Probable respiratory infection.

While handling him today, I noticed an occasional clicking noise coming from his mouth/nostrils. Like that bubbly sort of clicking noise. It almost sounded weezy at a couple of points, but it's hard to tell. It's very quiet, and he's not showing any other symptoms. No gaping, no elevating his head, nothing. He's behaving normally. But I say "probable", because I know that there's really nothing else that sort of breathing could indicate. So, I'm assuming it's the beginnings of an RI. I'd love to check for bubbles inside his mouth, but he absolutely will not hold still for me, so that's out.

So, I dunno. What do you think? Is it something I should schedule a vet appointment for? Or am I paranoid and there's a chance that it isn't even an infection? I'm thinking I might want to try the home remedy explained in this thread: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-from-Home-DIY, considering I have a Repti-Fogger. Only problem is that I'd need to get the veterinary disinfectant, and it looks like I might only be able to get that online. Depending on how quickly it ships, I dunno. Could it wait a few days?

Also, what should I do about husbandry to prevent this from happening again? Keeping constant temperature and humidity in this house is... near impossible. So, I'd understand if it's just entirely my fault. But I'm trying my best. The hot side of the terrarium is most often at a constant 87 F, but I've caught it as low as 83 and as high as 91. The cool side tends to stay at around 77 or 78. Without the Repti-Fogger, humidity would just be at a constant 20 or 30%, but with the fogger on a timer, it fluctuates between 40 and 60%. I'm eventually just gonna get a new terrarium, because this screen-top is a nightmare to work with, but I just don't have that money right now. So, I'm trying to make this work.

Any advice, tips, opinions, etc. are greatly appreciated.

My general rule of thumb, is wait till you see 2 symptoms. You now have 1. Once you see two, it's time for a vet.

However, now you need to ask yourself, "Why did this happen".

Check your temps, your humidity, if there is too much air blowing into the enclosure - or not enough. RI's don't just happen for no reason.

You mentioned that your hot side is unstable... Do you have a UTH with a thermostat? Also a heat lamp on a dimmer?

As for humidity: Your screen top is cheaply fixed... Get some foil and duct tape, measure it out, overlap the tape to ensure its sealed. I tape mine onto the trim of the screen, helps hold it down as you lift the top etc. of course you want one ventilation... A hole 1 inch larger than the lamp <if you have one> and one inch on the opposite side for air draw. That will not only hold in humidity, but it will also help hold your heat in and give a more constant temperature range.

I really hope you get him better, be yet to deal with an RI and hope to never have to.

Hi,

Is he shedding?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rickys_Reptiles

My general rule of thumb, is wait till you see 2 symptoms. You now have 1. Once you see two, it's time for a vet.

---

Good rule, thank you! Needless to say, I'll be on the lookout.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MsMissy

You mentioned that your hot side is unstable... Do you have a UTH with a thermostat? Also a heat lamp on a dimmer?

---

Thank you for the tips. I do have a UTH and a thermostat, but they aren't hooked up yet. I need to drill another hole into the edge of the terrarium's lid to get the probe inside... Another reason that I'd just like to get another terrarium that already has the necessary openings to stick wires through for probes and sensors and whatnot. I've already had to drill one for the Repti-Fogger's sensor.

The heat lamp I have doesn't have a dimmer, but it's suspended above the screen. My oh-so innovative way of controlling temperature, for the time being, is either lowering it closer to the screen, or raising it further. Seems to make a difference of at least a couple of degrees.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Is he shedding?

---

He is due, but he's currently not in shed. His belly has been looking pink, and I've been expecting to find him all blue and cloudy for the past week, but so far, nothing.

Just for clarity, the UTH pad goes on the bottom<outside> of the tank, the probe for the thermostat you sandwich between the glass and the pad. The only wiring you will have inside would be the probe from a thermometer buried under the substrate, on top of the heat pad. <oh how I wish I could drill a couple holes in the glass of mine to minimize how much is in there.>

hope this helps...

The shedding process can cause the nostrils to become obstructed as the fluid layer builds along with the new layer of skin.

I would wait until after the shed unless you see any other symptoms suck as mucus smeared on the tank furniture or in the waterbowl, raised head open mouthed breathing etc.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MsMissy

Just for clarity, the UTH pad goes on the bottom<outside> of the tank, the probe for the thermostat you sandwich between the glass and the pad. The only wiring you will have inside would be the probe from a thermometer buried under the substrate, on top of the heat pad. <oh how I wish I could drill a couple holes in the glass of mine to minimize how much is in there.>

hope this helps...

