Issues with humidity - should I nebulize?

[targciv]

My juvenile ball python started exhibiting early signs of a respiratory infection (clicking/popping, taking occasional open-mouth breaths) about 4 days ago. Around that same time, she also started showing early signs of shedding (dull skin, opaque eyes). I posted about this before, and some responses said that maybe it is not an RI, that these breathing issues can be common as the shedding process begins, and will hopefully clear up after she sheds.

In the meantime, my exotic pet vet is unavailable this week when I happen to have the whole week free (go figure), so I read about nebulizing snakes with diluted F10SC and a ZooMed reptifogger for 20 minutes a day for 7-10 days to help, though probably not completely cure, RI.

Her average humidity is around 50 in the tank, 40 at the lowest, and I have trouble getting it up past 60 and above unless I mist the cage multiple times a day. I'm looking into other enclosure modifications to help with humidity in general, (I only have lights now, but planning to get a heat mat with thermostat and use that as my heat source instead, and covering more of the screen top of the enclosure to retain more humidity or find a plastic instead of screen cover, but I'm having difficulty finding one of those.)

Anyway, my main question I'd like answered here is this: do you think it's beneficial to my snake to nebulize her while she is both going into shed/possibly has an RI? This extra humidity, I think, can only help her, right? I know treating the possible RI is more important than a clean shed, but I'm wondering if I can kill two birds with one stone here before I'm able to take her to the vet if these signs are not gone after she sheds.

I've seen conflicting things about what to do about temps/humidity when a snake shows signs of RI. I've seen to both lower or raise, so which is it really? (BTW hot side is about 90F and cool side 80F)

[SDA]

No North American F10 product is sold without prescription that is safe for nebulizing (it's only sold "over the counter" and practiced in Europe / the UK) so just wait for your vet to get back and make a proper appointment if you are sure it is a RI. If your vet recommends a nebulizer they can prescribe it to you.

Since the snake is in shed are you absolutely sure it is a RI and not a side effect of the snake in shed?

Raising temperature elicits an immune response similar to how your body gets a fever when it is ill. You raise temps slightly to try and fend of an infection (viral and fungal won't benefit). So if you have it at say 90 raise it to 91 then 92 over the period of a week during treatment.

You also want to keep the snake on more sanitary substrate like paper towels and keep humidity in the 50-60% range and constant.

[targciv]

I was hoping that her breathing issues may just be a side effect of the shed, but is open-mouth breathing common? That's what worries me and makes me think it is an RI.

While I am dealing with a screen top for my enclosure, what are some ways I can keep the humidity up and constant? I have read about putting a damp towel or plastic wrap over part of the enclosure, but I also am worried about air circulation, and don't want my snake to be breathing stagnant air.

I feel like a heating lamp dries out the air more than a UTH with thermostat would, so would you recommend switching to that as my heat source instead of a lamp? Or would it be okay to keep both, just regulate them?

[Crowfingers]

Low air flow is better than too dry. They don't need a ton of fresh air - it just kills the humidity. When I had a screen tank I covered the area between the two heat lamps with a warm moist towel (make sure the towel does not touch the heat lamps if you use them). Then I covered the entire lid with aluminum foil. I molded the foil around the lamps, but covered everything. It was not air tight by any means.

I also had to keep damp Sphagnum moss in sauce cups (like from a Chinese take out restaurant sends home) in each corner of the tank. What helped the most was installing a terra-cotta pot hide (I cut a hole in the bottom and layered it with moss too) - if you soak these pots in hot water for a few hours or until they cool to about 88-90 they absorb a ton of water and it bumps humidity as the pot dries out. I have examples of the pot in my gallery.

[CALM Pythons]

I was hoping that her breathing issues may just be a side effect of the shed, but is open-mouth breathing common? That's what worries me and makes me think it is an RI.

While I am dealing with a screen top for my enclosure, what are some ways I can keep the humidity up and constant? I have read about putting a damp towel or plastic wrap over part of the enclosure, but I also am worried about air circulation, and don't want my snake to be breathing stagnant air.

I feel like a heating lamp dries out the air more than a UTH with thermostat would, so would you recommend switching to that as my heat source instead of a lamp? Or would it be okay to keep both, just regulate them?

I dont like the open mouth breathing.. Usually a shedding snake does not do that. A weez, noise, click is one thing, a open mouth is another I say.
The F10sc is used at early stages. Even Herp Vets have had people follow up with it. This is not something only a couple people do here in the US, its common and in fact Admins on this site use it with success. You can get a cheap Machine at Walmart you don't need the ZooMed. Make sure you do measurements correctly, the video in the last Thread is a good simple guide. Dont listen to some goofy kid on Youtube.
This thread is the same as your last so next time stick with one thread so we have all your info in one place to help. No need for 2 of the same.
As far as killing 2 birds with one stone, a shed is the last thing to worry about if RI is suspected. Depending on how long you have to wait (you didn't say you booked the Apt), id check the inside of the mouth for bubbles/Mucus and get busy.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk