HELP! Jungle Carpet Python Twitching her head?

[Degroot17]

Has anyone ever experienced a Carpet Python shaking her head when coiled up on a branch?

I have a 6 month old Jungle Carpet Python. She just ate her first f/t rat fuzzie a couple days ago. I feed her in a box so she didn't digest any shavings and the substrate I have her on in her cage is aspen bedding, although she is never on the ground. I have her in an arboreal cage, so she is always on her branches all curled up. I think she is going to shed soon because she is turning off yellow and a little bluish colour yet her eyes have not gone milky yet. The temperatures in her cage is an ambiant tempurate of 85F and basking around 90F, at night it cools off at high 70's. I also have the humidity at 60%.

So she is eating fine and seems really active in her cage yet I have noticed her shaking her head. Anyone that has seen this before in carpets or might know why she is, please let me know.

Thanks,

Mike

[Aaron_S]

I would check for mites. I really don't know how I can help you otherwise. Except that carpets tend to be semi-aboreal, so you don't need a full aboreal set up.

[Chu'Wuti]

I take it this is a new behavior? Is she shaking her head like a dog shedding water? If so, it certainly seems as if mites could be the source of the problem. I'll try to find out more . . .

[Degroot17]

She has about 3 feet by 3 feet of ground space with a hide box and a water dish also has platforms with hide boxes and all she does is spends time in her branches all curled up and sometime in her fake plants that are attached to the sides of her cage. Also she is not even 2 feet yet prolly about 20" long. I guess it could be mites but its like a twitch side to side not really a shake like a dog would. I'll spray her with a de-mite solution called nix and see if that helps.

[Degroot17]

I think I found mold on the bamboo I have in the cage. Could this be what causes the head twitch and I think I heard her wheeze a bit almost like if you breath out of your nose when its stuffy. I'm almost positive that its not an RI though. I took out the bamboo and will wash the cage out. But for branches, would PVC piping work, or would that be bad for griping. Due to the humidity mold will grow easy and I think putting any kind of wood in will cuase the mold to come back.

[citysnakes]

mold will still grow whether you have PVC perches or not. you need to slightly increase your ventilation and/or decrease the amount you mist the enclosure. you may even need to increase the misting with the increased ventilation so youre most likely going to have to play around with it for a bit. if youre growing mold though i would definitely increase the ventilation inside that enclosure. an enclosure that grows mold is probably not too good for the respiratory system of the snake so if you heard the snake making "stuffy nose" sounds than it could possibly be a respiratory infection. just keep an eye on it until you become 100% positive that its not an RI.

[Will0W783]

Scorched PVC pipe perches are absolutely awesome! I made some for my etb, gtp, and carpets, although my adult male rarely uses his. They are more sanitary than wood, don't mold, and they have the grip the snakes need that plain pvc lacks, and they look just like natural branches- if you don't look too closely you'd swear it was an actual branch. The Carnivorous Orchid gives a great step-by-step guide, and you get to burn plastic! What's more fun than playing with a blow torch??
Scorched PVC Perches (http://www.thecarnivorousorchid.com/i/scorchedperch.htm)

[citysnakes]

i use plain pvc perches and my GTPs grip fine.:crazy2:

[Will0W783]

Plain ones are fine, I just like the look of the scorched ones and they give a better grip and a rough place for the snake to rub on to shed. Just a preference really.

[citysnakes]

ya scorched ones look pretty cool.

[Will0W783]

Degroot17, have you figured out what was wrong with the snake? Is she doing ok?