Respiratory infection?!

My 307 gram normal female has been making pop/click noises when she flicks her tongue, wheezing occasionally. I see no mucus, but I am worried about her.. Is it RI? Her temps are 87 in the warm side, the humidity however.. Too high, I think that could have been what caused it. The sides are dripping in her tub. :/ I am switching her to paper towels, and going to RAISE the temperature, will that help? She is a good eater, hasn't refused. She came with the pop/click noises. I am afraid for her.

Bump. Please help!

I'm afraid I don't have any experiences with RIs…but maybe I can help some….

what is causing the excess humidity??
And you're sure there's no mucus or drainage of any kind out of her mouth/nose??

The pop or click COULD be just from her tongue darting in and out and making noise. It is also not uncommon for them to get a piece of shed stuck in a nostril which makes a whistling noise.

If it were my snake, I would keep an eye on her. Feed like normal and maybe reduce handling. Meanwhile, put together an emergency vet fund and research a vet in your area that you would take her to.
However, use your best judgement and take her to a vet if necessary. Building a good relationship with a your vet is never a bad thing.

You said you are switching to paper towels - what are you using now for substrate?

If her hot side is 87*F you can take her a few degrees higher, I run my racks at 78-91*F. That will also help drop the humidity.

You said she came with the pop/click noises. Came from where, and how long ago?

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Originally Posted by bcr229

You said you are switching to paper towels - what are you using now for substrate?

If her hot side is 87*F you can take her a few degrees higher, I run my racks at 78-91*F. That will also help drop the humidity.

You said she came with the pop/click noises. Came from where, and how long ago?

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I WAS using aspen, switched her to paper towels yesterday.
I am getting heat tape in today, going to monitor the temperature and humidity with the thermostat too.
I got her coming up about a month ago, she also could have caught it from their other snakes (blood python, red tail boa, or burm) that they allowed together under supervision. (I wouldn't of have, just so you know) If they had RI.. I wasn't able to see her enclosure when I got her.

My last trip to the herp vet a couple of weeks ago reiterated the basic advice for people who think their snakes have RI's.

Switch to paper towel substrate.
Bump up temps.
Keep humidity up.

If there's no mucus or mouth slime type stuff, and she's still eating it's a good sign, but if the wheezing persists you may really want to take her to a vet. Even if it ends up being stuck shed or something caught in her nostrils, it's better to be safe than sorry.

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Originally Posted by Wheatley

I am getting heat tape in today, going to monitor the temperature and humidity with the thermostat too.

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Ok so what have you been using to create a warm side in the enclosure for the past few weeks?

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I got her coming up about a month ago, she also could have caught it from their other snakes (blood python, red tail boa, or burm) that they allowed together under supervision. (I wouldn't of have, just so you know) If they had RI.. I wasn't able to see her enclosure when I got her.

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So you picked her up? I was wondering if she was shipped to you, and there was the potential for stress + cold in transit causing an RI to flare up.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Ok so what have you been using to create a warm side in the enclosure for the past few weeks?


So you picked her up? I was wondering if she was shipped to you, and there was the potential for stress + cold in transit causing an RI to flare up.

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A heat mat, which I am afraid with that about burning her.. But I am going to connect it to a thermostat TODAY.

She might be getting ready to shed, she has been soaking in her water bowl for awhile.