Problem

Hey everyone, I have a question. I've tried one forum and I got one answer, and I just need some more opinions. I checked on my snake early this morning and when I took him out, he was opening his mouth constantly and making weird noises..I know that the noises are signs of respiratory infection, but I've been keeping the humidity and temperature at the right levels. Should I be worried, or wait and see if it's anything at all? My assumption is that it got too humid in there, but I'm not sure.. the humidity 81, since he had knocked over his bowl, and the heat from the pad just drank all that water up. I've cleaned his cage now and wedged his bowl in so that he won't knock it over. But anyway, what should I do?

Welcome to the forum!

To answer your question, I'd take him to a vet. Humidity won't make him open his mouth constantly and have him make strange noises. If it was just a one time thing that he did just for a sec, I wouldn't be too concerned. But it sounds like it may have continued for a while. If he's still doing it, that would be a big red flag for me to get him to the vet.

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by lipsticksmears

Hey everyone, I have a question. I've tried one forum and I got one answer, and I just need some more opinions. I checked on my snake early this morning and when I took him out, he was opening his mouth constantly and making weird noises..I know that the noises are signs of respiratory infection, but I've been keeping the humidity and temperature at the right levels. Should I be worried, or wait and see if it's anything at all? My assumption is that it got too humid in there, but I'm not sure.. the humidity 81, since he had knocked over his bowl, and the heat from the pad just drank all that water up. I've cleaned his cage now and wedged his bowl in so that he won't knock it over. But anyway, what should I do?

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81 is not your constant humidity right? Because that would be too high, its normally between 50-60%. Going up to 81 after he knocked his water bowl might have done it. But then again, I'm no expert.https://ball-pythons.net/forums/images/icons/icon9.gif

If he's opening his mouth and making wierd noises, I'd bet that he's got an upper respitory infection. Fluid has built up in his respitory track and he's just trying to breathe, basically. You need to raise the temperature in his cage and seek veterinary care immediately.

I can't take him until next Friday...:( what can I do until then? I'm so worried.

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Originally Posted by lipsticksmears

I can't take him until next Friday...:( what can I do until then? I'm so worried.

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Are you sure on your temps? What type of enclosure is he in? Do you have a thermometer to read your temps? I am thinking your temps are incorrect and upping them might help him until you get to the vet.Keep us posted

Until NEXT Friday? I'd look for another vet. Besides that, bump the temps up a few degrees and keep your fingers crossed.

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Originally Posted by lipsticksmears

I can't take him until next Friday...:( what can I do until then? I'm so worried.

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Bump up the ambient temps in the cage to about 88-90, and pray.

Surely if you called the vet back and made it clear this snake has all the signs of an active RI and is in fact struggling to breath they could make room for you much faster. Sometimes you just have to be a bit pushy with the booking staff at the vet clinic. Other than that start phoning around and see if there's another vet with snake experience that will see this snake immediately.

To answer some questions, DaVinci is in a 15 qt rubbermaid tub, since he's only a baby right now. On the left side I have a heating pad which warms a rock hide, and on the cool side I have a log propped up against the wall of the tub, with leaves wrapped around it. The temps of the cool side range from 80-83, and the hot side is 85-90. The humidity, as of now since I've boosted its lvl, is around 65-70 degrees. The reason we can't take him until Friday isn't because of the veterinarian, but moreso a money issue. And it couldn't have come at a more worse time than this. I feel so guilty because my snake is my reponsibility and I should be able to give him everything he needs, but lately we've been swamped with bills..

First thing I would recommend is bumping up those temps. The warm-side temps should be 92-94 anyhow...and if he's fighting an RI, I would set it at around 95. And let the air dry out a bit so it's not so humid. A fan moving air around in the room itself will help that a bit.

You could always get a payday advance!

I understand the financial bump, but I mean, each day the snake goes without treatment weakens it further and lessens its chance for survival. The long you wait also will cause treatment to be longer and more expensive anyway if you need additional injections. Maybe talk to the vet to make payment arrangements as well.

I just went through RI with Carmen...in a very quiet room, try to gently hold the snakes head right by your ear and listens for pops and wheezes and/or a high-pitched whistle.

Now I listen very carefully to our girls, you can sometimes "hear" them breathing (like the sound of a big sigh)...but it's the high-pitched whistle, wheezing and pops you need to listen for.

Also, if the mouth is open, look for muscus in the mouth and a swollen "tongue hole" (I can't think of the real name of it, but it's where their little tongue comes out). My snake Carmens RI hadn't developed to the point of her needing to breathe with her mouth open, so my vet showed me how to open her mouth so we could check for these symptoms.

Cass do you mean the glottis? The tube like thing you see when you open your snake's mouth? Or do you mean the small opening when their mouths are fully closed that allows them to flick their tongues out without opening their mouths?

Glottis! I think that's it...=)

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Originally Posted by lipsticksmears

I feel so guilty because my snake is my reponsibility and I should be able to give him everything he needs, but lately we've been swamped with bills..

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Why don't you contact the vet and let them know about your predicament. Vets are usually in that business to help animals, and I'm sure they would be happy to work something out either by giving you a discount or setting up a payment plan. You won't know until you ask...

I'd get him to the vet sooner than next Friday.

In my experince, if you ask for it, most vets will set up a monthly payment plan, and that should help you out. Get him in somewhere before next friday though.