Bubbles?

I would also suggest getting some way to read your actual humidity, if there is a gap that large I bet it's lower than you suspect.
Pushing the water bowl closer to the warm end will help your humidity.
Good luck, I'd definitely be doing the Vet thing if I saw bubbles multiple times,
occasionally they will blow bubbles after drinking a lot, but not very often.

I am assuming RI it is the most logical the usual progression is stretched straight out or elevated head, then clicks and pops noisy breathing most of the time and next is bubbles and last pen mouth breathing. RI is a huge range of things with similar symptoms some are treated the same some not the same (fungal RI over bacterial RI)

I have dealt with it a number of times as I help do rescues and many come in with RI. There is no definite pattern but the vet tech I work with sometimes usually says that at the bubbles home based treatment is not usually a good idea. I a just parroting my RVT.

The next important thing to think on is where it came from it is uncommon for RI to just happen with no trigger at all. Usually something related to husbandry. I know that Dr. J. Rossi and Dr. R. Klingenberg both have commented on high humidity and low ventilation causing RI. Top venting is poor at best air tends to flow across the path of least resistance across the top. That generates a stale air condition at the lower 1/3 of the tub, where the snake is. Personally I'd start adding holes in each end about 1/3 to 1/2 way down the side to increase air flow.

Condensation only occurs when you have warm to cool either warm tub sides against much cooler air or cool tub sides against warm air. then the water condenses on surfaces. No condensation is not an indicator of high humidity just humidity and temperature difference. Pull something out of the freezer you get frost on the surface. Humidity from the air freezes on the exterior.

I have never heard any reptile vet comment on low humidity causing ri just high with poor air flow. Bacteria and flora do not do well in low humidity conditions.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I am assuming RI it is the most logical the usual progression is stretched straight out or elevated head, then clicks and pops noisy breathing most of the time and next is bubbles and last pen mouth breathing. RI is a huge range of things with similar symptoms some are treated the same some not the same (fungal RI over bacterial RI)

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He's usually not a snake I handle daily because he is so unfriendly, but I do spot check daily and I haven't seen any of those symptoms. Bubbles are the only thing I've seen. :confused:

I will add some air holes to his tub and all of the other tubs in my rack as well. I'm going to bump the temps a little too. My humidity may be lower than I think it is, but I haven't had a bad shed since I switched to using a rack. I keep the water on the cool side usually but I do move it over the heat when I seem them starting to go blue.

I do have a vet visit scheduled, currently for next week as I only get paid on the first of every month and I'm not sure how much the total cost will come to if I need meds. I have requested a pay advance from my employer and if I get that tomorrow I will move up the appointment to be sooner. The vet I called thinks he will be fine until next week if I bump up the heat.

Sheds are an excellent humidity gauge if you are not having bad sheds it is very likely over 55% personally I'd not worry if you are getting good sheds it is quite likely high not low I am guess just like everyone else if the snake is shedding fine it isn't low enough to matter.

As I am sure you know sometimes the signs are hard to spot and some of the more timid snakes (aggressive are often fearful timid ones) often hide it better than others. Just like wild animals can be on deaths door and still seem healthy because predators single the weak and sick.

Thanks for your help. I'm hoping if it is a RI it was caught soon enough to help him. He may be a little jerk, but he's my little jerk and I don't want to lose him. :(

Well my BP did that once before...i was giving him a bath and I put his hide in there. He was on top of his hide and I'm assuming he was drinking his bath water. Then he started blowing bubbles out his nose he didn't do anything that seemed like it was hurting him but it sounded like he wheezed but after that the bubbles stopped coming out and I've never heard him wheeze again...

Bubbles sound like the start of an ri, vet visit would be good. Also try raising the temps so ambient air is about 93 and increase humidity to 80% this will help. If it doesn't get better in a day or two, or gets worse then vet is your only option. Prob prescribe baytril saline drops or an inject or two of baytril. Good luck, keep us posted.

Sounds like an RI to me. Watch this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJCnPfuqaBM