Problem

Hey everyone, I have a question. I've tried one forum and I got one answer, and I just need some more opinions. I checked on my snake early this morning and when I took him out, he was opening his mouth constantly and making weird noises..I know that the noises are signs of respiratory infection, but I've been keeping the humidity and temperature at the right levels. Should I be worried, or wait and see if it's anything at all? My assumption is that it got too humid in there, but I'm not sure.. the humidity 81, since he had knocked over his bowl, and the heat from the pad just drank all that water up. I've cleaned his cage now and wedged his bowl in so that he won't knock it over. But anyway, what should I do?

Welcome to the forum!

To answer your question, I'd take him to a vet. Humidity won't make him open his mouth constantly and have him make strange noises. If it was just a one time thing that he did just for a sec, I wouldn't be too concerned. But it sounds like it may have continued for a while. If he's still doing it, that would be a big red flag for me to get him to the vet.

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by lipsticksmears

Hey everyone, I have a question. I've tried one forum and I got one answer, and I just need some more opinions. I checked on my snake early this morning and when I took him out, he was opening his mouth constantly and making weird noises..I know that the noises are signs of respiratory infection, but I've been keeping the humidity and temperature at the right levels. Should I be worried, or wait and see if it's anything at all? My assumption is that it got too humid in there, but I'm not sure.. the humidity 81, since he had knocked over his bowl, and the heat from the pad just drank all that water up. I've cleaned his cage now and wedged his bowl in so that he won't knock it over. But anyway, what should I do?

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81 is not your constant humidity right? Because that would be too high, its normally between 50-60%. Going up to 81 after he knocked his water bowl might have done it. But then again, I'm no expert.https://ball-pythons.net/forums/images/icons/icon9.gif

If he's opening his mouth and making wierd noises, I'd bet that he's got an upper respitory infection. Fluid has built up in his respitory track and he's just trying to breathe, basically. You need to raise the temperature in his cage and seek veterinary care immediately.

I can't take him until next Friday...:( what can I do until then? I'm so worried.

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Originally Posted by lipsticksmears

I can't take him until next Friday...:( what can I do until then? I'm so worried.

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Are you sure on your temps? What type of enclosure is he in? Do you have a thermometer to read your temps? I am thinking your temps are incorrect and upping them might help him until you get to the vet.Keep us posted

Until NEXT Friday? I'd look for another vet. Besides that, bump the temps up a few degrees and keep your fingers crossed.

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Originally Posted by lipsticksmears

I can't take him until next Friday...:( what can I do until then? I'm so worried.

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Bump up the ambient temps in the cage to about 88-90, and pray.

Surely if you called the vet back and made it clear this snake has all the signs of an active RI and is in fact struggling to breath they could make room for you much faster. Sometimes you just have to be a bit pushy with the booking staff at the vet clinic. Other than that start phoning around and see if there's another vet with snake experience that will see this snake immediately.

To answer some questions, DaVinci is in a 15 qt rubbermaid tub, since he's only a baby right now. On the left side I have a heating pad which warms a rock hide, and on the cool side I have a log propped up against the wall of the tub, with leaves wrapped around it. The temps of the cool side range from 80-83, and the hot side is 85-90. The humidity, as of now since I've boosted its lvl, is around 65-70 degrees. The reason we can't take him until Friday isn't because of the veterinarian, but moreso a money issue. And it couldn't have come at a more worse time than this. I feel so guilty because my snake is my reponsibility and I should be able to give him everything he needs, but lately we've been swamped with bills..