Not sure what is going on here

So last week I noticed my male BP was soaking in his dish for hours on end. I figured it was mites as I thought I saw one on him as well as a few in his water dish. Anyways, I went out and picked up reptile relief and just today received provent a mite which I haven't used yet. Today when I came home, I noticed that Jake is rubbing his face on pretty much everything in the tank and what appears to be yawning a lot. I'm not sure what is up here. He's due for a shed any day now so I thought the rubbing was just him working on a shed, but then the yawning thing throws me off. I'm not seeing any bubbling or moisture on his nose which to my understanding is a sign of RI.

I'm at a loss right now and am starting to get rather stressed about it.

I would take him into the vet just in case. They can exhibit one symptom, and not exhibit others.

I think.

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Originally Posted by justinsane82

So last week I noticed my male BP was soaking in his dish for hours on end. I figured it was mites as I thought I saw one on him as well as a few in his water dish. Anyways, I went out and picked up reptile relief and just today received provent a mite which I haven't used yet. Today when I came home, I noticed that Jake is rubbing his face on pretty much everything in the tank and what appears to be yawning a lot. I'm not sure what is up here. He's due for a shed any day now so I thought the rubbing was just him working on a shed, but then the yawning thing throws me off. I'm not seeing any bubbling or moisture on his nose which to my understanding is a sign of RI.

I'm at a loss right now and am starting to get rather stressed about it.

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i would give it a day or 2.. give the mite spray time to work and see if he improves.. the vet will tell you this as well since i called the one here about my izzy swelling in the vent section and not being active at all...

imo if he eats and is nice n warm hes not gonna go down hill over night..
if he doesn't improve in a day or 2 then yeah ide call the vet

mites will sit in the cracks of his mouth sometimes ....on the outside. It could be bothering him hence the yawing.

He may be yawning to help break the skin loose as well. Take care of one problem at a time. Treat for mites, let him shed, and then see if he still displays signs of an RI. Unless you start seeing mucous and wheezing, then it would be time for a vet...

Pick the snake up and do a visual inspection. You will see mites. Put on some glasses if you can't see close up. Mites are not microscopic. They can easily be seen. Report back as to what you see. It sounds to me like you've got a low humity level and the snake is about to shed. Did the snake recently go into its Blue stage or did you notice?

We're on the other side of your computer screen. We can't see what you're seeing. Either a better description or pictures (preferred) are needed.

Jim Smith

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Originally Posted by vypyrz

he may be yawning to help break the skin loose as well. Take care of one problem at a time. Treat for mites, let him shed, and then see if he still displays signs of an ri. Unless you start seeing mucous and wheezing, then it would be time for a vet...

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Here's an update. I stayed up all night with him and it looks like things have changed. Recently I changed out his hides to smaller ones in order for me to be able to fit a bigger water dish, however, the hides were clear plastic bowls which I don't think he cared about too much at all. I put his old hides back in lastnight which were your standard hide rocks and it looks like that helped a lot. He calmed right down and went in the hide. Through out the night I would pick him up and check for bubbles and there's nothing.

As far as the shed goes, I didn't catch the eye's changing color, but he's more than due for one. It's been almost 2 months, his color is much darker, has a pink belly etc. I'm thinking when I saw him soaking I panicked and thought it was mites when it could've just been him saying he needed his humidity bumped up. When I checked for mites though, I could've sworn I saw one on his back and possibly in his water dish. I should've waited for the wife to verify for me.

On a side note, since switching his bedding from eco earth and aspen to paper towel, I find that he keeps lifting the paper towel and going under it. What's that about lol

Just raise his humidity and leave him alone until he sheds. He goes under the paper towel because he likes the feeling of security of being under them, or he's looking for a little more heat. Double check your temp on top of the paper towel to make sure it isn't too cool and double check the temp under them to make sure that he won't get on too high of temps by getting under the paper towels...

dont use the mite spray until your sure he is NOT about to shed. it can damage the new skin and scales through the slough. once he sheds then wait 24 hours to use the spray.
adam jeffery