What Does Heavy Breathing Mean?

So the point of this post is the title, but I should give a little background first I think...

I just got home from a 5 day trip. I left Tuesday and returned at 5AM this morning. I arranged for a friend to stop by and mist the tank once or twice a day because I noticed right before I had to leave that not only was my little guy in shed, but either his thermometer or thermostat were malfunctioning because the thermometer read 100 degrees surface heat! The thermostat was set to about 86-87 too. So I turned it down some and it started to drop down. I stayed and watched as long as I could but I had to leave. My friend ended up not being able to come until Friday since they left for 2 days for Thanksgiving and they told me that it read 100 on top again, so again I freaked and told her how to adjust it etc etc... This friend ended up being not as reliable as I thought and didn't ever come back after that to check on the snake. Needless to say some heated words were exchanged as I was :mad: 600 miles away... My plane landed in Rhode Island at 1130. I got to MA at 12:45 in the morning. I go to school in VT, original plan was to sleep then drive back up but I said screw it and just drove up when I got to my car in MA. So I arrived at 5 to find not only the pins for the tank lid left on my bed, but the surface temp was 96, humidity was 20% and the G-D water bowl was DRY. Again, my little guy went into shed a week ago... Ahh I was so angry. I checked his belly and he wasn't burned, luckily. I'm just hoping he isn't going to get sick in anyway. I misted the hell out of the tank when I got home so it's at about 90% right now haha. it'll level out soon, though I'm sure.

Anyway, I've always thought rapid or heavy breathing was associated with stress. But I walked into my room a few minutes ago to him half out of his hide breathing heavy enough to cause his head to bob up and down. I'm not sure why he would be stressed since he was just chillin in his tank w no foot traffic. Do breathing patterns have different meanings?

Thanks for listening, sorry for loooong post and I appreciate any and all help!!

It could be stress from high temp low humidity and no water. I've only had this happen once and it was because high temps. I adjusted temps and got things sorted and she was fine. Keep an eye on your bp and see if it relaxes after getting everything sorted. It is scary that when you trust someone they don't do what they say they will. Don't completely freak. Just get him sorted and watch him to see if he develops an RI.

Okay, thanks. So they're breathing is stress related and not just a difficulty from something? He ate both mice real easily tonight so that's definitely a plus. I'm definitely much more calm now after seeing him settle. Just pretty upset with that person still. I also wanted to verify that breathing does relate to stress for future reference when I'm handling him and all that..

It could have been. Glad he ate for you. Hopefully he calms down and realizes everything is good to go now.

Well I just went to mist his tank before bed and noticed one failed feed. So he ate one and gave up on the other. It may have been a regurg because he did have it half way in and he normally does 2 no problem... However it didn't really smell or look partially digested or anything. It was inside of his hide, though which I thought was strange. The last mouse he gave up on he left right out in the open and hid in the hide he left the mouse in this time...

It is a good practice to leave your animals in a condition that they will survive without a person checking on them. Meaning leave large enough water bowls to last the time your gone and for hard humidity setups for creatures that need humidity a automatic mister may be in order. Then if you have a person to check on them great but if not or they flake out they will still be alright. I leave my collection for at least a week a couple times a year. I top off the waters and make sure their cages are clean and I try to have two different heat sources. Doing this I have had good luck without getting anybody to check on them.

I just got back from 7 days gone and left my BRB in shed. I came back to plenty of water in the bowls and a perfect shed on my BRB. You should try to make your cage more stable to increase the time you can be away, 7 days is easy for a snake.

After a feed I always check in the hides to make sure the prey was not pulled in and left. It sounds like that is what happened but I can not be sure. A regurg from last night would not be digested yet. On a feeding tip when I have to feed more than one feeder to a snake I feed the first and wait til it is nice and swallowed. I leave the other in the hot water and offer it after the first is gone. This way Im offering the feeder at a nice warm temp instead of letting it sit in the cage and get cold. A temp drop of a few degrees is enough to make some snakes refuse a prey item. I have two snakes that I have to feed first so they are offered the food at its warmest.

I actually don't believe my friend even filled the water bowl. I've gone 3-4 days without changing his water and it never evaporates more the about 25%. However on the topic of new equipment, I'm currently saving up for a new PVC cage from Animal Plastics that I'll hopefully be able to get soon. First their website has to work again, though.. :P

Do you think half a T8 will be too small for my BP once he's a year or two old? I've heard different things but the one that comes to mind first is that it should be at least half the length of the snake.. Which 18" wouldn't be.. But 36 is gonna be much bigger than he needs for a while. I'm asking because I'm almost ready to buy a T8 as well as a new VPI Pin hatchling (hopefully!). :D

Did you ever figure out the problem with your thermostat?

I successfully keep snakes in larger cages than recommended. My ball has been in the same 40 gallon tank her whole life. They key is providing a home they feel safe and secure in not the actual size, imo. I give them plenty of cover to move around, under, in, and through and they do great. As they grow I will change what I need to but I try to still give them cover. My ball does great with plants and has never torn them up but some of my others seem to enjoy digging them up and moving things about so they get a little more of a simplistic cage.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bcr229

Did you ever figure out the problem with your thermostat?

---

Unfortunately not. I'm going to be buying a Herpstat in a couple weeks so if that still reads at those temps I'll replace the thermometer and if that doesn't fix it then it is the heat mat... The good thing about this is there's really no guess work. Just process of elimination haha. I have a feeling it is my thermometer, though. It was pretty cheap and a fairly unknown brand.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

I successfully keep snakes in larger cages than recommended. My ball has been in the same 40 gallon tank her whole life. They key is providing a home they feel safe and secure in not the actual size, imo. I give them plenty of cover to move around, under, in, and through and they do great. As they grow I will change what I need to but I try to still give them cover. My ball does great with plants and has never torn them up but some of my others seem to enjoy digging them up and moving things about so they get a little more of a simplistic cage.

---

I'm sure I could make larger than usual work. Im more concerned with if half of a T8 is too small for an adult if you don't clutter it up