Very worried/scared owner :(

[JOHNNY45421]

Hello all,

I have had my male, normal, bp Buddy for about a year and one month now, and his behavior recently has caused me serious concern. For the past couple of weeks he has been constantly wandering around his cage pushing at its edges trying to get out. And when I say pushing, I could literally see his body shake from the pressure he is exerting onto his head against the plexiglass. However, today when I went to check on him, we was on his side in his hide and not moving, and when I got into his cage to pick him up, he was limp and didn't move. I honestly thought he was dead. He did come to, but he seems extremely week and feeble and it is absolutely terrifying me.

I offer him a medium sized rat once a week, except he hasn't taken them for the past 2 weeks. He sheds regularly, as well as uses the bathroom regularly. He currently lives in a 2ft by 2ft, wooden enclosure, that has a UTH heating source on one side. I use around a half-inch of cypress mulch as bedding, and he has 2, snug, and identical hides on his warm side and cool side. His warm side is around 90 and the cool side around 80 and I use an acurite electric thermometer from walmart to measure the temps as well as humidity. Being summertime in Houston, TX, the humidity percentage usually measures in the 70's. Buddy is a year and a half old, and currently weighs 970 grams. He is the only pet I have, and is handled a couple times a week.

I might be overreacting, but his behavior recently is EXTREMELY strange behavior for him, and with his current state of weakness, I am so worried. It would completely devastate me to lose him :/

Any help/advice on what could be wrong would be greatly appreciated, and if you need any more information, please ask.

thanks all,
Johnathan.

[elbee]

What kind of wood is his enclosure made of? Do you have a thermostat to regulate heat? I assume since the acurite reads 90. The fact that he hasn't eaten wouldn't bother me, but the him being limp is alarming for sure. Have you noticed any other symptoms of illness etc? Hopefully someone can chime in. Praying for your little guy and keep us updated .

[JOHNNY45421]

thank you for your concern, and yes, there is a thermostat. The enclosure is made out of a wood composite material that I got from a local reptile-cage builder at a Repticon Convention near Houston.

[elbee]

I was just tying to tile out a cedar or pine issues. Hmm. How is the snake now?

[JOHNNY45421]

I have put him back into his cage, and he is trying to push his way through the plexiglass doors. It gives off the impression that he is desperate to get out, but I just don't understand why or what could be the cause to this behavior.

[norwegn113]

thank you for your concern, and yes, there is a thermostat. The enclosure is made out of a wood composite material that I got from a local reptile-cage builder at a Repticon Convention near Houston.

how long have you had him in that cage? composite is also called melamine board. It has a chemical called formaldehyde in it. I'm pretty sure that California has stopped the use of particle board melamine use because of that reason. I'm not saying that that is the problem with your snake But it is something that you should know! I hope your little guy gets better! I know what it is like to have a sick pet! My 14 year old malamute is very sick right now and its breaking my heart

[jackiee]

double check your temps with a different thermometer in case yours is faulty, and its to hot for it

[Ronin]

I second with double checking the temps in your enclosure. Have you noticed him wheezing or maybe even seen mites? It might be time to go to the vet for a check up.

[jporter617]

if temps are fine, and no mites are present, then sounds to me like hes searching. males do this when they are ready to breed, but hard to say unless i see it myself. go to gnc or cvs or anywhere that you can get liquid vitamin b12. put a few drops in his water bowl, 2-3 drops once a week for a month, that should perk him up. try smaller rat or rat pup, he can do months without eating. thats why b12 works great. i suggest get him girlfriend!

[Archimedes]

He's a big boy, and very well could be searching for a pretty girl to spend some time with (and wearing himself out in the process)? Have you offered food since this started? I know Magnus starts prowling and pushing at things when he's hungry, although he's not worn out his energy doing that.

Sent from my warm hide