Worrying Me, IBD!!!

[The_Godfather]

Runt is finally starting to worry me... His (I think it's a he even tho it was sold as female) behavoir and feeding tendencies are troubling. He was a perfect eater until a month ago, then he stopped eating: Typical ball python behavoir anyway. I think either my ball python is for lack of a better term, retarded. Or has IBD.

First with the symptoms. He has always been extremely flinchy. Extremely, touch his head and wham! He jolts away. When he is hiding under the astroturf if you lift it up he flails his body up and does this mad flopping type deal. If you try and remove him from his cereal box hide he freaks out and contorts his body so he gets stuck in. During handling he twists his body into all there weird positions that bp's typically never do. He's also a lot skinnier then most bp's are. Width is fine. But he has a slender neck and head, always has since I got him. Dunno why though. And he was my best eater. Now with Goldy eating like a pig again, as is Monty, he's my worst.

He's also fasting, and it's bugging the crap outta me. I do not know much about IBD besides the common facts almost everyone knows. I was hoping that Rusty or anyone else can help ease my worries.

Here is a quote that got me wondering:

pythons also tend toward infectious stomatitis ("mouth rot"), heightened or exaggerated reflex responses, disorientation (which may be precipitated by the onset of central blindness) and loss of motor coordination.

No new herps have been in contact with him. I wash my hands after all handlings with my other herps. And he's been acting especially weird for probly 3 months now. I'm probly freaking out, but he is definitely a weirdo.

[Smynx]

Any regurgitation or "star-gazing" behavior?

[The_Godfather]

Nope.

[Smynx]

Mouth rot? Disorientation? Loss of motor coordination?

My understanding is that IBD progresses very rapidly in pythons. If these symptoms started 3 months ago, and it was IBD, Runt probably wouldn't still be with you.

[gozetec02]

I would suggest taking him to the vet right away. Ball Pythons in general dont like their heads being touched so they flinch back and it could be a natural reflex. When ball pythons start losing body mass they tend to lose it toward the front of their body first and is often an indication of an infection of some sort. I agree with Smynx IBD would have done him in very quikly in a matter of weeks. You have had Runt for a long time and I dont think he could have gotten IBD if he is housed alone and none of your other snakes show signs of it. I think that he may have an internal parasite. Again I say take him to the vet and in the mean time make sure he is not dehydrated and up the temps just a little bit.

Its hard to say exactly what it is. But taking him to a vet would narrow it down.

[The_Godfather]

Woohoooo!!! I was just bugging out because he was acting all funny today, and didn't eat last night.

He went fasting right after he got moved into one of the big wooden cages. I moved him back into his shorter, darker, and colder precision. He's taking a nap and I will be trying to feed him a f/t rat on Sunday. For now he is going to be getting about 3 days of pure relaxation.

He has always been a weirdo, but now coupled with the fasting it just got me all freaky. He is very skinny in the upper portion of his body, and always had been. I remember it took Monty till a year of age to fill out.

I monitored him for 15 or so minutes. He is actively flicking his tongue, got out of his hide for water. I think he's fine. But when I read that IBD causes them to become disoriented and whatnot, it got me wondering. I don't hold Runt much, so maybe that is why he isn't acclimated to my touch. I'll work with him and see if it gets better.

Thanks for calming me down. Kaplan's page got me going crazy for about 30 minutes.

[Kara]

He could simply be a dingbat. Occasionally snakes hatch that are just "not right," but otherwise go on to live reasonably normal lives.

Food for thought.

K

[The_Godfather]

Ok, I came home yesterday and decided to peak in on him. He'd been moved back into his beloved precision again. The second I walked into the room his head darted out of the half log hide. It was an obvious strike position.

I quickly thawed a rat and waved it in front of the hide. His head darted out and was quivering like he was ready to pounce at any second. He was moving a million miles an hour, it was awsome. so I shook the rat real fast and he grabbed it. Felt real good. Now he is all set for another 2-3 weeks. It was a good sized rat.

I think he is just an oddball. But a real cute one, seeing him in strike position was cool. It's a rarity for me, he almost always takes an f/t rat inside a snake bag.

[Smynx]

That's great. Sounds like he feels more comfortable and secure in smaller enclosure.

[CTReptileRescue]

He could simply be a dingbat. Occasionally snakes hatch that are just "not right," but otherwise go on to live reasonably normal lives.

Food for thought.

Hey godfather, glad Runt is doing better, sometimes with all the information out there on the net it can be a little overwhelming, ecspecially when your snake may do silly things. I have one of the dumbest ball pythons in the world, I mean if I had to feed her live, the prey would definatly have the time to eat her before she struck correctly at it. Just a bad aiming snake I suppose. So don't fret, and I am happy to hear Runt is better
Rusty