Help!! Sick ball?

I have a ball python that is a couple months old. I bought him from a petstore (looked healthy at the time, still I know better).


Anyway, I just took him out a few minutes ago after not holding him since last sunday's feeding. He hasn't been as active as usual, but I figured it might be because he's going to shed (hasn't shed since I've had him for about 4 weeks).

Well I think there's something wrong with his breathing! He's making a very quiet, almost clicking-like sound. And he's almost gasping and holding his mouth open at times (see pic)! He's very sluggish too. I didn't notice any of this last week!

He has access to a heat mat, water, good shavings. Here are pics I just took a second ago.

I will call a vet!


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...g/CIMG3877.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...g/CIMG3878.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...g/CIMG3887.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...g/CIMG3882.jpg

I'm not a vet but those are classic signs of a respitory infection. You definately need to get him in to see a vet. Until then raising the temps and changing his water everyday will help.

Yeah, what Fatboy said..... He's gotta get to a vet soon, RIs are nasty things and he'll need medication to get over that.

What are you housing him in? Temps, how you control the heating sources, what you feed and how often. Give us the details.

Make sure your humidity is bumped up too until you take him to the vet. Heat & humidity are needed to fight off an RI infection.

I have an appointment in less than an hour. The vet tech said it sounded like he'll ned anti-biotics....geeez, I hope he's okay!!

Sounds to me like you caught onto the signs early, thats good, hope everything works out ok!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

What are you housing him in? Temps, how you control the heating sources, what you feed and how often. Give us the details.

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Do give these details to make sure you don't have to deal with this again. You caught it early and things should be ok. Keep us updated.

I just got back from the vet and have medication to give her (yup its a girl) every day. It appears to be an upper respiratory infection, and hopefully has not traveled downwards yet. The cause is still unknown, the vet suggested it might be from the frozen feeders. The air temperature is near 80 and the humidity is about 65....I've just changed the tank around to try and increase both. I took out the aspen shavings to decrease the dust until she's better.

It was nice to be reassured from the vet, and thank you to everyone for the advice! I really appreciate it all!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Calift

I just got back from the vet and have medication to give her (yup its a girl) every day. It appears to be an upper respiratory infection, and hopefully has not traveled downwards yet. The cause is still unknown, the vet suggested it might be from the frozen feeders. The air temperature is near 80 and the humidity is about 65....I've just changed the tank around to try and increase both. I took out the aspen shavings to decrease the dust until she's better.

It was nice to be reassured from the vet, and thank you to everyone for the advice! I really appreciate it all!

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Do you have a proper warm spot of 90-95 degrees?
That is very needed, especially with an RI.

The one time I had a snake with RI, it had mites, and was hanging out in the water bowl letting it get too cold. Make sure your hot spot it 90ish, and try to keep the humidity 50-60ish, and give that medication. The frozen feeders should be just fine, as long as you are thawing them to the point that they are slightly warm to the touch before you feed.

I just gave her some meds, and she seems very puffed out tonight! She's basically swollen with air, looks overweight until you feel it's just gas inside. I just put in another plastic hut with a hot, moist cloth...and she's been sitting inside that.

Anything I can do to help relieve the air?? (I think she's going to shed soon...and hasn't eaten since last sunday)

Hi,

Have you mentioned the swelling up to the vet?


dr del

You still haven't mentioned what temps your keeping her at, and also what your keeping her in, and how you measure the temps.

I don't understand your avoidance of the simplest of questions towards her husbandry.

I apologize, I did not mean to avoid any questions. I've posted this whole ordeal on two other forums, just didn't include as much detail here.

I'm heating with a zoo med heat mat. I have a light too, but it doesn't feel like it emits a lot of heat. I am planning on getting a light for night time as well, that will hopefully keep the temps up. Right now they are in the high 70s. The temperature of the actual hottest spot, feels hotter than that (but not burning to the touch) but I dont have a permanent probe over that spot. How do I go about putting one there?

The humidity seems to fluctuate a lot. Earlier today it read in the "tropical" zone, but right now it appears to be in the high 50s. I have a wet cloth over half the tank, a dish of water, and a tupper-wear hut with a warm, moist cloth inside. The snake is spending most of her time in there, I guess its the most humid spot.

The substrate right now is newspaper, but Ill be replacing it with reptile bark when I get to the herp store (and pick up the light and temp. probe).

The vet mentioned she was "gassy", but didn't seem to concern. She relieved herself a bit yesterday, and looks like she will again soon. I think the swollen appearance looks worse than it did friday. I will be heading back to the vet to drop off the fecal sample tomorrow or tuesday and will inquire about the bloating.

Her eyes are looking a bit cloudier...I think she might shed soon.

Anyway, please critique me and hold nothing back! I want to do everything properly in terms of care....and I appreciate all the advice and criticism!

