My snake is biting himself and twitching. Is he sick or stressed?

Snakes will regurgitate or vomit when handled roughly too soo after eating or drinking, when stressed, ill or if ambient temperature is low. Just one episode is no cause for concern. If it continues, have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet. In the meantime, confirm proper temperatures and survey the area in and around the enclosure for negative stimuli. Reduce or eliminate any negative stimuli.

Ball pythons are typical not very aggressive unless it is a female protecting her eggs. Also, juveniles can be a bit mouthy but they typically outgrow it with regular handling and as they mature. Reedus may be stressed. Survey the area in and around the enclosure for any negative stimuli. This may include loud noises, strong vibrations, bright lights or high traffic. Reduce or eliminate any if found. Provide a hide on each side of the enclosure. If Reedus will allow, handle him/her for ever increasing periods of time. You can place a small article of your clothing in the enclosure to get him/her used to your scent. If the behavior persists, consider an exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness or injury. Either can cause a sudden change in behavior.

Those bumps aren't presenting the way burns would, but without a physical exam, it is difficult to say for sure. Infection would be high on the list. You'll need to have him seen by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. If infection is diagnosed, S will need antibiotics. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the doctor. S soak in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte can treat or prevent minor dehydration. It may also provide some itch relief.

It's possible Basil may be a little stressed, or may even have some irritation on the skin such as an infection or parasite. Checking to make sure her environment is the right temperature and humidity as well as enriching is a good first step. If everything looks OK but the behavior continues, having your local exotics vet take a look is best to rule out any skin infections.

The changes to his enclosure may have caused stress. Low temps can affect digestion in reptiles. If temps were down, this could affect defecation. Try soaking him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes. This will provide warmth and hydration. To stimulate defecation, gently massage the belly from front to back during the soak. If the behavior persists, consider an exam with your veterinarian or vet experienced in treating reptiles.

This is not normal behavior for a snake and may be neurological in nature. Have Checkers examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp veterinarian. Bathing or soaking would not be recommended until the condition is diagnosed and/or treated as turning over in the water increases the risk of drowning or aspirating water.

I am sorry for the loss of your snakes. Ideally, Ivory should be physically examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet, especially in light of your recent losses. The spots could indicate infection (bacterial, fungal or even a viral condition). It is difficult to make a detrmination by looking at an image. In the meantime, clean and sanitize all the enclosures, bowls, hides and tank furniture. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Wash your hands thoroughly between handling each snake. Confirm, again if necessary, proper environmental parameters. Low temps can lead to stress which may predispose a snake to infection or illness. High humidity can foster bacterial or fungal overgrowth. Consider using paper towels as substrate until the issue is resolved. Change them daily to maintain clean conditions.