Possible RI??

So I took out my guy today to transfer him into his new T8 and while holding him I noticed that every now and then I would hear a crackle come from him. Do you guys think this is an RI? He hasn't had any mucus or nose bubbles... Should I just watch and wait and if he gets worse take him in? Thanks in advance.


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Has he recently shed? Is there any stuck shed in his pits? If not, keep an eye out for mucous and holding his head up.

It looks like he's getting close to shedding but its been 4weeks since his last shed... Wrinkly skin and duller coloring, etc.


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Could just be his skin. Keep an eye on it after he sheds.

Just to be on the safe side I would bump up the temp on the warm side to 92 for a bit. Also make sure your keeping the humidity up for him 60%+. Things to watch for would be holding his head up, bubbles in the mouth (videos on youtube show how to check) or coming out of nose, stopping feeding, mucus smeared on the walls in the morning.

To be on the safe side, what Brain suggest i would bump temps up to 94 (92 is a normal temp) and as for humidity UNLESS you have a air temp of 82+ I wouldn't suggest bumping this up. As Cooler 76-78 and lower can only make it worse with high humidity... But with a crackle that doesnt sound too much like stuck shed, it sounds more like a small R.I (stuck shed is more of a whistle you hear every couple breaths or when they kinda huff)

There is also this to compensate the early stages to help kick the R.I out (if you cant afford vet visit or catch it early enough)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCIBI9NRD5M

Iv never had to do it, but my friend and also a snake breeder showed this and its worked for them (when caught early enough)

I'll bump up my temps, both ambient and hot side as well as humidity. I have a feeling he's going to shed soon as he's been showing all the signs so I don't want to risk a bad shed with lower humidity.


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Just mist him daily and shed will be ok, if your ambients are 80+ the humidty will help, but as i said if any lower it could complicate it more.

90-92 is a normal temp. I keep my warm side at a constant 90 so a bump to me is 92. My cool side is 80 with ambient temps always above 80. I've read some debate over humidity when it comes to treatment of a RI. When a human gets a RI the heat and humidity (via a nebulizer) is used to break up the gunk in the lungs so you can get rid of it. The things with snakes is that they tend to take their time getting sick and getting better. This can be a great thing when you catch something early, but when your checking daily for progress healing it can take forever. You may end up needing an antibiotic from a vet if the symptoms worsen. If you do go to a vet ask about doing a culture first to make sure you start with the correct antibiotic. Good Luck!

Thanks for all the posts. I've kept my hot spot at 92 and my ambient at 82 and humidity around 65/70% (normally 90 and 78/80). His crackle has disappeared and there's absolutely no sign of bubbles or mucous so I'm taking it as a good sign that I caught it in time.


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Great news! I would keep it there for 3-5 days just to make sure that it is gone. Of course I am not a vet and my advice is just that...mine.

Snakes often make noises - especially when they are being held or messed with - that emanate from the glottis and the nares. These are usually the expulsion of breath due to stress.

Occasional situational whistling/crackling/static from the glottis is normal, and is a by-product of the shape of the glottis X the rush of air forced through it. It is completely normal and is nothing to worry about.

Since you mentioned that this sound came from the snake when you were holding it - and coupled with the fact that there were no other symptoms - I would hazard an educated guess that he did not have an RI.

However if you amp up his heat and add moisture to a closed environment that is only occasionally fully disinfected of it's fecal matter - you can probably count on fighting some sort of infection in the future.

Ball pythons are fans of relative humidity. Spritzing the crap out of tupperware tub or wetting the heck out of the substrate does nothing but create ideal breeding conditions for bacteria.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

Snakes often make noises - especially when they are being held or messed with - that emanate from the glottis and the nares. These are usually the expulsion of breath due to stress.

Occasional situational whistling/crackling/static from the glottis is normal, and is a by-product of the shape of the glottis X the rush of air forced through it. It is completely normal and is nothing to worry about.

Since you mentioned that this sound came from the snake when you were holding it - and coupled with the fact that there were no other symptoms - I would hazard an educated guess that he did not have an RI.

However if you amp up his heat and add moisture to a closed environment that is only occasionally fully disinfected of it's fecal matter - you can probably count on fighting some sort of infection in the future.

Ball pythons are fans of relative humidity. Spritzing the crap out of tupperware tub or wetting the heck out of the substrate does nothing but create ideal breeding conditions for bacteria.

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He's in a T-8 and currently on paper towel. Cage is fully cleaned after every urination/ bowel movement because I'm just anal that way.... I know it doesn't have to be but I do anyway.

I hadn't heard him make that sound before which was what had me on edge (plus he's my first and only so I'm still learning). I suppose it could have been due to me doing a mite treatment and getting him into his new cage, the T-8.


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