Upside down BP

[unknownclown]

So I woke up this morning and found my rescued female BP lying upside down under the heat lamp. I'm not sure what to think I dont know if she could be gravid since I rescued her and a male about a month ago both were very underweight especially her. I got them from a vet who did all the medical tests after they were left on thier doorstep in a pillowcase. She has been eating everything I throw at her and gaining weight fairly rapidly. The last time she ate was yesterday like a champ where she ate 3 small rats since I didnt have any large to offer her.
Any ideas why she would be doing this? Ive never seen her or any of my other BPs go upsidedown to help with digestion...

[lady_bug87]

I'm not sure at all but isnt that a sign of Neuro issues?

[Will0W783]

Lying with the lower half of the body turned upside down under the heat source is common with gravid snakes, as it helps the eggs develop properly. However, a snake that is not gravid should not lie like that....and usually gravid snakes will not accept food.

I would suggest doing a quick neurological test:
If you pull her out of the cage, does she move about normally? If you take her out and she is crawling around, and then you lay her down on her back, does she turn back over quickly, or just stay that way?
A snake that does not quickly turn back over when it is placed on its back is a sign of neurological issues....also look for spiraling motions, corkscrewing of the neck and head, and inability to move. These signs generally come on gradually and usually do not just appear overnight; however, exposure to a toxin could cause sudden nervous system damage. Have you used anything like a pest strip or sevendust for mites?

[unknownclown]

She was perfectly fine yesterday practically snatching food out of my hand. Looking over now she has righted herself and back on her belly. She has nor been in contact with anything dangerous never had mites or pest strips here *knock on wood*

[lady_bug87]

i dont know about snakes but my gravid Lacerta eats constantly

[CDN_Blood]

It's a sign she's likely gravid.

[unknownclown]

Anyone know the likelihood of the eggs being healthy since she was so underweight? I honestly can't see it bein anything mental. I'm hoping this is a freak thing I'm so not informed on bp breeding. although at least I have an incubator.

[Norm66]

I hope she's OK. I know that would have scared the bejeezus out of me though.

[CDN_Blood]

They'll probably be fine, just a little on the small side.

[ZARADOZIA]

Mine does that every once in a while. First time I saw her do it, it scared the crap out of me. I don't know why she does it (not gavid) but every few months or so she flip upside down. I just pull her out and make sure she is ok and then put her back.

[jaleely]

CDN_blood....really? I'm surprised she wouldn't abort naturally, if she was so underweight. Snakes are so amazing though. Poor babies!

I guess my only advice is unknownclown, maybe add a calcium suppliment? Is that safe to do, since she was underweight, and gravid?

[unknownclown]

Mine does that every once in a while. First time I saw her do it, it scared the crap out of me. I don't know why she does it (not gavid) but every few months or so she flip upside down. I just pull her out and make sure she is ok and then put her back.

Thanks for that, Im hoping she is doin it to mess with me :P my first thought was OH CRAP SHES DEAD!
Although she is not as big and healthy as my other female Im hoping if she is gravid she has enough weight on her... if you look at the pic shes not all that thin anymore. I did some reading and she could have some of the visual hints that she might be gravid like her back has a peak and holding her up shes a bit mishapened but those symptoms can be due to her just eating..
I will keep an eye on her shes now in our bedroom and if she does pop out some eggs I will bust out the incubator. Im hoping not though since we have enough here and I am spreading myself way too thin as it is in this dang zoo Im running :wacky:
42 snakes, 4 lizards, 3 cats, 1 dog, 1 parakeet, 1 kid and a husband and I have to feed and pick up after each and every one of them :tired1_2:

[ZARADOZIA]

Thanks for that, Im hoping she is doin it to mess with me :P my first thought was OH CRAP SHES DEAD!
Although she is not as big and healthy as my other female Im hoping if she is gravid she has enough weight on her... if you look at the pic shes not all that thin anymore. I did some reading and she could have some of the visual hints that she might be gravid like her back has a peak and holding her up shes a bit mishapened but those symptoms can be due to her just eating..
I will keep an eye on her shes now in our bedroom and if she does pop out some eggs I will bust out the incubator. Im hoping not though since we have enough here and I am spreading myself way too thin as it is in this dang zoo Im running :wacky:
42 snakes, 4 lizards, 3 cats, 1 dog, 1 parakeet, 1 kid and a husband and I have to feed and pick up after each and every one of them :tired1_2:

Yea, I thought the same thing the first time I saw Sasha upside down. I almost started crying because I thought she was dead too. She has flipped upside down a handful of times in the past year. It still freaks me out when I see it because it just looks unnatural but I contain myself until I pick her up. Then she flips right side up and noses me (She likes to put her face in mine, nose to nose - no clue why) she's physically fine. I think she's a little daft or maybe it's like when we were kids and liked to hang upside down? *Shrugs*

WOW You have your hands full! Next time my hubby complains about my reptile fetish, I am going to show him this comment!!

[Jacob1750]

I had a female BP that was gravid and she would regularly crawl under her lamp and flip over. I had the same reaction you did. She was a rescue too and she was actually smaller than your female in the picture!lol I was unaware that she was gravid because she ate regularly up until about two weeks before she laid her eggs and all of them came out fine, despite the fact that she was under weight. I would keep an eye on her, but dont get too worried. Good luck!!!

[millertime89]

if she's so underweight I would take her to a vet and check to see if she is gravid, you don't want her to get eggbound and die after you've spent all that time getting her healthy again.