HELP!! Emergency!!

so is it a possibilty that he is just in shed and this weird noise is because of that? You know that part of shed when the eyes are so so grey-blue that they look blind? Well my other snake and him are on the same shed cycle and the other snake is now at the point that his eyes are clearing up but he hasnt shed yet. Could it be that this males shed is really just making that noise due to the shed being so close to coming off and maybe being so loose in the noseand mouth? I hope so, but i havent ever seen him do it before...plus the fact of him rubbing his face on the bowl and opening his mouth directly after the noise does truely have me worried. (Man, my hubby is goona kill me if there is no problem and I stopped the other snakes from being ordered yet.)

Here is what I have done for now. I went ahead and covered the entire top of the tank except for about enough room to put a heat lamp on the screen(yes hes still in it cuz he is the only one we cant get out and into a tub.) I got 2 extra heat lamps and put heat bulbs in, 2 lamps beacuse its pretty cold here right now. the temps are raising now, i figured if he gets to hot he'll go to the cool side right? If he does that I can get the water bowl out!
And guess what - it seems to have helped because I havent heard any noises anymore. I just walked over and he is breathing with his mouth closed, like normal. But still in water bowl. When Hubby wakes up, Ill get him to hold the tank lid up (It weighs about 30 pounds) and I will use the hook to get him out. I will put him in a tub and put it in another room ...So hows that till Monday??

If he is open mouthed breathing, it is a very large sign of a respiratory infection, rather than the shed. Though the shed could effect the whistling.

raise the heat to low 90s!
not too much, we arnt trying to kill the little fella haha.
This should be fine till monday, just watch him close, and keep us updated.


(oh and before i forget)
if its too hot, he might not leave the bowl. The water will keep him cool, and many snakes soak when in shed.
i hope someone chimes in to give better advice, these are just the basics.

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Originally Posted by ClemonsKimberly

so is it a possibilty that he is just in shed and this weird noise is because of that? You know that part of shed when the eyes are so so grey-blue that they look blind? Well my other snake and him are on the same shed cycle and the other snake is now at the point that his eyes are clearing up but he hasnt shed yet. Could it be that this males shed is really just making that noise due to the shed being so close to coming off and maybe being so loose in the noseand mouth? I hope so, but i havent ever seen him do it before...plus the fact of him rubbing his face on the bowl and opening his mouth directly after the noise does truely have me worried. (Man, my hubby is goona kill me if there is no problem and I stopped the other snakes from being ordered yet.)

Here is what I have done for now. I went ahead and covered the entire top of the tank except for about enough room to put a heat lamp on the screen(yes hes still in it cuz he is the only one we cant get out and into a tub.) I got 2 extra heat lamps and put heat bulbs in, 2 lamps beacuse its pretty cold here right now. the temps are raising now, i figured if he gets to hot he'll go to the cool side right? If he does that I can get the water bowl out!
And guess what - it seems to have helped because I havent heard any noises anymore. I just walked over and he is breathing with his mouth closed, like normal. But still in water bowl. When Hubby wakes up, Ill get him to hold the tank lid up (It weighs about 30 pounds) and I will use the hook to get him out. I will put him in a tub and put it in another room ...So hows that till Monday??

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I'm sure that Lynn will be happy to hold your animals for you until you get everything worked out, and everyone there healthy. I would have no problems holding an animal if one of my customers contacted me and needed me to hold their animals a little longer.

I answered in your other thread - keep the humidity UP (helps break up mucus), which may be challenging now with the heat lamps, keep a hot spot about 95 degrees, and make sure his enclosure is away from any drafts.

The fact that he's rubbing his face (especially if you see slime being left behind) sounds like it's an advanced case of RI. You may indeed need to treat the other three that were housed with him, since they shared the same water dish with him.

Have the vet do a culture (may be more expensive) by doing a swab, but it will help the vet determine the right medication to prescribe.

In the meantime, listen to this episode of Reptile Radio - it has a lot of good information from the leading herp vet in the country (some would argue in the world), Dr. Scott Stahl, and he specifically addresses RI's and the protocol for treating them and why getting a swab is so important to determining which medication will be most effective. I also believe it will help you be a better armed to ask your vet the right questions when you take him in on Monday.

