosure.

Like I think every other post like this I am going to ask. What do you keep the snake in, temps, humidity, type and number of hides, foot traffic in area, eating habits.

[JLC]

Lots of things besides IBD can cause neurological issues. I don't know anything specific about parasites that can, but that does seem like a likely clue to follow up on with your vet. Chemical exposure is another one that comes to mind. How long has he been in your care and do you have any idea what he may have been exposed to before he came to you?

Frankly, I couldn't make out much from the video...but your description certainly sounds worriesome and should be taken seriously, I believe. I wish I had something more helpful to say than "talk to the vet"...but that's all I got.

[Mindibun]

Thanks guys. The background is this:

He's about 6 years old but I've only had him for maybe 6 months. I don't think it's even been that long yet. He was in bad shape when I got him and it's been an uphill climb trying to get him better. He has been to two or three different vets, all for the same thing, and has been treated with multiple medications. He has to go back again for another dosage this coming week.
He stays in a tub in the living room, while the rest of my collection is in my bedroom. I don't use anything for him that I use for the others and I wash my hands in between. I've even gone so far as to change my clothes once or twice when he'd had really messy poop. The temps and humidity are fine, those are definitely not the problem. He has his two hides and then some, a "shedding rock" and tons of foliage. The issue is definitely not the set up.

There was no smell freaking him out in the video, he was in an area that he knows well. He was sitting on my jacket in the vid, but even off of the jacket he would stretch out a bit and then fall to one side or the other. He doesn't do this ALL the time, but he does it often enough to have me worried. To some extent, he seems to do it every time I have him out of his enclosure. Some days it is worse than others.

He has not been exposed to any chemicals since he's been in my care. I'm very careful about what I use since I have birds and other sensitive pets as well. I don't even bring bleach into the house.

I'm going to definitely mention the head wobble to the vet, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to sound absolutely loony in suggesting it could be caused by the parasites.

(And for whoever asked, no he doesn't stargaze. He can look in any direction he wants, whenever he wants ... his head just shakes when he does it.)