Hello and A Question?

[MShepherd23]

I just joined the forum and wanted to say hello. I have had all sorts of snakes but the ones I own right now are a baby White Lipped Python and a 3.5 feet Hogg Island Boa. I have a sort of serious question that I am hoping someone can shed some light on. I may just be a paranoid mother and if you think that then please tell me. I love honesty.

Anyway last Saturday I picked up the 3.5 Feet Hogg Island probed male from one of my trusted breeders and friend. Other than some feeding issues. Which consisted of eating medium rats, which in my opinion are too large for the snake. He stopped eating them. Now he feeds on small rats but more often than not mice. He is still eating though. I am going to give him a week and a half or so to settle in and then try a small rat. He eats both live and frozen. Just wanted to provide some background.

Very tame nice snake. Skin is in perfect health, eyes are clear, nostrils are clear, vent is clear, snake is active, and curious. My worry... I have him in a 55 gallon at the moment. He usually sits with his head resting on the corner of the tank with his body stretched out or coiled beneath him. I mean he goes to soak in his water dish, which is large enough for him to get his entire body in it. He is on cage carpet. I am kind of worried he is star gazing which I know is a symptom of IBD that occurs in both boas and pythons. I turned him over on his back and he righted himself immediately and does not seem out of control at all.

Am I just being paranoid or do you think I should take him to a specialist? Eventhough I know IBD is hard to diagnose. I just would not want him to suffer it is a HORRIBLE disease. I know stargazing can be caused by other things but everything seems normal. Thank you for reading this LONG post.

[Will0W783]

Resting the head on the side of the tank is not the same as "star-gazing". Go on to Youtube and look up snake IBD and you will find videos of it. A stargazing snake will not be resting its head on anything, but it will be holding the head up and usually angled backwards and generally show other signs of not being able to coordinate movement, like twisting the body upside down and flopping over, etc. I would not be at all worried, but watch his breathing to make sure he isn't having any difficulty. That could be evidence of a respiratory infection starting.

[MShepherd23]

Thank you so very much. I checked out some of the videos and WOW that is horrible. I hope they find a cure soon. I will keep an eye on his breathing. Once again thank you .

[Will0W783]

No problem. Best of luck. So far, IBD is incurable, but there's always a chance someone will find a cure.