It's a long episode, but I've listened to it many times, even MY vet has listened to it when I recommended it to him.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptile...ile-veterinary

Maybe he has a little of non-shed skin around his nostril...

Wait a second...did I read this right. Did you say you're new to having snakes and you already have 9?

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Originally Posted by rabernet

In the meantime, listen to this episode of Reptile Radio - it has a lot of good information from the leading herp vet in the country (some would argue in the world), Dr. Scott Stahl, and he specifically addresses RI's and the protocol for treating them and why getting a swab is so important to determining which medication will be most effective. I also believe it will help you be a better armed to ask your vet the right questions when you take him in on Monday.

It's a long episode, but I've listened to it many times, even MY vet has listened to it when I recommended it to him.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptile...ile-veterinary

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Im only quoting this because it refers to the episode where Im pulling this information from...

Based on that episode, Dr Stahl explains that RIs arent contagious, they are caused by opportunistic bacteria that exists in a snake's respiratory system from birth, and surfaces when agitated from humidity or temperature...resulting in a respiratory infection. So as far as quarantine procedures go, I wouldnt trip out too much. Just work with him last, and keep your hands clean in between.

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Originally Posted by justinsane82

Wait a second...did I read this right. Did you say you're new to having snakes and you already have 9?

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...is that weird?

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

Im only quoting this because it refers to the episode where Im pulling this information from...

Based on that episode, Dr Stahl explains that RIs arent contagious, they are caused by opportunistic bacteria that exists in a snake's respiratory system from birth, and surfaces when agitated from humidity or temperature...resulting in a respiratory infection. So as far as quarantine procedures go, I wouldnt trip out too much. Just work with him last, and keep your hands clean in between.

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Well, if the other snakes were being housed with this one at one point, they were most likely sharing water bowls which means they all could very well have it.


I personally would wait until the snake finished the shed cycle. If you still hear the noise, still observe face rubbing, or if you see mucous or hear popping and clicking, take the snake to the vet.

If treated early on, a respiratory infection is nothing to worry about. It is when you let it go that it becomes a problem. Be aware that there is no home cure for a RI. You need antibiotics. You will be more successful if your vet does a culture on it so you can treat the snake for the right thing. Some RIs are not affected by baytril injections.

O.K. so all these things that I have done have helped for sure! The noise has stopped, no rubbing the face, no open mouth breathing...ALL GOOD THINGS RIGHT? So yes, now my husband and I have been able to get him out with out the striking thing...not even once! Now hes in his own tub, no water dish - instead wet papertowels..is that o.k.?
Also, he is now in a seperate room.

And let me just say that yes, I have a lot of snakes. Yes, I am kinda new to them, but only in a sense, The whole time growing up, we had them in our home as pets, or atleast my brother has. So I am pretty used to having them around. He didnt have balls though, he had burms. But that doesnt make me a pro on them. They were just in my home, I didnt take care of them. These are my personal firsts. The fact is that when I got the first 4, I didnt intend on getting them, I just fell in love with them. Before I knew anything was wrong with keeping them in the same tanks, I had ordered 3 more and put 2 on hold. I was actually researching for the new ones enclosures and that is how I found out about needing to seperate them. I did that immediately. They all went in individual tubs except the big male, he has a tub but I couldnt get him out. So long story short - yes I have a lot of snakes and am kinda new to them, but they have been fine till I seperated them. I think it was just a matter of time till they were gonna act sick. Is there something wrong with someone who is new having several of them? I have the financial means to care for them and I think I am resposible enough to take every measure of care for them that they need. If I have a problem, I can come here and look for an answer, plus the vet is on my speed dial, since I also have Pitt Bulls. I didnt think that having one was going to be any different than a few, afterall, how often do they really get sick?? I mean I spend Thousands on my dogs every year, These snakes are not gonna be near that kind of trouble. Just so happens that when I got the first 4, they had been cared for wrong and its a matter of making them better, afterwards they should be fine. Right?

I will be visiting the vet Monday, and I will bring all of them with me to have check ups, but for now, it seems all has calmed down.

Keep the snake on DRY paper towels. Wet ones will cause scale rot.

Hi,

I would still give him a waterdish as well. :gj:


dr del