Uh-oh...possible RI?

Hello everyone!


So, as many of you know, I just received my new BCI a little over a week ago. She ate for me on Monday and seems to be a feisty little thing. (Acts like she's going to strike at me every time I move near her tank. lol)

I have her in a 20L with an UTH and a heat leap for raising the ambient temps in her enclosure since my house is kept around 75-78 at all times. The coolest spot in her tank is 75.1 degrees right now even with the heating elements because we had a cold snap last night and it's in the 30s today.

At any rate, I thought that now she's had a few days to digest, and seems to be fairly mellow, I would hold her FINALLY!

Well, when I took her out, she - being the feisty thing she is - spent a good couple of minutes following my every movement, coiled in the S-position. She then began to climb around but I noticed a popping from her nose when she breathes. I realize this is a sign of RI, so I'm freaking out! I know I offer advice on these, as I dealt with one in a BP before...but that time did not end well as others are aware. (It ended up being viral pneumonia and there was nothing more we could do. :tear: ) I can go pick up another heat lamp with a 100W bulb if necessary to up her ambients more, but is there anything else I can do to stave it off if she is coming down with something?

She arrived freezing cold from the breeder, so I've been looking for something like this. But when I took her out on Monday to feed her, I didn't hear a thing.

Is there anything else it could be besides an RI? She hasn't shed for me as I've only had her a little over a week, so it shouldn't be stuck shed. Plus, the noise wasn't there a few days ago. :/ GAH! Everything changes when it's your snake that has the issue.

Any advice would be most appreciated. I'd also rather avoid taking her back to the vet that treated my BP since all he seemed to want to do was every expensive procedure he could think of. -.- I'm going to start looking for another one right now, just in case.

So it didn't take long...I found a vet MUCH closer to my house. Sadly she works at Banfield (ick! Petsmart!). How long should I wait to take her to the vet if this is a potential RI?

I may be overreacting a bit...but I don't want a repeat of the last time I had a snake with an RI. (Granted, it's probably not viral if it's temperature induced...but I'm still paranoid.)

I would also like to add my newest observation which I suspected to be true...she isn't making the popping sound when breathing in her tank. Only while I had her out and was holding her.

Could it have been stress? :/

You should definitely turn the temperature higher and try to take her to the vet as soon as possible.

Also, have you contacted the breeder? I've never had snakes shipped over to me, but in my opinion, no snake should be arriving 'ice cold'

Anyone else with any ideas? She only makes the sound when out and being held. Thoughts?

My Pied girl makes a Poping noise sometimes while being held or around my neck I thought the same thing but it turned out that she was just rubbing scales together while around my hand or neck. We had a check up at 6mo before coming out of QT and no signs of RI so this may be what you are hearing?

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Originally Posted by RestlessRobie

My Pied girl makes a Poping noise sometimes while being held or around my neck I thought the same thing but it turned out that she was just rubbing scales together while around my hand or neck. We had a check up at 6mo before coming out of QT and no signs of RI so this may be what you are hearing?

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Thank you Robbie. I was wondering about that. I'll keep a close eye on her. There are no other signs or symptoms as of yet, but if anything else pops up I'm taking her to the vet immediately.

Aye I would just make sure you have no other signs such as excess drooling or bubbles in its mouth ETC. I honestly think RI scares everyone and we all (myself included) jump to the my snake has an RI fear rather than just take a deep breath and calmdown and look. My big Normal semi Rescues owner is always finding something wrong with her sake everytime she is over and well I just see a nice healthy snake :)

If you can, try to open the snakes mouth and check for mucous or bubbles. I have one right now who arrived with one and the first time I had seen bubbles was at the vet so don't wait for that stage.

Thank you guys! I will try to use an old AAA card or something to open her mouth tomorrow. I don't want to stress her out more than I already have today. I held her head and checked around her nose and mouth for crusties or bubbles or drool. When my BP started showing signs she was drooling and "coughed". (I know they can't actually cough, but that's the best description for it).

