RI Raise or lower humidity?

[BuckeyeBalls]

Ok so I have one snake come up with a RI out of no where.. Which is completely awkward considering it gets 85-90 in my room during the day.

Scott told me to lower humidity, which iv heard before. But I got to thinking, I have also read to raise the humidity.

So which is it lol? Some swear by raising the humidity to help kick a RI before a vet visit others swear by lowering it.

[BuckeyeBalls]

http://www.royalconstrictordesigns.c...hon-care-sheet

Minor cases can be cured by raising the temperature and humidity in the cage.

[kitedemon]

I'd just keep the humidity between 50-60% but make sure the airflow is high. There is enough vets (Rossie and klingenburg) whom say RI can be due to high humidity and poor air flow.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Raising humidity helps loosen up the mucus in case of RI, however the animal still need to see a vet and be treated with the appropriate anti-biotic.

[West Coast Jungle]

I don't know if you should raise or lower it until I know what it is?
I would reccomend keeping it at around 55-60% and getting your temps up, 94 warm and 85 cool.

RI's are no joke, they may start out mild but untreated they can be a death sentence. Snakes can't cough up junk like we can and once it gets the lungs they can drown. Make sure your vet does a culture of the mucos because unless you use the correct antibiotic for the specific bacteria causing the infection, you are wasting your time and stressing out a sick snake for nothing.

Best of luck

[Crazy4Herps]

Keep the humidity at 50-60%, lots of ventilation, and change his water daily. A vet visit would also be a good idea if you're sure it's an RI.

RI's can be caused by too-dry or too-humid conditions (as well as cold temps, which it sounds like isn't a problem for you). If the cage is kept too dry, cracks may form in the snake's lungs and bacteria grow there. If the humidity is kept too high it can encourage bacterial growth. I.e., respiratory problems can arise from both ends of the humidity spectrum, and raising/lowering humidity depends on which end caused the RI. Unless you are absolutely positive as to the cause and severity of the RI, increasing or decreasing humidity from the appropriate percentages is likely to make the problem worse.

[BuckeyeBalls]

Actually thats the funny thing. I have NO CLUE how he got a RI. I mean he has bubbles coming out the mouth when you squeeze it. Im confused because im lost. Seriously.

The humidity in my room is between 45-55. The humidity in the tub is around 60-70% at all times.

[kitedemon]

Keep the humidity at 50-60%, lots of ventilation, and change his water daily. A vet visit would also be a good idea if you're sure it's an RI.

RI's can be caused by too-dry or too-humid conditions (as well as cold temps, which it sounds like isn't a problem for you). If the cage is kept too dry, cracks may form in the snake's lungs and bacteria grow there. If the humidity is kept too high it can encourage bacterial growth. I.e., respiratory problems can arise from both ends of the humidity spectrum, and raising/lowering humidity depends on which end caused the RI. Unless you are absolutely positive as to the cause and severity of the RI, increasing or decreasing humidity from the appropriate percentages is likely to make the problem worse.

Op go to a vet. It sounds like RI it needs a culture and drugs. Do you have good ventilation?


Crazy4Herps have you actually seen low humidity cause RI. I have been looking and been unable to find any evidence anywhere for it. I would be grateful if you have reliable accounts . So far all I have found is rumours and my friends friends accounts My vet and published vets I have only found references to too high and low air flow, but never too low. I am very interested in finding out facts if you have references I'd love to see them!!!

[Crazy4Herps]

Crazy4Herps have you actually seen low humidity cause RI. I have been looking and been unable to find any evidence anywhere for it. I would be grateful if you have reliable accounts . So far all I have found is rumours and my friends friends accounts My vet and published vets I have only found references to too high and low air flow, but never too low. I am very interested in finding out facts if you have references I'd love to see them!!!

I have. With my first ball python, I made the mistake of housing her in a glass tank (humidity here is around 20% during the winter, even with frequent misting the cage was ridiculously dry). I'd had her for a year or two, she had previously been in good health, and temps were all within range. The tank was just ridiculously dry. I recognized the RI, took her to our vet, and got her on antibiotics, but I had heard that drying out the cage helps with RI's, so I misted the cage even less. I'd keep her on antibiotics for the recommended time and she'd seem healthy, but the RI's kept coming back every 6 months or so. It wasn't until I read something (as you said, just a rumor) about low humidity causing RI's that I decided to raise the humidity to 60% (by that time I had the sense to move her to a tub), and she's been in good health ever since. I can't be sure without lung x rays, but I've been assuming that the RI's were a result of humidity being too low, and a stupid beginner's mistake turned into a chronic illness.

[tbowman]

I've heard a couple very experienced people say that humidity is irrelevant when it comes to keeping reptiles. Raising humidity in RI seems to me to make it a little worse.

EDIT: whoops, not sure why Tapatalk showed me a four year old thread.