---

Oy, I feel dumb now, I expected the probe to go inside the tank. Thank you for letting me know that! I'm sure I have a temp gun somewhere, so actually, it sounds like I don't need to have any more wiring inside the enclosure... hehe.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dr del

The shedding process can cause the nostrils to become obstructed as the fluid layer builds along with the new layer of skin.

I would wait until after the shed unless you see any other symptoms suck as mucus smeared on the tank furniture or in the waterbowl, raised head open mouthed breathing etc.

---

This is VERY helpful information, thank you! Where before his belly was only pinkish, it's pretty noticeably pink now, so it shouldn't be too long... I hope that's the case! So far, no other symptoms. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lion

This is VERY helpful information, thank you! Where before his belly was only pinkish, it's pretty noticeably pink now, so it shouldn't be too long... I hope that's the case! So far, no other symptoms. :)

---

I hope this is the case too!! Keep us posted! :)

I too use a temp gun but also have the acurite thermostat with a probe for my temps. The probe goes on top to gauge the hot spot temp, then you put the body on the cool side for that temp. It also gauges humidity. Helpful and worth dealing with the wiring for the info it provides.

I just took my pastel to the vet for RI because she was making clicking noises and opening her mouth to breathe. The vet said it's not likely to see cases of RI around this time of year. He said he sees most cases around winter time. Since then I've soaked her 3 times and her symptoms have passed. She was due for a shed when the symptoms started so I'm assuming she had skin or something obstructing her breathing. Since your struggling with humidity, try soaking your little guy in a tub with a soaked towel and about a half inch of water (just enough to where he won't be submerged). Position the towel so he can move around on top, or in it. Either put the tub into your tank (that's what I do), or use a pad or heat lamp to keep it at a safe temperature. Leave him in there for at least 30 minutes. (I leave mine in for an hour) That should help hydrate him and loosen up any skin that may be stuck. But if symptoms don't disappear definitely get into a vet as soon as you can!

UPDATE: It's been quite some time since I've brought up this issue, and while there are still no definite signs of shedding, there also are NO other developing symptoms! So, by this point, I think it's nearly safe to say that a respiratory infection is out of the question. Unless I'm wrong, and symptoms can take many weeks to develop, but I'm assuming that it normally wouldn't take this long. His behavior still seems perfectly healthy, save for the fact that he wouldn't eat the last time I offered food to him (first time he's refused while I've had him), but at the very least he seemed interested in the food. And, to be fair, he'd been on live feed his whole life before I received him. So, although he switched over to f/t like a champ, it's understandable if he's maybe bored of it. I'm gonna try offering again tomorrow.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andrew_a

I just took my pastel to the vet for RI because she was making clicking noises and opening her mouth to breathe. The vet said it's not likely to see cases of RI around this time of year. He said he sees most cases around winter time. Since then I've soaked her 3 times and her symptoms have passed. She was due for a shed when the symptoms started so I'm assuming she had skin or something obstructing her breathing. Since your struggling with humidity, try soaking your little guy in a tub with a soaked towel and about a half inch of water (just enough to where he won't be submerged). Position the towel so he can move around on top, or in it. Either put the tub into your tank (that's what I do), or use a pad or heat lamp to keep it at a safe temperature. Leave him in there for at least 30 minutes. (I leave mine in for an hour) That should help hydrate him and loosen up any skin that may be stuck. But if symptoms don't disappear definitely get into a vet as soon as you can!

---

And this is EXCELLENT advice, thank you! The first time I did as you said, after I'd taken him out of the tub to dry him off, I noticed that I wasn't hearing any clicking or squeaking when he breathed. So the extra bump in humidity must've really helped loosen things up, as you said. I've soaked him like that twice now, and I suppose I'll just keep doing it every now and again until he sheds. But his breathing definitely seems to have gotten a bit better. I never figured that humidity would be the issue, since the first time he shed with me was all in one piece with no difficulties.

Also, as for husbandry, I've gone out and purchased a lamp hood with a dimmer and I've done some rearranging in his terrarium to really get the most out of the whole hot side / cool side deal. What really helped was getting a smaller water bowl, because the other one was unnecessarily large and just taking up way too much space and making it difficult to arrange things in an appropriate manner. I mean, I'm only working with a 20 gallon long tank, here.

So, I plan on fixing him up with the UTH I have lying around when I take him out to feed tomorrow, and maybe then I'll finally be finished experimenting with all of this husbandry and I can sit tight for awhile before I save up for a nice Animal Plastics one or something. :) I might even just wait until he outgrows this one. I feel a bit more in-control of temperature and humidity, now that I know that this doesn't seem to be an infection.

Thank you for the help, everyone!