Snake is sick. ADVICE PLEASE!

[SumOne'sGenius]

I have a 16 year old BP. Never a single health problem. About a month ago he regurgitated for the first time. I haven't attempted to feed him since. Today I noticed him doing something that has me freaked out. He appears normal, moving about then suddenly recoils as if about to strike or yanks his head and neck into a tight knot, holds it for about 5 seconds, then goes on like nothing happened. This kept happening several times every 2 minutes or so. While trying to get in touch with a vet I tried putting him in a luke warm bath which kinda seemed to help as they were fewer and far between. I held him until he went to sleep. He doesn't do it while he's sleeping. I don't think it's IBD. He doesn't have mites and is able to flip himself when upside down. Has anyone ever heard of this? I'm desperate. The vets where I live don't seem to know much about snakes. Thank you!

[The Serpent Merchant]

Well to start can you give us some more details on your husbandry?

• Cage type
• Cage size
• Heat source(s)
• Thermometers/hygrometers
• Thermostats
• Where any thermometers/probes are located
• Current temperatures/humidity
• Substrate
• Hides
• What else do you have in the cage?

[Zombie]

Well to start can you give us some more details on your husbandry?

• Cage type
• Cage size
• Heat source(s)
• Thermometers/hygrometers
• Thermostats
• Where any thermometers/probes are located
• Current temperatures/humidity
• Substrate
• Hides
• What else do you have in the cage?

^^^^^this. Let us know these things and hopefully we can help pinpoint the issue. When he regurged, is there anything you did differently? Like change the size of food? Feed FT or live? Etc...

[Skiploder]

Well to start can you give us some more details on your husbandry?

• Cage type
• Cage size
• Heat source(s)
• Thermometers/hygrometers
• Thermostats
• Where any thermometers/probes are located
• Current temperatures/humidity
• Substrate
• Hides
• What else do you have in the cage?

^^^^^this. Let us know these things and hopefully we can help pinpoint the issue. When he regurged, is there anything you did differently? Like change the size of food? Feed FT or live? Etc...

The OP has kept this snake alive for 16 years..........correct?

I'm going to ASSume that his husbandry skills are probably fairly good.

To the OP: PM me and we can discuss this via e-mail. I've got a couple of questions for you.

[Billy305]

Why would you rather discuss it over email instead of here?

[SumOne'sGenius]

The humidity has been a little low, substrate is bark. Heat is around 90. Yes, I've had him 16 years, so the set-up is good and I haven't changed a thing. I'm new to this site, came on here because of this issue. How do I email you?

[Kaorte]

The behavior sounds like he is a little stressed.. Perhaps you can get it on video? It could just be something completely normal and he is just freaked out by you looking at him

A regurge doesn't necessarily mean a problem with the snake. It could mean a problem with the feeder.

[SumOne'sGenius]

The regurge doesn't worry me as much as the involuntary recoiling he is doing does. No, he's not frightened. He is doing it when I'm far away. He will just be going about and suddenly cork screw his neck, hold it a few seconds then go about his business. It's not a strike pose. It's a cork screw. He hasn't come into contact with anything different. The only change to his set up was some moss I put in. I took the moss out yesterday and got him new substrate today. Has anyone heard of this before?

[Zombie]

The OP has kept this snake alive for 16 years..........correct?

I'm going to ASSume that his husbandry skills are probably fairly good.

To the OP: PM me and we can discuss this via e-mail. I've got a couple of questions for you.

He said he had a 16 yr old BP, at the time he hadn't said if it was his for 16 years or if he had just gotten it.

[SumOne'sGenius]

I have my snake since he was 2 months old.