Odd problem from last night...

[killingjoker]

Hi guys, I am obviously new here, and had a rather odd question that I am a bit paranoid over right now.

My boy was fine last evening, and we played for about an hour, as we always do in the evening, then I returned him to his house and went to the store. When I came back, I was abotu to go to bed, and went by to say good nite to the ol chap, and he was in a tight "S" form at the head, with mouth agape, like he was either gagging or having a siezure. His tongue was to the side of his mouth, and this all looked very painful to him. Just as I was about go into the aquarium to get him and see if I could figure out what was going on, it stopped, and he proceeded to do the little BP yawn for several minutes. He was also rubbing his nose and side of his head really hard into the glass and astro turf. Not bumping it, just rubbing on it. He is not shedding as that was just wrapped up about three weeks ago, and has not recently eaten, and infact turned away food this past weekend. Three more times last night between about midnight till around 4:30AM he went into this seizure/choking like stance, and would spend the next several minutes "yawning" to try and realign his jaw. I have been able to look in his mouth, and there is no foreign objects there, he has no odd odor, and is not producing phelgm or has the RI sighns such as sneezing, or over production of liquid. Other than this new thing he started last night, he seems fairly healthy. Healthy stools, good body weight, no mites, but he just doesnt seem right today. Am I just being paranoid, or what should I do? help....

[sk8er4life]

i dont really have an answer 4 u all i cand do is wish u the best of luck!

[Schlyne]

Could you mention how long you've had him, how big your snake is, what your temps and humidity are like?

I don't have any specific answers for you right now, but I"m sure those questions will come up from other people...

[killingjoker]

We've only had him for about a month. He is 7 years old.

He is about 3.75 feet long.

Temps in the day stay at about 80, night can drop to about 75, at the top, but on the bottom where he stays, it is closer to 80.

Today, he seems fine, like nothing happened. It is the oddest thing I have seen.

[Ginevive]

Is there any chance that something may have been frightening him, prior to you walking into the room? I know that some BPs will assume the S position and get defensive if they feel threatened. Do you have a dog, cat, or small child in your house which may have scared the snake?
Another possibility could be mites...? I have read that they will rub on things if there are mites or ticks on them.
What is your setup/temps/etc?

[killingjoker]

Well, everyone was asleep when this started. It was just after midnight. His cage is next to my side of the bed, ands there was nothing around him. The dog sleeps outside, we have a cockatiel and a prairie dog, but they live in the kitchen area, and Dinner the rat is in the den.

Now, Aleister does NOT like my daughter at all. He will tense up as soon as she is around, but she was long asleep when this all happened.

This really wasnt a reaction out of fear tho. His mouth was strained wide open, so tensed up he was shaking, very much looked like a grand mal seizure.

Is it possible for snakes to have an eplipsy type of disorder? I know my prairie dog has epilepsy. This really really sucks

[First_time_herp]

You have a Prarie Dog?

[invadertoast]

Daytime temps should be around 90 on the warm side, maybe that's causing him some discomfort. I've never heard of this though :? I'm sure somebody here will be of more assistance, this is a helpful bunch of people! Best of luck!

Oh yeah, and welcome to the site! I'm sure you'll like it here

[killingjoker]

Yes, we have a PD, have had her for about 5 years now. Awesome pet. We refer to her as our oldest daughter. She is about a year older than our daughter, well, a year and a half. More well bahaved than the dog, and most of the time, the kids too. :wink:

[killingjoker]

Thanks for the welcome invadertoast. I am sure we will get it figured out. If he does this tonight, he is going into the ER vet. Right now, he seems like he is ok though. Will wait and see how he does the rest of the day. Like having a sick child. I havent slept but a couple of hours since all this started.