About Star Gazing

What Star Gazing Looks Like

• Star gazing is aptly named, because it often appears the snake is looking straight up, even to the point of its head being extended so far back it's upside down. The head may exhibit strange movements, from swaying back and forth or shaking with tremors. The head may also move around as if the snake was trying to right itself, somewhat aimlessly. The head may also not exhibit movement, and may merely look as if it has "flopped" over upside down.

  While snakes naturally explore their surroundings and may place their heads in an upside-down position every so often, someone who observes their snake frequently will notice that the position of a star gazing snake's head is abnormal.

Cause

• Star gazing is a neurological symptom of a serious virus called inclusion body disease (IBD) that affects snakes. Other symptoms include a lack of mobility, regurgitation, and respiratory infections such as pneumonia. But a snake exhibiting one of these symptoms may not have the disease, and these symptoms individually can be quite common in snakes for a variety of reasons. Star gazing itself may or may not be present in all snakes with IBD.

Affected Species

• Only snakes of the Boidae family, boas and pythons, are known to be affected by IBD. But little is known about how IBD is transmitted or whether non-Boidae snakes can carry the virus or not.

Treatment

• There is no cure for IBD, and therefore no cure for star gazing. Once a snake with IBD begins star gazing, the disease is in its advanced stages and is affecting its brain. It is also very difficult to diagnose IBD properly, even for an experienced reptile veterinarian. Most often, the diagnosis can only be obtained through a necropsy, which is like an autopsy for animals, on a dead snake.

  The largest concern with snakes with IBD is that there may be other snakes present, and they can catch IBD if not immediately quarantined from the infected animal. Because snakes with IBD will eventually die of starvation, it is more humane to euthanize them.

Prevention

• The prevention of stargazing means preventing IBD. While IBD is difficult to diagnose and the symptoms may not be apparent until much later, quarantine all new animals that enter a home for a period of a few months of observation to ensure the snake is healthy, to help prevent current pets from becoming infected.

  Keepers of boas or pythons should observe their snakes regularly so that if the snake does begin to star gaze, it is apparent to the snake owner that it is not a normal behavior and immediate action can be taken, namely quarantine.