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Weird IJ Carpet Python

11malibu

11malibu

New member
I've had my carpet for about 4 months now. She regurged when I first got her, she also had a little behavior issues when I got her. Over the last 4 months she has improved greatly. I have absolutely fell in love with this snake. Now on to the bad part. Her last feeding was about 3.5 weeks ago, I'm not so much worried about the time as much as her activity. She was acting a little strange before that feeding but not to bad. She progressively starting acting different, her head movement is very erratic, she falls off her log, let's her head hang and wobble which is very strange for her. I tried to feed her about 4 days ago and it was like she was there but there wasn't any lights on up stairs. Wondered around the tub aimlessly and didn't even acknowledge I was trying to feed her, she's been a regular feeder for the last 3 months, or if she didn't eat she would at least acknowledge I or the rat was there. She also goes upside down sometimes. She will be going to the vet but I wanted to post and see what y'all said. Thank you
 
So I just got her out of her viv to see how she was doing and she was all over the place, upside down and just moving in any direction with no purpose. I can barely hold her.
 
Well that doesn't sound good at all. I've read about stuff like this, but really don't know anything about it. Sorry to hear you're going through it. Let us know what the vet says for sure!
 
Is it a Jag? That sounds like the neuro wobble that is linked to Jags.
If it is not a Jag, that is a serious problem, and should see a vet immediately.

One concern I have about the symtoms, is that it sounds similar to IBD, which is not as common in Carpet Pythons as in Boas, but I see you aquired a Red Tail last month.

IBD can wipe out an entire collection.

Reguriging can be a symptom of IBD as well as the corkscrewing neuro issues.
Pythons can show neuro signs sooner than Boas.

I'd get this snake in to a vet ASAP and have him/her tested.
 
She is an Irian Jaya Carpet. She goes to vet tomorrow morning, as far as I could tell IBD also effected the tail movement, she gets around her viv and is very active just is all over the place and goes upside down. She regurgitated when I first got her which I attribute to prey size and her type of prey was changed. Previous owner fed two chicks instead of rats. I attempted to switch her to rats, they told me she has eaten a medium rat before so that what I went with. It was to big, she has eaten regularly since then until now.
 
Just a read a bit more on IBD and that could be it. Doesn't always effect the back half of the snake. I won't jump to any conclusions to soon tho. IBD isn't cure able and they say infected snakes should be euthanized. Let's hope she has something simple wrong with her and she leads a long healthy life from here on out.
 
Dehydration can cause neuro symtoms as well.

Let's hope it's not IBD.
What is your quarentine procedure?
Is the Boa that you got on 6/13/15 still in quarentine?

Some links:
VetMed

Reptiles Magazine

Pet Education

Derisilab

Merck Vet Manual

"Pythons are thought to be an abnormal host to the IBD retrovirus because the course of disease is more acute and neurologic symptoms more profound. Most pythons present with severe neurologic disease. While the active disease can linger for months or more in boas, most pythons die within days or weeks of the onset of clinical signs."

Vet Purdue

"While boas tend to be asymptomatic carriers and can remain carriers for their entire
lives, pythons tend to become sick more readily and illness progresses much more quickly than in boas."


*I suggest reading all of the artices. You will find good information in all of them.
 
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Quarantine wasn't as long as it should have been, but my boa still shows no signs of any sickness what so ever. She was quarantined till this past week. I had to move her because I live in a small apartment and the only room not cooled by a/c is my bedroom, which also is where I keep my snakes. The only other thing I can think of is that she struck at a rat about a month ago but missed, which isn't abnormal for her, she misses a lot. When she missed she hit the side of the tub pretty hard, she struck again and ate fine right after the impact.
 
Ok so I just had another thought, about 1.5-2 months ago I switched from buying petco frozen rodents to buying frozen rodents from a local pet store. I read that the virus can also come from rodents. The store I got then from has all sorts of different snakes to include boas.
 
The rat that she are last which was about a month and a half ago was the first rat she are from there. Then she started developing symptoms not to long after. Maybe I am over thinking it but just a thought.
 
11malibu said:
Quarantine wasn't as long as it should have been, but my boa still shows no signs of any sickness what so ever. She was quarantined till this past week. I had to move her because I live in a small apartment and the only room not cooled by a/c is my bedroom, which also is where I keep my snakes. The only other thing I can think of is that she struck at a rat about a month ago but missed, which isn't abnormal for her, she misses a lot. When she missed she hit the side of the tub pretty hard, she struck again and ate fine right after the impact.
Click to expand...

Since you have had the Boa for a little over a month now, he should be in quarantine for a few more months. Some do 3-4 months, some do 6 months. depending on the source where the Boa came from.

If you read the articles, Boas can be carriers and not show signs.
Also, Pythons seem to be affected quicker than Boas, and show neuro signs first, whereas Boas show neuro later on.

11malibu said:
Ok so I just had another thought, about 1.5-2 months ago I switched from buying petco frozen rodents to buying frozen rodents from a local pet store. I read that the virus can also come from rodents. The store I got then from has all sorts of different snakes to include boas.
Click to expand...
I've never heard that.

Unless the rat was in the the Boa enclosure, exposed to the Boa, and then later sold to you, I'd say there's no way that is a valid way of transmission.
 
I hate to say it, but it does sound like there's a chance your IJ may have IBD, and if you didn't really quarantine your Boa, I'd have them both checked.

IBD is mostly found in Boas and Pythons (Boids), but can affect other species as well.

It is very serious, and can wipe out an entire collection.
 
It was IBD, stitches is no longer with us. When I get paid this Friday my boa (Sinder) is going in for blood tests to see if she has it.
 
Crap. That sucks, man.
I was afraid of that.
I am so sorry to hear that.
I'm wondering if the Boa brought it in, because they can be carriers, and not necessarily present symptoms, but still infect others.
Pythons seem to have sudden onset and deteriorate rapidly.

I do home the rest of your animals end up ok!!
 
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