Help! I think my new guy is sick.

[8Ball]

I just got my first ball two days ago. He is an adult male reduced pattern and is six and a half yrs. old. He hisses quit often but not in a mean way and I just noticed he is drooling. I was handling him last night and he was very friendly and tonight when I went to pick him up he snapped a little at me so I left him alone. I went to feed him and he seems totally uninterested. tank temp. 83 F, 32% humid. Temp. gun says he's 89 F. Please help.

[starmom]

You really need to get your humidity up to between 50-60%.
What are your warm and cool side temps?

If he is drooling, and it wasn't just from a recent drink of water, then you need to listen to hear if he is making any cracking or popping sounds. Also, if you can, look in his mouth. Any mucous? Is he blowing any bubbles around the edges of his mouth? Any of these symptoms are typical signs of an RI and a vet visit would be in order

[8Ball]

He has thick mucus in his mouth, some bubbles around his mouth and every once in a while he sits there holding his head in the air with his mouth open making a crackly hissing sound. I just read a few articles on the net and it sounds like he may have an advanced case of respiratory infection. I live in an area were there may not be a reptile vet. and the articles say he could die of suffocation. Both sides of the tank are around 90f according to the temp. gun. The articles say to keep the humidity down if he has a respiratory infection although I was trying to raise the humidity before with frequent spray bottle use but it keeps dropping to about 35%.

[mainbutter]

I would highly suggest finding a reptile vet, even if you have to drive an hour or two to get there.

[8Ball]

It's like midnight here now. I'll drive him where ever I have to first thing when everything opens. I'm really worried. I'm noticing his eyes are getting greyish. I just got him so I don't know if that's a sign that he's going to shed soon or if it's part of him being sick.

[mainbutter]

well I don't think RI would cause eyes greying, my guess is that it's just the snake going into shed, just so you know!

[8Ball]

His head has been resting against the glass near the top of the tank for the longest time. Every once in a while he'll make like a cough and spit will shoot out of his mouth. Then I saw him try to open his mouth but the saliva is so thick that he could only open half of his mouth. I feel so helpless. I don't know what to do. I hope he makes through the night.

[8Ball]

My guy is still hanging in there. I've got an appointment at the vet tomorrow morning for him. His eyes are definitely turning gray so he is going into shed soon. I fully expect to get tagged by him tomorrow when I take him to the vet so I think I'm gonna wear gloves. Wish us luck.

[grammie]

best of luck!!! I hope he's going to do well.

[West Coast Jungle]

keep the temps on the high side 95 degrees and get humidity up near 60%.
Sounds like you have an RI on your hands