I can post a pic of the current set-up if anyone is interested.

Ohh and I'm keeping her in a 10-gallon all glass aquarium.

Hi,

Well there are a few things I would change/ do differently with regards to the basic setup so, if you don't mind I'll list a few points that jumped out.

You really, REALLY, need a reliable way of measuring temperatures at different spots in the tank easily.

Probably the most economical way to do this would be to look for the digital acurite weatherstation for sale in walmart at around $12.

It measures temps and humidity at the base station and the temperature at the end of a probe and displays all three at once on the base unit. :gj:

The main advantage is the probe is small enough to place inside her hides to get the temperatures exactly where she is spending her time. :)

Once you know you are reading them correctly you can get the temps set to 80-83f cool end and 90-93f hot end inside her hides.

It sounds like you are using those round stick on analogue ones at the moment and they have proven to be potentially a long way off accurate. Plus people normally put them half way up the tank wall rather than where the snake lives. :rolleyes:

Have a look at the glass tank setup sticky to see if that gives you any ideas on how to adapt your current setup.

I would probaby keep your BP on newspaper at the moment till you have finished the vet treatment - newspaper makes it a lot easier to spot anything odd and inspect it. :)

You also mention only one hide - a second, identical, one on the other side of the tank is what we normally recomend with any humid hides being extras on top of that.

And yes pictures of your setup and snake might be helpful. :gj:

Hopefully some fo this helps you.


dr del

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...g/CIMG3890.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...g/CIMG3891.jpg

Thanks for the info and that link...its very good.

I wish I had easier acess to stores like Wal mart, but since I'm in University and not at home I don't have an easy way to get around the city. Either way, I'm planning on skipping a class tomorrow to get all this stuff done. So far my list includes reptile bark (for future), a better light, a couple more themometers...and once I finish that article probably a few more things.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77...g/CIMG3896.jpg

this could be just me but i wouldnt go with reptile bark, it has added coloring to it that could be harmful if ingested by your pet also its and easy breeding substrate for little bugs.

I know some of the acurite thermometers have a built in digital humidity guage. Kill 2 birds with one stone, they are way more accurate than the round stick-ons.

Hi,

Also remember that the pet store is the expensive way to buy things - somewhere like the dollar store has some nice things which can be adapted with a little effort. :gj:

I use the saucers designed to go under plant pots to catch drips as hides for me babies - just cut a nice smooth opening in the side and flip it upside down... perfect tight,dark,easy to clean snake hide. :D

Plus they come in different sizes as your snake grows.

And trust me I know how hard it is to get to a wallmart. :giggle:

I don't drive or anything but managed to order a similar unit off ebay for a very reasonable price.

I also intend to invest in an infra-red temp gun soon as they are an amazing tool for herp keepers.

On altering your tank - since you have to cover the two sides and the back to increase the snakes security anyway it is a great oppertunity to put in a good looking aquarium decor background on the outside of the glass then a layer of insulating material ouiside of that. People have had great sucess with styrofoam, reflectix insulation and I have used cork sheeting as it looked quite nice when it was finished.

That should help with keeping the temps in your tank up and stable at a very low cost.


dr del

Like del said there are lots of ways to cut corners and save some $$$.

walmart, dollar stores, or craft stores are great places to save some money and find some really nifty things.

also if you are looking for a cheap way to insulate the tank you can also use cardboard and tape it to the outsides.

thanks again guys...I didn't hit until now how frustrating it can be to sort all this stuff out when I have a million assignments to do for school.

I know the sooner I get it down the better...but how long do you think the snake can wait for all this stuff before the lack of it adversely affects her?

Its not something that needs to be done tonight, but should be done as soon as you can.

Hi,

well I don't think there is any way to answer that with certainty.

The basic problem is we don't know the temps your snake is actually encountering in its enclosure - too low and it can make them more succeptible to disease and cause problems with being able to digest their meals, too hot and it can actually burn their undersides. :(

This is why it is always best if we can get the enclosures built and dialed in temp and humidity wise for at least a week before we get the animal - it lets you do all the tweaking and adjusting without any downside for the animal.

Are the DIY stores etc open late anywhere near you? The actual work on adjusting the tank shouldn't really take very long at all if you plan ahead and remember to get all the bits ( Tape is great for holding the insulation etc to the tank and I always thought the black stuff could look like a classy border if you are carefull - just remember no tape inside the tank ever for any reason nohow no sir :colbert: ).


dr del

Alright...well I got another temperature probe, better light and the readings are now:

80-ambient air
95- under hottest part...(moist cloth under plastic hide)
62- humidity

She's in blue right now...and I can kind of see some scales sticking up more than usual? My corn always shed in one piece, but I never noticed it uneven beforehand.

The results from the fecal sample should be in soon too.