My BP is making alot of noises, acting weird to

[buster954]

This is my first BP, I had it for about 5 months now and it just shed a few days ago for the second time while I have had it. Im not sure how old it is but it is about 3 - 3 1/2 feet long. Anyway, It's been making alot of noises.. Im thinking maybe its sick and its sneezing or coughing(if snakes even do that) or I dont know what it's doing... Im worried it may be sick and if it is what should I do? I don't know where to find a reptile vet to take it to.

It also has the shedded skin around it's eyes and face area, and about 2 inches down past its head and it keeps trying to rub it off and it's not working... It's also holding his neck/head up in the air rite now for the last day or so and when it opens its mouth it makes this noise and sometimes will like shake a little or its stomach will move in and out and I have never seen it happen before.

Any help please.....dont let yayo die on me

[xdeus]

That sounds like a very serious respiratory infection (RI) and a vet should see it as soon as possible. Try to find a herp vet near your area here: http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

In the mean time, boost the temps to 84 cool side 94 warm side. Good luck!

[buster954]

thank you for the reply, and the link to I found one in orlando which isn't to far from me.

Ok now dont blame me for this, because when I bought my BP they did not tell me any of this but I don't have a cool side or warm side... They reptile store I bought it from just said to keep the heating lamp I bought on for 8-10 hours a day. I have a glass tank and its 4 feet long and 13 inches wide, I think its a 40 gallon tank if I remember rite. I just was reading on here and people have humidifiers and things.. man if you can give me a link to where it says how to set up my tank rite I'd appreciate it. I figured when I bought it they told me all I needed to know..

[Shelby]

Get your snake to a vet.. and read through our care sheet. It will answer a lot of questions. Pet stores very often know next to nothing about ball python husbandry.. even though they may sell hundreds every year.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....article&id=52-

[buster954]

Im going to call the vet tomorrow and make an appointment, I had no idea I had to check the temp. and humidity in the tank. I think my bp definitly has a respiratory infection(or it seems like it). I really hope it's not really exspensive to get taken care of.



Well since I have 0 hide spots, tomorrow im also going to get a hide spot on the left of the tank and one on the right, and I will move the water bowl to the middle of the tank. The sticks and branch things I will just have however it will fit. Im assuming the vet is going to be able to help me more about the humidity and temp. and can tell me which ones to buy etc.

Im so mad about this because when I bought the snake I asked the guy what I need to do for feeding it, taking care of it, the water bowl, lighting etc and he did not tell me about any of this. All he asked me was what temp. I keep my house and I said usually around 75 degrees and he said thats fine.


1 more quick question, Rite now my heat source is a lamp on top of the tanks cover and I was reading the BP's are nocturnal and shouldn't have more then 12 hours of light a day and the guy told me to keep the lamp on 8-10 hours a day so that should be fine im assuming.. but I might buy one of those red or different colored bulbs for it so that it will keep the tank not as bright.

IM GONNA GO CRAZY OVER THIS ESPECIALLY IF MY SNAKE DIES BECAUSE OF THE WORKER AT THE PET STORE!

[adizziedoll]

I definatly feel ya.... I was in the same boat not too long ago. It's unfortunate that you can go to a pet store, buy an animal, and be told how to take care of it, exactly the way it SHOULDN'T be taken care of.

Stick around here, you will learn a LOT. (And it's full of great people, too!!)
In the mean time, get that snake to a vet ASAP.... which you are and I applaud you for it. Tell us how it goes, and when all is well, post some pics! We loooooove pics!

[Shelby]

The problem with lamps is they kill humidity. I use flexwatt (which is an under tank heater you can buy by the foot) plugged into thermostats. I take care of 26 snakes and there isn't a lightbulb to be found on any of their cages.

Matt at MGreptiles is the go-to guy for heat supplies (and most husbandry supplies really) http://www.mgreptiles.com/ I recommend a Johnson or Ranco thermostat.. or if you have the money, a helix or herpstat is great! Since your house is cool you may need two one foot pieces of flexwatt (the 11" kind is good) and two thermostats.. one set to keep half of the tank at 82-84 degrees, and the other set to 92-94. Nowhere in the cage should be below 80 degrees ever. A digital thermometer/hygrometer (you can get at walmart) is an indespensible aid

[buster954]

http://www.mgreptiles.com/johnson1.html

If I buy this thermostat, and then two one foot peices of the flexwatt, (11" kind like you recommended) is that all I need? Or do I need any other wires or something to be able to hook up?

Do I need the raw unit, receptacle end, or dual config with strip?

I can't really afford 2 of these, is there any cheaper ones at a store like wal mart or target or something? or even a pet store maybe?

But basically just so I understand rite, I need the thermostat so I can plug it into the flexwatt heating tape, and I can set the temp. for 1 side of the tank and then have another one to set the temp for the other side of the tank? ( Im pretty sure that's what it is for).

I am a complete newbie to this and Im looking online reading and trying to learn but I have to ask questions on here anyway just to make me feel more safe and know im doing it rite.


*I just got an appointment made for 3:45 tommorow and I called a few different places and that is the soonest one possible so I really hope yayo can wait it out till then. *

(Adizziedoll) I will put pics up of my setup and my BP as soon as I figure out how

[xdeus]

You really only need the single unit with receptacle end and one piece of the flexwatt. Usually if your room temps aren't too cold, the Flexwatt will be sufficient enough to provide you with a warm area and an adequate gradient down to the cool side. You should also get a digital thermometer like the Accurite that they sell at Walmart. It has a probe so it can monitor two areas of the cage and the humidity.

[buster954]

You really only need the single unit with receptacle end and one piece of the flexwatt. Usually if your room temps aren't too cold, the Flexwatt will be sufficient enough to provide you with a warm area and an adequate gradient down to the cool side. You should also get a digital thermometer like the Accurite that they sell at Walmart. It has a probe so it can monitor two areas of the cage and the humidity.

Isnt the thermostat what will heat up the temp. to whatever setting you put it at? Why would you need the thermometer if the thermostat is telling you the temp already? (Im just asking not saying I dont need it, just trying to learn is all)