So unfortunately my Solomon Island ground boa has gotten an ri. I'm guessing it's because his humidity got off because I listened to people on a FB group rather than trusting my gut and keeping him at the humidity his actual homeland stays at (that's what I kept him at when I first got him). I don't handle my snakes a whole lot, but a friend wanted to meet him the other day so I got him out and I could hear some noise while he was breathing and he'd open his mouth from time to time for a breath. I have a vet appointment for him Thursday so hopefully the doc will be able to figure out what medicine to give him but I went to get my carpet python out today and it seems she has one too! She has always huffed and puffed to voice her displeasure at being handled, but I could hear a breath or two now and then while I was handling her, though not nearly as bad as the ground boa. When I put her back in her cage, she was still pretty excited and I could hear quite a few of her breaths, and even after she calmed down, I could hear one now and then.

It appears the ri issue is affecting my snake room because I'm certain those 2 have it. One of my ball pythons I've had out a good bit the past couple of days and I haven't heard any funny noises from her. I handled my larger ball python today as well and I didn't hear anything that concerned me. She's out right now so I slid her doors open and listened and didn't hear any wheezing noises while she was breathing, so maybe they're ok. My little corn snake is way too itty bitty so I don't know if I'll be able to tell if she does. My Amazon tree boa is in here too, and since he just got moved to his forever home, he is not going to be easy to get out and see if he's ok. He's always been handleable, but a lot of times would like to musk/crap himself as a defense, but at least he's never bitten me. However, he has lots of places to latch onto in his new home so he'll be tough to get out at nearly 6ft long, but I can at least open his cage when he's out to see if I can hear any breathing issues I guess. My Colombian rainbow boa is in my bedroom and I haven't noticed any issues with her breathing, and I just brought home a baby retic and she's on the other side of the bedroom and I haven't noticed any breathing issues from her so it seems to be that they're both ok.

I'm also beginning to doubt the accuracy of these AcuRite thermometer/hygrometers, even after I do the salt and water method to calibrate them. It can be hard to get husbandry correct when your gauges are off and you have to trust them to help keep your animals healthy.

So, after alllllllll that, what method do you guys like to use to help prevent or treat light respiratory infections? I don't want my snakes to be sick, but the 2 that are mostly definitely sick are going to cost me about $200 on checkups and medicine plus who knows how much time to give these guys their meds (I've never had to do this before) but I don't want the other ones to be sick, because then I'd have to sell a kidney if all 8 had to go to the vet and get meds. I've watched a couple of videos on YouTube today, but since I've never had to do it, it all sounds like greek to me. I'm still researching and learning about these infections.