I know I'm especially paranoid because I lost my first BP within a few months of getting her. She came to me at a particularly difficult time in my life and I was VERY attached to her. My friend was a small time breeder. She was a rescue and she already had the RI when I got her. I just didn't know what it was and he didn't tell me or didn't realize she had it. :/ I was very upset with him to say the least.

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Originally Posted by Scimthar

You should definitely turn the temperature higher and try to take her to the vet as soon as possible.

Also, have you contacted the breeder? I've never had snakes shipped over to me, but in my opinion, no snake should be arriving 'ice cold'

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I did, from a very reputable breeder.

Now it has an RI and I suspect it was the carrier for my other BP's RI.

FedEx flew it ~past~ *my* state and it landed in NJ and then came back here to be delivered.
It was past 24 hour delivery time frame, the heat pad was shot and the snake was icy cold.

At first I thought the female was the RI carrier but the male is MUCH sicker than she is so I have to assume he was the one who made her sick...and he's been with 2 of my other females, one of which has been with my male Pastel.

I'm a nervous wreck.

I know they sell reptile shipping heat pads that go beyond 24 hours.

He should have had one, considering the cold temps during his flight.

The OP should definitely hike the temps up and get to a vet, stat.

I'm terribly sorry the OP is going through this.

I know how heartbreaking it is.

I love my Colombian like crazy and it would kill me to lose him.

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Originally Posted by Salamander

I did, from a very reputable breeder.

Now it has an RI and I suspect it was the carrier for my other BP's RI.

FedEx flew it ~past~ *my* state and it landed in NJ and then came back here to be delivered.
It was past 24 hour delivery time frame, the heat pad was shot and the snake was icy cold.

At first I thought the female was the RI carrier but the male is MUCH sicker than she is so I have to assume he was the one who made her sick...and he's been with 2 of my other females, one of which has been with my male Pastel.

I'm a nervous wreck.

I know they sell reptile shipping heat pads that go beyond 24 hours.

He should have had one, considering the cold temps during his flight.

The OP should definitely hike the temps up and get to a vet, stat.

I'm terribly sorry the OP is going through this.

I know how heartbreaking it is.

I love my Colombian like crazy and it would kill me to lose him.

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Well, I upped the temps last week and was keeping an eye on her. I posted an update yesterday. She ate Tuesday no problem and I pulled her out to inspect her yesterday. No more popping noises! And there was no slime/mucus/drool around her mouth or just inside it. She's under surveillance, but whatever the popping was it stopped. Any more signs appear and I will take her. :)

Are your kids doing any better Salamander?

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Originally Posted by WarriorPrincess90

Well, I upped the temps last week and was keeping an eye on her. I posted an update yesterday. She ate Tuesday no problem and I pulled her out to inspect her yesterday. No more popping noises! And there was no slime/mucus/drool around her mouth or just inside it. She's under surveillance, but whatever the popping was it stopped. Any more signs appear and I will take her. :)

Are your kids doing any better Salamander?

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Wonderful news!
:D

Mine are not any worse, at least.
I thought sure the male was dying last night but I suppose the Spider genes were causing him to flail about and corkscrew while he was trying to clear his mouth out.
[that nearly scared me to death] :O

They're both in QT tubs with higher temps/humidity and getting their shots.

Not much else I can do but watch everybody and pray.

Great news about your Boa baby, though.

They have got to be the most loveable snakes, ever....:)

I'm not sure if it's a "Boa thing" or not but my 7 year old Dumerils girl "grunts" when I take her out of her condo.
She was not handled much before I got her so she's not terribly social and I assume the grunts are grumbles of displeasure.

She pretty much just wraps around my waist and hides her head behind me on the chair.

The Colombian is all over the place, by contrast and loves hanging out in the tree we put up for him in the bedroom.

I think she'd have a stroke if I tried to get her to play on the tree.

