My fiance and I have had snakes for 4 years now. Our first baby is a ball python, 3 years ago for my birthday I got a baby hybrid central american/red tail, then 2 years ago my fiance rescued an albino burmese from a kid who was not properly caring for him. My fiance was unsure of what the kid had been feeding the burmese and didnt have extra money to spare on wasted food, so started feeding him live, needless to say he got mites, then someone picked up our ball who also got mites. Then my baby hybrid got them, they were too much for him and he died this january. We are very close with the owner of the store where we got my hybrid and our ball, trying to help me deal with the loss of my love, he suggested we go to the upcoming convention, as he did not have any redtails large enough for my taste. We went and at first I couldn't find anything, I was looking for a slightly larger male redtail, then, just before I was getting ready to leave I spotted a nice sized snake on a top shelf of one mans display. He gladly let me see him, he was very well tempered and looked very nice, when the man told me no one else had asked to see him that day because it was mostly breeders looking for "perfect" or "rare" animals I was doomed, I told him I had to have him. My fiance's burmese still has a few mites, so despite quarentining him anyway I really wanted him to stay away from him. I had never heard of inclusion body disease before, but I happened to come across someone talking about it when I was looking up some fun facts about red tails to refresh my memory. Someone mentioned "body rattling", but try as I might I couldn't find anyone to describe what that feels or looks like, and it seems that sometimes when I pick up my new pride and joy a certain part of his body almost gurgles, at first I thought maybe he was getting ready to go to the bathroom, but now that I read about inclusion body disease I'm a nervous wreck! can someone please help me get at ease or warm me if something may be wrong!!

I cant answer any of your questions since I"m a frog person, but we have lots of snake people. Someone will chime in.

Welcome to herp center.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

Inclusion body disease is a very serious and fatal disease. A lot of people will describe it as "stargazing". The snake will appear to be staring out into space for a lengthy period of time. It also appears that the snake will have issues righting itself when it falls over.

Do you notice any signs like this?

The one definate thing I can tell you is that it is highly infectious and can wipe out an entire collection with no problem. Extreme quarantine is a must if you even suspect this. Also a vet check is a must.
However, the last I heard there was no cure for that.

I really hope that you do not have that!
and by the way,, welcome to Herpcenter

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I have sucker tattood on my forehead

Welcome to Herpcenter. HOpe you get your questions answered.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

I've never heard of any noises or such being realted to inclusion body disease as it affects the nervos system at the brain causing "ticks" ie. stargazing, spinning (filping over often). As of now thier is still no cure. But what your descibing sounds more to be gastro-inestinal related or gas. Maybe just a bellie good and filled with water if he drank shortly before. Though a bood test will tell for sure. So a trip to the vet would be well worthwile.

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thank you soo much! I kind of suspected that myself, since the breeder said he ate 10 days ago and hasn't gone to the bathroom, he has not exhibeted anything else strange, but I will keep a close eye on him and of course keep him quarentined. I appreciate the information, I think maybe I just scared myself when I started reading about it having lost my pride and joy and my 3 year old blind leopard gecko a week after him, I was nervous to loose another one!

if you think he might be constipated, try soaking in some warm water.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.