New BP - Sick?

Shizzy
A BP is very susceptable and cranky when in the shedding process. Their skin is fragile, and they most likely will refuse food and not want to be handled until the process is complete. It's not an uncommon thing.

Don't overdo the humidity. Keeping it between 50-70% should work well. You should soak them after they have attempted to shed and there is a lot stuck. When you soak them, you have to work the shed off immediately with a nice terry cloth towel, otherwise the stuck shed will become harder for them to remove by themselves if you just soak and put them back in the enclosure.

Kare
When misting the enclosure, aim at the corners and around the side of the tank or tub. This prevents them from sitting on a wet spot, and will also keep the humidity up without having to soak the substrate.

If your animal is unable to even move to drink, it probably won't do a good job of shedding. Be prepared for that.
If the animal is clearly supposed to be shedding, the scales are crinkly and dry, perhaps take him to the vet regardless.

A healthy BP is alert, acknowledges us when we open their enclosure. The tongue flicks very often. They can hold their head steady, and move fluently to where they are directing themselves.

If your BP has very little or minimal tongue flicking, wheezing, drool he may be very sick, and you need to take him to the vet immediately.

If you are able to, hold his head gentle from behind, and pull down on his the skin under his jaw. When you open his mouth, it should be clean, and a light pink color. There should be NO bubbles or mucous. If this is present, he definitely has an URI, and a treatment for bacteria is necessary.

Ask for a CULTURE from the vet so you two will know right from the get go what strain of bacteria or virus your are dealing with.

It has been recommended here that the injections have better success than the oral doses. Ask the Vet if they will do that as well.

I hope you can get him to the vet as soon as possible.

I did end up taking her to the vet a couple days ago.
he said she has no infection, but that the retained shed is blocking her nostrils, thus the gaping.
I gave her a long warm bath, and now everything is shed but the head, which is extremely stubborn. I'm trying the pillowcase trick as I type this, but she's not moving in there, just chilling out.
Any other suggestions?

Can someone explain what wheezing looks like? I just got my first ball on Saturday and I am a little worried about his breathing. He had a slight clicking, for lack of a better word, when I first got him, but that has since subsided. He isn't showing any other signs of RI that I have read about and ate on Tuesday. I figured I'd wait a day or two and monitor him closely before taking him to the vet.

The best way to check for an RI is to look inside the mouth. Usually this means genltly holding the head and gently rolling the lips open to see of there is any stringy mucus or fluid. Many BP's will start blowing little bubbles out of their mouths when building up fluid/mucos. This is a clear sign of an RI and you need to see the vet and kick up temps to 94-95. RI's can be caused by low temps, very dry or wet conditions and /or stress. Stress is known to reduce their imune systems and lead to illness.

When snakes are in shed their eyes,nostrils and heat pits shed too which makes it very difficult for them to get info and they may become very defensive or aggitated. It's best to not feed then (most refuse) and kick up humidity a bit and just let them be. Many will poop and/or pee when they shed. It's like cleaning their insides and outside at the same time. I usually wait to clean the enclosure until they finish shedding because it's usually a mess afterwards.

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Originally Posted by DannyA

Can someone explain what wheezing looks like? I just got my first ball on Saturday and I am a little worried about his breathing. He had a slight clicking, for lack of a better word, when I first got him, but that has since subsided. He isn't showing any other signs of RI that I have read about and ate on Tuesday. I figured I'd wait a day or two and monitor him closely before taking him to the vet.

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Wheezing can be from dry skin/shed wistling as they breath or flem/mucous sounds interfereing with breathing. It is helpful/important to recognize the difference.

Sheds will vary depending on humidity levels , Mine usually shed 5-7 days after there eyes go return to clear. Misting helps ! I mist every few days during a shed.