[yes, it's actually part of a tree about 7 feet tall]....LOL

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Originally Posted by Salamander

Wonderful news!
:D

Mine are not any worse, at least.
I thought sure the male was dying last night but I suppose the Spider genes were causing him to flail about and corkscrew while he was trying to clear his mouth out.
[that nearly scared me to death] :O

They're both in QT tubs with higher temps/humidity and getting their shots.

Not much else I can do but watch everybody and pray.

Great news about your Boa baby, though.

They have got to be the most loveable snakes, ever....:)

I'm not sure if it's a "Boa thing" or not but my 7 year old Dumerils girl "grunts" when I take her out of her condo.
She was not handled much before I got her so she's not terribly social and I assume the grunts are grumbles of displeasure.

She pretty much just wraps around my waist and hides her head behind me on the chair.

The Colombian is all over the place, by contrast and loves hanging out in the tree we put up for him in the bedroom.

I think she'd have a stroke if I tried to get her to play on the tree.

[yes, it's actually part of a tree about 7 feet tall]....LOL

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I'm really glad the popping stopped too. I couldn't believe my new baby might be sick. :( BUT, luckily, she seems quite active and so far no more signs. She is an absolute doll! I'm convinced she will tag me at least once when I open her tank...she's very feisty. I don't know if that's just the Colombian feeding response (which is very strong lol), or if it's just that she wasn't ever really handled? But she's a sweetie once she's out so I don't know.

She climbs me like a tree. Lol. But my Dumeril's boa does as well. The Dum is a sweetheart too though. Just not quite as active. :P My Dum used to hiss at me when I took her out. Now she's calmed down a lot. I LOVE the boas. Their personalities are amazing.

I really hope your kids get better soon. :( Spider's are so quirky. Hopefully he was just being a typical Spider. Poor babies.

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Originally Posted by WarriorPrincess90

I'm really glad the popping stopped too. I couldn't believe my new baby might be sick. :( BUT, luckily, she seems quite active and so far no more signs. She is an absolute doll! I'm convinced she will tag me at least once when I open her tank...she's very feisty. I don't know if that's just the Colombian feeding response (which is very strong lol), or if it's just that she wasn't ever really handled? But she's a sweetie once she's out so I don't know.

She climbs me like a tree. Lol. But my Dumeril's boa does as well. The Dum is a sweetheart too though. Just not quite as active. :P My Dum used to hiss at me when I took her out. Now she's calmed down a lot. I LOVE the boas. Their personalities are amazing.

I really hope your kids get better soon. :( Spider's are so quirky. Hopefully he was just being a typical Spider. Poor babies.

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From everything I've read and heard baby Boas are snippy but grow out of it.

Brom is 5 years old and he probably got over it long before I got him.

If he's hungry though...he'll 'stalk me' as I get his FT rat ready.

I don't think I'd like to stick my paw in his condo on those nights....:)

However, if I touch him gently with the tongs, he snaps out of "feeding mode" and goes back to being cuddly again.

He loves to ride on my shoulders and rest his head on top of mine, "periscoping".

[it looks like I'm wearing Cleopatra's crown] :D

Both he and the Dumerils would eat every day if I let them.

They're pigs.

The Dum is 7 and lived in a store room in a box with no heat for who knows how long.

I can understand her greediness.

She probably thinks every meal might be her last for a very long time.

If I keep her out for at least half and hour, she'll explore a bit but she tends to head to the floor.

I don't push her to be more sociable.
Who knows what kind of psychological shape she's in?

She just gets to be and be comfy, now.

When she's ready, maybe she'll become a social butterfly.

Even if she never does, she still gets the same love and care.

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Originally Posted by WarriorPrincess90

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I really hope your kids get better soon. :( Spider's are so quirky. Hopefully he was just being a typical Spider. Poor babies.

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BTW, he's a Bumblebee but they have and exhibit Spider genes.

He shows them much more than my Spider does, actually.

I am glad to hear things are going well for you both at the moment lets hope it keeps up :)