New snake sick....

[Blam18]

Last Sunday, the 24th, we went to a show and my daughter picked out a beautiful Bumblebee. He's an adult, the seller said about 2 1/2 years old, and said he was very docile and fed on live (ugh).

We've pretty much left him alone this week to let him settle in. He is soooo scared, tho. Anytime we go into the tank to change his water or spray down the enclosure for humidity he strikes out almost every time.

As of this past Sunday, the 3rd, I figured I'd try to give him a f/t rat and see what happens. I was not optimistic due to his stress and the fact that it was f/t, but he took it! I was so pleased.

Well, this morning I looked in on him and he was out and about...and he was freaking wheezing. There is no clicking or popping, and I didn't notice any mucus or anything around his nose, but the wheezing is clearly there and constant as he breathes.

I've been reading thru the forums about RI's and sounds like we need to get a culture and then he will need injectable antibiotics? How in the world am I supposed to inject a snake that strikes any time you get near him?? As if his stress levels aren't high enough....

Is an RI a typical thing for stressed out snakes? He is currently in the already established enclosure we had our baby BP, Levi, in. Levi was demoted back to his 20 long (he is under 300 grams). LOL

We have always struggled with humidity for some reason, so we spray down the tank every day otherwise it gets bone dry (top of the tanks are 2/3 covered, with heat lamp on the end). We never had a single health problem with Levi while he was in there. He's been the epitome of health.

I'm wondering if there's too much variation in humidity levels that could be a culprit? Could he be more susceptible to the levels for some reason? I don't know how to keep the levels precisely consistent, I mean the heat lamps suck it out thru the day, I can't change that. I spray the tank and then dribble water throughout the coconut bedding every day. I try not to drench it and make it too wet.

Any advice or additional words of wisdom? I'm very exhausted in general right now so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Lord Sorril]

Sometimes they wheez instead of hiss...If he is still eating: This is the most likely explanation..

Note: One of my sub-adult ball pythons rushes out of his hide and strikes at me every time I open his cage. I'm going to let him tag me and catch it on high-speed video for fun one of these days...

[MattEvans]

The fact that is consistent is alarming. My female has sometimes huffed and puffed as I pick up her hid or move her. The first time it happened I was worried so I watched her breathe for over a hour. It could be something he picked up at the show. Maybe the rat he ate scratched him somehow going down and there is swelling restricting air flow causing him to wheeze. I would take him to vet for piece of mind.

[Blam18]

Well, came home and don't hear anymore wheezing, so hopefully it was, in fact, him being moody and vocal. I'll keep a close eye on him.

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[Bogertophis]

Well, came home and don't hear anymore wheezing, so hopefully it was, in fact, him being moody and vocal. I'll keep a close eye on him.

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I'd take a "hissy fit" any day over an RI...here's hoping you just got a "talker"!

[Blam18]

Hissy fit. Love it.

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[ShawarmaPoutine]

Two of my snakes breathe loudly which often sounds like wheezing. As long as there aren't any bubbles or fluids, you should be fine. If you're still concerned, you can go to a vet and pay $150 to be told your snake is extremely healthy.