What are signs of impaction?

[RedSidedSPR]

How would you know if a snake is impacted?

[guidofatherof5]

Outward signs would be a lack of eating. Lack of activity or just an overall change in behavior.
Other signs can be a crusty or dirty vent.
The obvious sign would be a lump or blockage felt in the intestinal tract.
It may be visible or may not be. It usually doesn't move from a location once found, usually.
These are just my observations and thoughts on the situation.;)

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks. I needed to know cause I just don't understand why my adult suddenly isn't eating again, he's acting weird and it just worries me.

No crusty vent, no noticeable lump...

What are some causes? Ingested bedding?

[guidofatherof5]

Describe "acting weird"

[RedSidedSPR]

Well, mostly just being really iffish with food, except occasionally meals.. He'll eat none, a lot, hardly any, one day he'll eat fish and no worms, next day he'll eat worms and no fish... Yesterday (see my sneezing thread) he was actin weird with the food, like he wanted to grab it, but couldn't. He'd open and cloth his mouth, several times and than leave. Spit one out once he finally did grab it. Then of course, the "sneezing".

Other stuff I can't think of at the moment, he's just acting different, mostly with food.

[guidofatherof5]

How often are you feeding this snake?

[RedSidedSPR]

Used to be a few times a week when he was eating normal. Now I attempt to feed him every other day, but he probable only eats a small meals worth per week the way he's acting.

[guidofatherof5]

It's really hard to say what's going on.
A Vet. is always an option but I'm not sure what a Vet. could do at this point.
I would isolate the snake and watch it closely. It may not be anything but seasonal changes in this individual snake.
Then again it could be the beginning of something else.
As long as it is eating and not losing weight you might just have to be patient to see where it's going.

[RedSidedSPR]

He seems fine otherwise, so I'm not too worried.. But I really don't know if it's anything bad or not. I'll do like you said, thanks for your help.

[RedSidedSPR]

And he's already isolated, meaning he's living in his own tank as always.

[guidofatherof5]

I think that's a wise precaution until you know what's going on.;)

[RedSidedSPR]

Well he's always been in his own tank. The babies are together in a 10, the checkered is alone, and my adult (theme of this thread) is in the 20gal I got when in found him last year. He hasn't had roommates yet.

[d_virginiana]

I didn't realize you hadn't had him for very long (like, enough winters to have a really good idea of how he does/doesn't go off food). If you've only had him one year then it's definitely possible that he's just sensing the season change and slowing down :) Just keep a watch on him and make sure he's not losing weight and doesn't seem to have trouble breathing.

[RedSidedSPR]

I've had him since 2010 summer. I had to do a mini brumation cause he stopped eating, but it wasnt this early, and i'm also worried because he JUST came off his 3 month summer fast. He's eaten one meals worth of food in 4 months.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

does anyone have some pics of what it could look like. For further reference please.