HELP!! Emergency!!

[ClemonsKimberly]

OMG!!! I think I need serious help! My male is now making this squeeking noise followed by a hiss. I just heard it. This is the 3rd time in an hour. I thought the first time it was my dog cuz he is so gassy, but as I walked past him, he did it and was sorta rubbing his face on the side of the water bowl. There is not any bubbles or mucus. What do I do??? My vet isnt open till Monday and the emergency vet does not see reptiles....HELP!!

Some of you may have read my first post titled What is up with my BP???
Well this must be it. I dont have any idea whats wrong, and to top it off, My new babies that I just bought are in the same room about 3 ft from him. can anyone help?? Will my new babies get it? oh and what can I do till Monday? He is sorta looking at the top of enclosure now and hasnt come out of water bowl since Wednesday. His tems are fine and Humidity is ok...HELP!! Im freaking out!

[FIEND_FO_LYFE]

I wouldn't be worried unless you see open mouth breathing, and/or bubble/snot coming out of his/her mouth.

If it is R.I. it is contagious, but im am not sure if it will effect any snakes across the room, IF you practice good hand sanitizing.

Hope this helps, you should be fine for a few days unless he starts showing these signs more.

-Theo

[ClemonsKimberly]

I wash my hand and Germex between every snake, its a habbit because I have small kids. Can I go anywhere and get something to help him till monday?? I have a bottle of Chlorhexidine that I got from someone to help with this same snake but for a different problem. I have not had him long, but I got him from someone who had 4 snakes in one tank and till like this week, they were all still together. I just started reading and was informed that I should seperate them. My biggest fear was reproduction, never this. Is he going to die? There is some open mouth breathing. One or two breaths I guess, he tilts his head up to do this. My new babies were only about 3 ft from him. We're almost done builing their new rack so I had to put them there for the ability to stack the tubs and keep them high and safe. I have kids and dogs. OHHHH I am so stressed. I feel terrible cuz I thought he was just a jerk of a snake, but he was sick

[ClemonsKimberly]

I also have all 4 of those other snakes. They are all in their own tubs now. They have been all week but can they be sick also and not showing the signs?

[bad-one]

My normal guy will make a quiet little whistle noise if he is nervous.

You really need to get him out of the water bowl and into a tub. If he is just striking out in defense it won't hurt too bad if he gets you.


Open mouth breathing is a distinct sign of an RI, you should listen for any popping/wheezing noises. If you have lids for the tubs just put his in a seperate area.



-Do not medicate your snake with anything until a vet examines it and gives you proper meds!

[bad-one]

If he is indeed sick it is possible they are sick as well. Just keep an eye on them.

Look for:
*clicking/ popping noises
* excessive saliva (it will be bubbly and sticky)
*open mouth breathing and wheezing
*rubbing their faces on the cage and leaving saliva smears on it
*drooling
*anything that is really wrong/out of the ordinary


I'd recommend practicing tight quarantine procedures with the male in question. As in deal with him last, and don't mess with anyone else in the day afterwards. Wash up well before and after handling each snake. Etc.

From personal exp. :They won't catch an RI just being 3 ft from him. It takes direct contact with contaminated objects (cage, bedding, your hands, etc.) or sick snakes. Although for safety's sake, I recommend putting him as far from the others as possible, such as in a seperate room.

Keep in mind none of us are vets. Just try to take a deep breath and relax.

[FIEND_FO_LYFE]

Its not a big deal, just calm down.
He may be fine till Monday, though getting him to a vet asap is recommended.
i can recommend to bump up his heat, and make sure he isn't soaking.

If your vet prescribes Baytril, see if you can get a little extra or pickup some for backup. Baytril works great, and he should be fine in a week or so after his first treatment.

He should be fine.

-Theo

[ClemonsKimberly]

Ok, so i am taking those recommeded deep breaths now - AHHHHH OK, Now did I mention that he is also in full shed, and everytime I try to get near him he is stricking like crazy! He is also almost if not completely the entire 5ft!! He's a bit scary right now! When I got him, I was actually trying to buy the small two, but the guy just gave me all four in the tank with the tank and accessories! I was new, and didnt know better and left them together till this past week. He has always been a little jumpy but I always manage to get him out and such, but this time is proving to be very difficult. My husband got us a snake hook, so I will do this in the a.m. when he can help me. Am I supposed to take away the water dish?? He hasnt gotten out of it since Wednesday. That was my original post, plus that is when the aggression got real bad and the next morninghis eyes were capped. I kinda thought maybe it was the shed making meaner...I feel terrible. I just emailed BoasandBalls to postpone my recent purchase so as to not bring anymore animals in to an environment that might make them sick...This makes my gut hurt! I just spent 1200 on mew babies! I did give the new babies a piece of drift wood that was in the other tank, but I froze it a long time ago and just pulled it out and put it straight in their tub. OMG - I also weighed them in the scale that I used on the other 3 snakes on Wednesday...Man the horrible thought of how expensive this is gonna be with 9 snakes...

[bad-one]

If the other snakes seem just fine, odds are that they are indeed fine. It wouldn't hurt to get them checked over by a vet, but I wouldn't worry as long as they seemed normal.


Please don't beat yourself up, your new to this and learning.


Aggressiveness during shed and a time of stress isn't abnormal really.

[FIEND_FO_LYFE]

Just a heads up, sometimes snakes whistle quite bad in shed, due to the skin it their nose getting loose. Its like us trying to breath out of our nose with a stuffy nose.

The other snakes may be fine, just make sure you sanitize very well.
I recommend to bump up his heat though, and if he is open mouth breathing i would remove the water bowl for the night, then re-evaluate tomorrow.
It sounds like a respiratory infection, it is very easy to prevent, and most snake keepers will experience it at one time or another. Its pretty tough because he is in shed to keep the humidity down though...I hope someone else will chime in with a idea on that one... haha

Just watch the snakes, and take him to the vet. everything should be a-ok.

-Theo