Head Twitch

[Light of Dae]

My female checkered garter I think has a neurological issue. I've seen it happen three times now. First time I saw it she looked like she was going to yawn then she opened her mouth and looked like she was trying to bite the back of her head, freaking out fast, lasted for 60-90 seconds.

The second time she kept her mouth closed and just nodded her head a couple quick times.

Third time it was to the side, she twisted her head quickly back n forth.

Each time it was a couple days apart. Mind you I don't stare at her all day. So it could be happening more then just a few times. She moves normal other wise.

I think I'm naming her Twitch

[Light of Dae]

Do Neurological issues get worse with age or do they normally stay the same?

[guidofatherof5]

Give us some snake history.
How long have you had her?
Approximately how old is she?
What has she been eating and how often?
Photos would be good.

[EasternGirl]

I know that neuro issues can happen in albinos. I'm sure you remember that my snow radix, Possum, has a neuro disorder. I don't know how often they occur in non-albinos, for lack of a better term. If it is a neuro disorder is does not necessarily mean the worst...some snakes get worse and some stay the same. Possum is over a year old now and his problem has not progressed...he is very healthy despite his neuro challenges. If you could take a video by any chance, that would be really helpful.

[Light of Dae]

Give us some snake history.
How long have you had her?
Approximately how old is she?
What has she been eating and how often?
Photos would be good.

Got her on Oct.4.
She is probably about 5 months old.
Come to think of it... she was being fed rosy red minnows and pinkie mice.
Now is strictly on Worms and Pinkie Mice with few Silversides

Would finding a B vitamin supplement help at this point? Could it reverse it?

[guidofatherof5]

It certainly can't hurt. Blaming it on the rosies certainly would be presumptive.
It could be a combination of a couple things most of which you have no control of.
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[Invisible Snake]

First time I saw it she looked like she was going to yawn then she opened her mouth and looked like she was trying to bite the back of her head, freaking out fast, lasted for 60-90 seconds.

This particular movement is what happened when my young garter snake started getting seizures, he eventually died. He was also being fed minnows.

[EasternGirl]

I would get the vitamin B supplement to avoid further deficiency and try to stop the problem, if that is the case. But you may want to get her checked by a vet to determine if that is actually the case. I don't know if giving vitamin B can be a problem if the snake is not actually deficient. If it is a neuro problem, there is nothing you can do but wait and see if it gets worse. If you have a vet, you may want to get her checked out as soon as you can.

[katach]

I don't really have a comment on why she is twitching, but she is pretty. I have a male Puget named Twitch . He's just jumpy though. I really love the look of the normal checkereds. I just got a male from Steve, they are so cool. My female is an albino. Good luck and I hope this turns out to be fixable, or non progressive.

[Light of Dae]

This particular movement is what happened when my young garter snake started getting seizures, he eventually died. He was also being fed minnows.

This is what I was worried about. I just hope it is early enough.

I would get the vitamin B supplement to avoid further deficiency and try to stop the problem, if that is the case. But you may want to get her checked by a vet to determine if that is actually the case. I don't know if giving vitamin B can be a problem if the snake is not actually deficient. If it is a neuro problem, there is nothing you can do but wait and see if it gets worse. If you have a vet, you may want to get her checked out as soon as you can.

I'm planning to get the supplement.
How would a vet check for a deficiency? I haven't found a good herp vet yet and at this point I don't have money to buy a cup of coffee lol so a vet will be a little ways off yet.