Snake spinning in circles

[abcat1993]

My ~12 year old male garter I've had since it was a yearling just started spinning in circles over itself in its cage. It will spin for a minute or so, then go back to normal. I've seen it do this twice today. It shed last night, so maybe that has something to do with it, but I've never noticed it before. I also temporarily downsized his tank from a 40 breeder to a 10, so that could be another reason for this behavior.

This isn't my video, but this is what his behavior looks like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISMk0jVRBfM

[Zdravko092368]

What's his diet like?

[abcat1993]

Basically the same it's been for the last 10 years. 90% raw fish dipped in calcium/D3, with occasional pinky mice and beef. The only big difference is that recently I've started feeding him tilapia instead of the usual salmon

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like possibly B1 deficiency. How is the tilapia bought? prepackaged frozen? Product of what country? Ingredients listed?

[Albert Clark]

Wow! Very sad to see. Reminds me of my blue puget male who suffered a vitamin B1 deficiency after being brumated for 4 months. The actual corkscrewing and posturing he did looked different from this. My male had a head tilt as well. I almost thought in this video that he was trying to breed with hisself. 90% fish is quite a bit ,and if you were giving calcium with D3 every time you fed him or very often he could be overloaded with calcium or hypercalcemia. He needs more rodent in the diet and I would recommend a vet for the professional diagnosis. My blue puget got better (to a degree) bc if it is vitamin B1 deficiency and caught early it can be treated effectively. Good luck with him.

[guidofatherof5]

I also have concerns about Sodium tripolyphosphate.
Here's a threat started a few years back by Infernalis
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husb...ozen-fish.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_triphosphate

[abcat1993]

Thanks for the links. The tilapia is prepackaged frozen, as is most of the salmon I've fed him. The ingredients are just tilapia and salt. I'm not sure if they can list sodium tripolyphosphate as just 'salt' (since it technically is a salt).

I only use calcium about every 3rd time I feed him. I'll pick up a multivitamin dip or B1 dip before the next time I feed him.

I've still only seen him do this twice, so hopefully it's nothing. I couldn't find any information on this behavior specific to garter snakes, but other snake forums said anything from bacterial infections to dehydration to mating, so it would be nice to know a specific cause

[Albert Clark]

Cool. I would just not even feed fish (especially prepackaged) nor would I use the calcium at least until you get a better handle on the behavior. The multivitamin sounds like a plan to use sparingly as well. Consider the vet if it continues. Good luck again.

[Zdravko092368]

Salt shouldn't be on the ingredients list if you want to be completely safe, ditch the tilapia, buy him fresh stuff or order Sallys silversides online(the best IMO).

[Roedstroempen]

I think it looks like he is courting himself? My male does that too sometimes - I only feed him rodents. But sometimes he thinks he's a lady snack. It can happen when they shed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpjybjUuASM