iHerp Answers: Crazy Woma ball python

iHerp Answers!

Problem?

Search Create an Account, It's Free!

Home > iHerp Answers > Crazy Woma ball python

Crazy Woma ball python

Posted By:

ttremain

I have a male ball python, morph: woma, about 3 years old.

He acts completely crazy. Think of the spider wobble, but 50 times over... He doesn't seem to know up from down, and when he's out (especailly) he searches his surroundings, sideways, upsidedown, etc. He doesn't crawl on his back, but it's when he's searching the air, he practicly stands on his head.

We've nicknamed him "Crazy Wally" because of this behaviour.

It seems to me, I read once that Womas have a similar condition to the spider wobble, but I cannot seem to confirm this now.

I've also read that there is an illness that can cause disorientation that might manifest this way.

Any additional info would be appreciated!

Thank you!


Points:	100
Topics:	General Health , Genetics , Knowledge Base
Tags:	Ball, Health, Python, Regius, Wobble, Woma
Species:	Pythons > Pythons > Python regius
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

5/14/2010 6:24:50 AM

abi21491

Has he had it his entire life or did he just start showing this behavior? The disease you are thinking of is IBD (Inclusion Body Disease) which is highly contagious and fatal. I would quarantine him and make a trip to the vet to rule this out - better safe than sorry. Here is a link with information on IBD: http://www.anapsid.org/ibd.html I personally have never heard of Womas exhibiting the wobble like Spiders, but I'm not going to rule it out. Has he ever been subjected to too high of temperatures? Sometimes reptiles who have gone through a heat surge will exhibit neurological problems that will 1) disappear over time or 2) stick with them for life. Good luck with him.

Member Comment

5/14/2010 8:22:28 AM

Mintsiez

here is what ibd looks like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZrDfW9-4g8&feature=related hopfully its not that

Accepted Answer

5/14/2010 11:37:46 AM

shellboa

It is an inbreeding trait very similar to the spider wobble, mine does the same thing and has done it since hatching. None of the snakes kept in the same rack have developed similar symptoms and it has been almost a year since I introduced him. Its a sad reflection on the demand for ball morphs but I don't see an end to it...

Either way unless your snake develops more of the symptoms common to either IBD or Crypto, I wouldn't worry too much. As always a fecal never hurts and if you are truly still concerned a visit to the vet is worth the peace of mind.

Member Comment

5/14/2010 1:08:31 PM

EbonayiasGirl

Yeah I would totally take him to the vet for sure. IBD isn't something to play around with or wait on. Better to find out and rule it out, or if the snake has it, sadly put it down then get the rest of your collection checked. That's pretty odd behavior. Anyway, good luck.

Author Comment

5/14/2010 2:58:13 PM

ttremain

We first noticed the strange behaviour about 6 months ago. He's always had a great appitite, and still does.

He seems fine in every other way.

I saw several videos on youtube of snakes with IBD, and they all seem to be very weak. I.E. they will do the stargaze, then their heads will just drop. His head doesn't drop like that, but I will get him to a vet anyway. Today.

The only other time I've ever seen anything odd with him, was the other day, I opened his tub, and picked him up and his entire body was limp. I was afraid he might be dead. After a few moments he slowly started to "wake up"

Member Comment

5/15/2010 9:19:28 PM

amarilrose

ttremain: how long have you had this animal? did you pruchase him recently or have you had him for most of his life?

Also, IBD is only one disease that could manifest this way; there are many others including cryptosporidiosis and paramyxovirus. If you've owned this animal for a long time and suddenly saw a change in his behavior, do not hesistate to get him to a vet. If you purchased him fairly recently, I think it would still be a good idea to get him checked out by a vet; the implications for the behaviors you're describing range from "gee that's weird" to diseases that could wipe out any other reptile pets you may have and cost you a hefty price tag to correct.

Member Comment

5/15/2010 10:17:58 PM

Katie M

Stargazing behavior can be caused by parasites, toxins, overheating, etc. Eitherway, a vet visit IS in order

Author Comment

5/24/2010 2:38:27 AM

ttremain

Not IBD... After some bloodwork, doc says he (and I'm no medic, so 1/2 what she said went in one ear and out the other) does have a congestion of sorts, that could be affecting his brain stem. He's now on an anti-biotic and anti-inflamitory. What that doesn't take care of, is probalby just normal Woma behaviour.

Member Comment

6/5/2010 10:32:19 AM

AGActaeonia

FYI: (for future reference) most bloodwork applications cannot conclusively diagnose IBD - unless there have been some very serious innovations in the last few years. The only way to determine the presence of inclusion bodies is with a brain or liver sample and during necropsy and this method fails in itself 4 times out of 5.

Member Comment

6/7/2010 1:08:47 AM

amarilrose

Actually, to refine what AGActaeonia said, it IS possible to biopsy a liver tissue sample from a live animal to check for the presence of inclusion bodies, this is not a necropsy-only option, but the methods of sampling the liver tissue vary from vet to vet, which also affects the accuracy of the histological preparation in diagnosis of IBD. It is correct however, that a tissue sample is superior to a blood sample for diagnosing IBD.

Member Comment

6/27/2010 2:23:59 AM

bondo

My guess is he just has the "wobble" that womas, spiders, caramels, etc... have. He probably got stressed with the infection so the wobble came out at full power. Some snakes show very little wobble or no wobble and then one day they are doing backflips. I suppose IBD could be a possibility, but womas have been known to wobble. I assume that this is just the regular woma and not the hidden gene woma?

Member Comment

1/25/2011 11:26:04 AM

abi21491

This question has had no activity for 14 days and will be closed by an administrator unless the original poster takes action.

Recommended Action: Points awarded

An administrator will select responses and assign points at their discretion.

Original poster, please close this question out and assign points. If you have any further information in the resolution of your problem, please post it here so that others may learn from it.

You are not logged in. If you would like to participate (it's free!), you must log in, or Become a Member!