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Sick python?

D

Demonique

New member
I was in India from Feb 24 - March 5th and when I returned I discovered that my royal python had escaped while I was abroad for the third time in 7 months.

I was sitting down tonight (March 16th) and I heard a noise and saw Jasper slithering out from behind the kitchen cupboard door (which is always open and is one place I didn't look for him and where he probably was all this time).

He was shedding (badly as usual) and I quickly caught him. Realising he must be very thirsty I filled his water bowl and dipped his lips into it. He opened his mouth wide and started twisting his head (I thought he was objecting to the feel of the water on his lips), he then closed his mouth, but lifted his head and started shaking his head slightly from side to side, actually it looked more like twitching.

I'm afraid that this is stargazing and he may have Boid Inclusion Body Disease.
I bought a baby Hog Island Boa 6 1/2 months ago, her tank is directly under his. Could Crikey have had IBD when I bought her and infected Jasper? She appears healthy herself at the moment and greedily gulped down her mouse dinner.

Or is Jasper's 'stargazing' because he hasn't had a drink for two weeks and is dehydrated?

I hope it is the latter, because dehydration is a lot less fatal and a lot more easily treated than IBD
 
I would quarantine him straight away for starters. Hes obviously extremely stressed after his ordeal so I advise you leave him alone for a good 10 days or so to get used to his surroundings all over again. I would also triple check he CANNOT escape his enclosure... once is understandable, but three times is a little irresponsible on your behalf.

I would secondly take a fecal to the vet, and explain his symptoms when you are there, to see if the vet feels its necessary to give him a physical examination or carry out more tests. Get you boas fecal checked aswell, just incase.

I was also a little concerned about the "bad shed as usual" statement. IMO he doesn't have sufficient humidity in his enclosure when in shed. Thats easily solved. I reccommend not taking the shed off straight away. Up the humidity to 80/90% for the next few days so it has a chance to moisten the skin and loosen the stuck shed. Then attempt to gently peel the skin off.

BTW IBD is fatal in boids, especially pythons :( You will notice a sharp decline in his health if it is indeed this disease... A fecal will reveal anything internally wrong with him.
 
Turns out it's highly unlikely to be IBD as it turns out the disease is not prevalent in the UK and the last snake I purchased came from a well-known boa breeder in the UK.

He's away from the other snakes ATM, but he seemed back to his normal self the next day. He had a good drink and is feeding again.

Can anyone recommend a good reptile vet in Dublin, Ireland?
 
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