Not worried yet, but curious

[stevepoppers]

As long as...you havent had your snake come into contact with any other snake with an RI, you are fine

I don't believe that's accurate. Any bacteria present can take a hold and cause infection when given the chance.

[Zedd]

Well, Merlin was definately hungry! I got a adult mouse and as soon as I dropped her in, Merlin was out and struck immediately! He is swallowing her as I type this!

[stratus_020202]

Well, Merlin was definately hungry! I got a adult mouse and as soon as I dropped her in, Merlin was out and struck immediately! He is swallowing her as I type this!

Good for him! Cheers to full snakes

Yeah, I agree, they can get RI from a lot of things. it's a good thing to keep an eye on them.

[MikeV]

I don't believe that's accurate. Any bacteria present can take a hold and cause infection when given the chance.

As that is true, Its also good to mention that, it can happen, but I think its unlikely if you properly clean and do it regularly.

(atleast I would think proper cleaning and doing it regularly should provent a RI along with proper temps and humidity....)

Not saying it cant happen though

[Ham]

My ball python does the periscope thing too, she will stick her head up toward the top of her tank and flick her tongue all over the place, I usually interpret this as a sign of hunger. I think she is just testing the air and seeing if there is any prey in the area.

[stevepoppers]

I was just saying there's more than another ball with an RI than can cause one in yours. It's technically pneumonia or a sinus infection, which aren't contagious in humans because it's the specific conditions within your body that allowed the bacteria to take hold. I think this is similar with ball pythons but with the conditions it's kept in. It even seems unlikely that a ball with an RI would give it to another in healthy, clean conditions for those same reasons. The ball without an RI does not have (or is not) an environment in which bacteria can take hold.

Yeah, the periscope thing is normal too. Called "periscoping." They're just checking things out.

[Zedd]

* sigh * I think I celebrated too early Merlin struck ( see photo in my gallery ) thought about swallowing then turned away

[Ham]

Sometimes ball pythons can be retarded, you know theyre hungry but they just give up on trying to swallow the mouse, I just will take the mouse out again and try reheating it so its nice and warm, that usually will make them take the food item the second time around. If that doesnt work just try again in a few days, ball pythons will just refuse food once and awhile, they are quirky like that.

[MikeV]

I was just saying there's more than another ball with an RI than can cause one in yours. It's technically pneumonia or a sinus infection, which aren't contagious in humans because it's the specific conditions within your body that allowed the bacteria to take hold. I think this is similar with ball pythons but with the conditions it's kept in. It even seems unlikely that a ball with an RI would give it to another in healthy, clean conditions for those same reasons. The ball without an RI does not have (or is not) an environment in which bacteria can take hold.

Yeah, the periscope thing is normal too. Called "periscoping." They're just checking things out.

Ah

so one question though.. is it ALWAYS an issue even if you keep your snake in the best conditions possible? Or is there a time where its so clean and temps and humidity are so perfect that its almost impossible to for it to happen?

Thanks, just curious

[Ham]

I have been told that the bacteria that causes RI is always present in their airway and lungs, but when their temperatures drop or they become stressed the bacteria can flourish because of their immune system weakening. So it is just the abnormally high concentrations of their normal bacteria that causes the illness, and these numbers are caused by poor conditions or just plain old stress or maybe age, anything that can cause a weakend immune system sounds like it could start an RI.