RI while Shedding

[CeLLLLL]

Hey I was wondering what I need to do if my ball python shows signs of early RI but is also showing signs of pre-shedding.

I know that for RI I would need to increase the temps and decrease the humidity.. but for a ball who is ready to shed wouldn't I need to increase the humidity?

Now it comes to which is more important? Increase the temperature __, and decrease the humidity to __?

Instead of keeping the humidity up to help with the shedding, what else could I be doing?

__

Also, should i be trying to feed it in early pre-shed? And a full snake would have a better chance fighting the RI right?

[mr. s]

Treating an RI, which is life threatening, is much more important than a clean shed.

What are the symptoms and how do you think they were brought on?

[Vypyrz]

What RI symptoms is your snake showing? If it's whistling you hear, it may be skin coming loose inside the nostrils. If your snake has mucus and discharge from the mouth, etc...You will need a vet....

[Kaorte]

I agree, are you sure its an RI?

Even so, treating an ri by raising temps and lowering humidity will do basically nothing. Raising the temps will help but changing the humidity won't. Only antibiotics can get rid of an RI.

[mr. s]

I listened to, (apparently) one of the best known reptile vets in the united states on an online radio show who said that many RI's can be cured with improved husbandry and a period of increased temperature to help the immune system. I was surprised to hear that.
I do not have the link, so do not trust me till you find it yourself.
Oh, I found it. Reptile radio: Scott Stahl DVM. Reptile Veterinary - Mar 29,2009
I downloaded the podcast. Very informative, but also very long show.

[mr. s]

Found it. They claim he is the #1 reptile vet in the WORLD!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptile...ile-veterinary

[CeLLLLL]

I was actually going to listen to that radio segment before but I had to go do something.

While my ball python looks perfectly normal from the outside it does have some of the symptoms which include little popping sounds here and there while its breathing, small weezing sounds, and I noticed it opening its mouth while his head was in a verticle position.

I used a q-tip to open his mouth and inspect the inside of his mouth and I saw small bubbles around the bottom half of his mouth.


I believe that these are the early symptoms because It has not gotten to the point where I see mucus/saliva forming around the jaw nor do I notice it coming out of his mouth.

____

I have done everything right in terms of husbandry and I suspect that it was definitetly something that he caught while back at the reptile store where I acquired him from. (They had 3 male adult balls in 1 glass enclosure)

[Tikall]

When you saw the snake open its mouth in a vertical position, did it hold it open and just sit there, or was it a quick yawn? Was it making those noises before it went into shed?

[CeLLLLL]

When you saw the snake open its mouth in a vertical position, did it hold it open and just sit there, or was it a quick yawn? Was it making those noises before it went into shed?

it looked like a quick yawn ..

and the noises I just heard recently (note I just had this snake for 3 days)


Those are the more mild symptoms I guess. But I did open the snakes mouth to check for bubbles and mucus .. Maybe I'm just being paranoid

[Kaorte]

I think you are over dramatizing the situation. Yawns every once in a while are normal. Bubbles in the back of the throat are normal. Wheezing and whistling are normal when a snake is in shed or has recently shed.

You have only had the animal 3 days. Leave it alone and let it settle in.