My sandboa is acting funny..

My male sandboa seems to yawn more than necessary (cue the avatar), sometimes he just opens his mouth a little bit, and he seems almost to have an adam's apple. Sometimes it sounds like there's a little bubble popping in his throat. Kinda has me worried. He hasn't eaten the last two feeding either, though I think he's just not liking f/t. He's always eaten live before. He fed for me twice since I've had him, both live.

He's active though, and flicks his tongue like normal. Any ideas?

Ok, now he's not doing it?..! Is he just retarded? I thought at first maybe he was just going into shed and trying to loosen the skin on his head, but then he shed, and was doing it again after that. Perhaps he's thirsty? Too dry? hmm..

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Originally Posted by Shelby

. Sometimes it sounds like there's a little bubble popping in his throat. Kinda has me worried.

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thta sounds like a case of RI.someone else might tell you how to deal with it.Your best bet is to take him to the vet.

It could be RI or could be a different cause. Regardless, it's never a bad idea to take your animal to a qualified reptile vet when there's a question about its health.

Yeah.. I was kinda afraid you'd say that. I just spent $126 at the vet on Shelby..

But he's not doing it now?..

Oh.. and what is the cause of RI usually?

also, is it contagious? My sandboas live in the same tank (breeder said this was ok). I haven't noticed my female doing the same thing..

as far as RI's being contagious I have never heard that they are but when every any of my animals get sick i seperate them from the tank mates.

Well, I read up on RIs, and found that it's probably too cold in the large tank he's being kept in, that's probably what started it. So I've quarantined him, moved him to a 10 gallon with a human heat pad under it. If he doesn't look better in the next day or two, I'll call the vet up. I need to talk to her anyway, I accidently squirted one of Shelby's vaccines out inside the syringe cap. *sigh*

I feel like a bad snake mama.. two out of my four snakes are ill..

Geez.. one website says this of snakes with RIs:

'These snakes often never entirely rid themselves of the problem and relapses are common.'

Is this really true?

Hey Shelby, nothing is wrong with the vaccine you squirted into the cap, just cut the cap in half and suck it back out with the needle attached to the syringe. Not like it's dirty or anything. I've done that a couple times, no big deal, just suck it back out. I wouldn't want you wasting money and buying another shot for her. With the relapse thing, it's always possible, but it is preventable, unless his immune system is somehow deficient one day and he gets another. Just be sure to finish any medication if the vet gives you any for him. If you caught it early, usually they can just shake it. Hopefully it will be a good immune-builder if he shakes it on his own rather than with meds. Good luck to ya :)