strange / sick behavor?

I thought one of my balls was dead today...he was laying motionless with his head kinda twisted into the ground cover with his mouth open...i flicked the glass, nothing, i reached in to get him out and he started moving. But he is acting very strange. He lays almost upside down with his head up in the air and mouth open. I dont know if anyone has ever seen this and could tell me what is going on. He's got water and was just feed 2 mice about a week and a half ago, and i got them new mice today, haven't stuck them in there yet, dont know if i should. He doesn't look like he's in shed mode, idk, thought maybe someone could explain. All environmental conditions are unchanged for the last 3-4 months, dont see how that could be it either.

Sorry I can't really help you. But I know that snakes take a long time to show illness and it could have been going on for a while but now you're just starting to see it.

How are your temps? Has he been making any noises? Do you see any mucous or bubbles aound his mouth? Either way you need to take him to a vet asap.

Have you recently used any different chemicals to clean tanks or sprayed any kind of bug spray in the area?...


Rob

Temp is good, 92 on the warm side, haven't seen any mucus or anything like that around the mouth....Maybe he's got a case of the lock-jaw? jk he can close his mouth, and he does, but he keeps it open for long periods of time.

What substrate are you using?

Any Weezing?

NatureBark...which is heat treated bark from fir trees.

Now there is a mucus coming from the mouth area, i guess if he doesn't get better on his own....wont be able to afford the vet, will have to count it as a loss i guess.

My guess is it could be an RI. You need to take him to the vet and get antibiotics or else he will eventually die. And it is contagious so it can spread to your other snakes.

what would the vet costs be for an issue like this? the budget is tight

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Originally Posted by Jombolo

Now there is a mucus coming from the mouth area, i guess if he doesn't get better on his own....wont be able to afford the vet, will have to count it as a loss i guess.

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Sounds like an RI... you really should take it to the vet... If you dont have the money to care for the animal(s) why even have it? Very irresponsible, no offence...

Hello sorry to hear about your BP. Did you over heat the tank?? Kinda sounds like he is star gazing.. I missed the Ri mucus part..

hope this helps..:(

It seems it could be RI. I would definitely take him to a vet as soon as you can. Some vets do payment plans. I had trouble with money but my mom helped me out with the vet. My Kingsnake recently had RI but I got him on antibiotics for two weeks and he's all better now. I would definitely take him to the vet. Call your vet and ask how much it is for a visit and how much money it is for antibiotics. Your snake cannot get over RI (if it does have RI which it seems like it) without antibiotics. It just gets worse and worse and RI is fatal. To me, it seems like your snake needs immediate attention because the RI seems to be pretty bad right now.

Actually, I do take offense. I rescued this snake from a family that neglected them. I was able to care and provide food for these snakes on a regular basis, something they hadn't had before. I don't believe economic status should be a pre-condition for the ownership of a pet. I was simply seeking help and guidance from fellow BP lovers, not to be chastised or talked down based on my annual income, or lack-there-of.

I do appreciate everyone's advice. I will call the vet in the morning.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jombolo

Actually, I do take offense. I rescued this snake from a family that neglected them. I was able to care and provide food for these snakes on a regular basis, something they hadn't had before. I don't believe economic status should be a pre-condition for the ownership of a pet. I was simply seeking help and guidance from fellow BP lovers, not to be chastised or talked down based on my annual income, or lack-there-of.

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Don't take it as offensive, we are just trying to help you out. These people helped me out when my Kingsnake was sick with RI, and I was able to get help from my mom to help pay for the vet bill. Now, my snake is better from being on 2 weeks of medication. We are just trying to help you out as much as we can and give you advice. Right now, I would suggest raising the temps in your enclosure a few degrees to help the snake's immune system rise a bit just so it can help fight off the infection but it would not get rid of it completely. You will need antibiotics to help get rid of it, but if you cannot provide that, the death of that snake will come pretty soon. RI can get worse very quickly if not treated.

Baytrill injections shouldn't be too expensive. I would say no more than $100 but then again, it depends on where you go.

The price for 12 fortaz injections for my Burm was around $160.

Since it is a much much smaller snake it should probably cheaper. They may give you baytril.