This behavior is not normal, snakes don’t self mutilate by biting themselves (they rub their noses on the cage until a bump forms and they look like a unicorn). What you are describing sounds like neurologic symptoms from being too cold. I have seen this recently, a person brought their BP in to the clinic I work at and it was having the same inverting and almost seizure like activity. She was keeping it at room temperature and it has been cold here lately. We warmed it up and it was fine, printed off the care sheet from here and gave it to her, I just spoke to her yesterday and the snake is doing much better with the appropriate husbandry adjustments.
I would watch the snake and if it starts doing this again you should go to the vet (provided this is not a spider ball python because if it is that behavior could be normal and associated with the spider wobble) make sure to watch for any upper respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, labored breathing, and bubbles forming in the mouth. If any of these symtoms occur go to the vet.
Also Bp’s don’t need a light, they are nocturnal and don’t benefit at all from one. If you are using a light to boost your ambient temps you should use a red bulb or a ceramic bulb neither puts off any light that would disturb a BP.
And Maia you are brave I don’t know if I would put my credintials in my signature, may get too many questions.
Edward A. Balint LVT, MS, VTS (ECC)
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