Help!! Sick ball?

The one time I had a snake with RI, it had mites, and was hanging out in the water bowl letting it get too cold. Make sure your hot spot it 90ish, and try to keep the humidity 50-60ish, and give that medication. The frozen feeders should be just fine, as long as you are thawing them to the point that they are slightly warm to the touch before you feed.

I just gave her some meds, and she seems very puffed out tonight! She's basically swollen with air, looks overweight until you feel it's just gas inside. I just put in another plastic hut with a hot, moist cloth...and she's been sitting inside that.

Anything I can do to help relieve the air?? (I think she's going to shed soon...and hasn't eaten since last sunday)

Hi,

Have you mentioned the swelling up to the vet?


dr del

You still haven't mentioned what temps your keeping her at, and also what your keeping her in, and how you measure the temps.

I don't understand your avoidance of the simplest of questions towards her husbandry.

I apologize, I did not mean to avoid any questions. I've posted this whole ordeal on two other forums, just didn't include as much detail here.

I'm heating with a zoo med heat mat. I have a light too, but it doesn't feel like it emits a lot of heat. I am planning on getting a light for night time as well, that will hopefully keep the temps up. Right now they are in the high 70s. The temperature of the actual hottest spot, feels hotter than that (but not burning to the touch) but I dont have a permanent probe over that spot. How do I go about putting one there?

The humidity seems to fluctuate a lot. Earlier today it read in the "tropical" zone, but right now it appears to be in the high 50s. I have a wet cloth over half the tank, a dish of water, and a tupper-wear hut with a warm, moist cloth inside. The snake is spending most of her time in there, I guess its the most humid spot.

The substrate right now is newspaper, but Ill be replacing it with reptile bark when I get to the herp store (and pick up the light and temp. probe).

The vet mentioned she was "gassy", but didn't seem to concern. She relieved herself a bit yesterday, and looks like she will again soon. I think the swollen appearance looks worse than it did friday. I will be heading back to the vet to drop off the fecal sample tomorrow or tuesday and will inquire about the bloating.

Her eyes are looking a bit cloudier...I think she might shed soon.

Anyway, please critique me and hold nothing back! I want to do everything properly in terms of care....and I appreciate all the advice and criticism!

I can post a pic of the current set-up if anyone is interested.

Ohh and I'm keeping her in a 10-gallon all glass aquarium.

Hi,

Well there are a few things I would change/ do differently with regards to the basic setup so, if you don't mind I'll list a few points that jumped out.

You really, REALLY, need a reliable way of measuring temperatures at different spots in the tank easily.

Probably the most economical way to do this would be to look for the digital acurite weatherstation for sale in walmart at around $12.

It measures temps and humidity at the base station and the temperature at the end of a probe and displays all three at once on the base unit. :gj:

The main advantage is the probe is small enough to place inside her hides to get the temperatures exactly where she is spending her time. :)

Once you know you are reading them correctly you can get the temps set to 80-83f cool end and 90-93f hot end inside her hides.

It sounds like you are using those round stick on analogue ones at the moment and they have proven to be potentially a long way off accurate. Plus people normally put them half way up the tank wall rather than where the snake lives. :rolleyes:

Have a look at the glass tank setup sticky to see if that gives you any ideas on how to adapt your current setup.

I would probaby keep your BP on newspaper at the moment till you have finished the vet treatment - newspaper makes it a lot easier to spot anything odd and inspect it. :)

You also mention only one hide - a second, identical, one on the other side of the tank is what we normally recomend with any humid hides being extras on top of that.

And yes pictures of your setup and snake might be helpful. :gj:

Hopefully some fo this helps you.


dr del

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...g/CIMG3890.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...g/CIMG3891.jpg

Thanks for the info and that link...its very good.

I wish I had easier acess to stores like Wal mart, but since I'm in University and not at home I don't have an easy way to get around the city. Either way, I'm planning on skipping a class tomorrow to get all this stuff done. So far my list includes reptile bark (for future), a better light, a couple more themometers...and once I finish that article probably a few more things.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...g/CIMG3896.jpg

this could be just me but i wouldnt go with reptile bark, it has added coloring to it that could be harmful if ingested by your pet also its and easy breeding substrate for little bugs.