stargazing?

[Solid Snake]

what is meant by a snake thats star gazing? looking up in the sky? or just sitting still and not doing nothing?

[reverendsterlin]

it is another name for IBD a fatal sickness. many snakes will naturally go still looking up, stargazing/IBD is a neurological problem that is highly contagious

[Solid Snake]

contagious? how is it? whats neurological?

[Batdad]

Neurological is something that attacks the nerves system.

[Zoe]

Stargazing is a symptom of IBD, I believe not a synonym for it. When a snake is "star gazing", his head is way about and sometimes flipped all the way around or waving back and forth.

http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/sacs/wildlife/photos/IncBdy/IBD2.jpg

[Zoe]

And yes, it is very contagious:
http://www.rendall38.freeserve.co.uk/html/body_ibd_page_.htm
http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/sacs/wildlife/IBDINFO.html

[Smilts]

do alot of those cases go around

[Zoe]

Well, not near as common as mites or anything like that, but you see it on occasion. Thats why its important to always quarantine and get vet checks for every new arrival!

[eyespy]

It's not just IBD that causes stargazing, thiamine deficiencies, paramyxoviruses, adenovirus, and mycotoxins have all been known to produce the same symptom. Head injuries can induce stargazing as well.

[Lisa]

I found our burms used to star gaze when they were in a top opening cage. they stoped as soon as they were in a front opening cage.

[Linds]

Stargazing can also be a symptom of a respiratory infection. Often people confuse stargazing with the snake simply looking up. Not all causes of stargazing are contagious, such as neurological damage due to trauma or toxins (like pesticides).