Mad Garter Disease?!?

[The Nothing]

I have a Thamnophis sirtalis similis (Fl Blue) that has apparently gone crazy. It is acting out completely defensively - ribs flatten, striking at nothing, the works. I've NEVER seen this type of behavoir from this snake, and have had it for about 5 years. Nothing is different about the cage than when I first set it up years ago.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this before? He's gone from a normal snake to completely crazy in the last 2 hours...

[GartersRock]

Wow that's weird... So the only change is aggression at nothing after 5 years of calm behavior? Does anyone have any idea 'cause I don't...

[jitami]

Pain? Irritation from something like mites or parasites? Thiamin deficiancy? How old was it when you got it?

[infernalis]

It sounds as if something is irritating the crap out of it.

What are the temps?? Is it too hot??

I'd try putting it in a tote and placing it somewhere dark and cool to settle it down.


I wish I could more helpful

[adamanteus]

I've had a few 'Florida Blues' that have had a real attitude, I think they're known for it........
I can't explain the sudden change in temperament though.

[The Nothing]

Yeah, it's a bizarre situation. I work with 200 species of reptiles, and haven't seen anything like this. I'm pretty sure that this is some sort of health issue be it neurological (age, unknown disease, etc) or otherwise.

I know the issue is not with husbandry. While he never took to rodents, I've always been able to hand fed him various fish (salmon, trout, tilapia, tuna - scraps from everything the fish market has) with Sticky Tongue Farms Miner-All suppliment, so I don't think that Thiaminese should be the cause of this. I've not heard of any symptoms of Thiaminese to know for sure though.

edit: yes, I've covered the cage and killed the lighting to try to calm him. I can still hear him wrestling around though.

[adamanteus]

I work with 200 species of reptiles.

Wow. That's a lot. I'd like to see photos of your set-up.

[The Nothing]

House of Reptiles
not many pics there though...

[Zephyr]

What are the temps?

[The Nothing]

I understand the importance of temperatures...

Water temp (there is an 8 gallon "pond") - 72F
Basking temp - 86.2F
everywhere else temp - 70.6F