HELP PLEASE! Baby Pastel with RI!!!

[fattielumpkin]

I need help...I am freaking out! I noticed last night that one of my bp's has RI-at least symptons. she yawned and there was mucus stringing from top to bottom jaw. Then I looked close and she was blowing bubbles out of the front of her mouth when her mouth was closed. She had been sitting with her head pointed straight up a couple times prior, but i thought it was just a quirk or something. I contacted my sister-in-law who is a vet( not boarded in herps thought) and she called her colleague who is. I am still waiting for an answer on treatment. I am worried though, because she is only six months old, and I have heard that antibiotics can kill those under a year. She is set up in 41 Qt long tub, 94-95 hot spot and 60% humidity, there was a couple of days where the humidity reached 95-100% because for some reason I could not get it stablized. I think it was the weather. Also I have her in the same area of the house as a yearling male, should she be moved, is it contagious? Please help.

[Rakk101]

I have not heard that treatment will kill a BP under a year old but I would seperate the two snakes ASAP. Hope all works out

[Laooda]

Hey, sorry to hear that! I would defentlly get her to the vet ASAP and consider the male now in quarantine for as long as you can stand it...(3-6 months) and watch him close.
Hope everything turns out ok...

[Jenn]

Sounds like you will need to get that snake to a vet very soon. I'm wondering what caused it though? What kind of substrate do you use? And Why such a huge tub?

[littleindiangirl]

There are a few different reasons why a snake gets an RI. Here's a couple...

One could be husbandry. Low temps and too high or too low humidity can cause RI's. Too large of an enclosure with no chance to hide in a small snug space.

Stressed conditions, such as over handling, busy area of the house, constant disruptions etc, can cause the immune system to weaken, leaving the door open for infection.

It could be secondary to another infection that's already wearing down her immune system.

I would look first at your husbandry. Ball pythons like to feel secure, I personally keep babies in 6-12 qt tubs until they reach 7-800 grams. From there they are moved into a 28, and large adult females can go into a 41.

Large enclosures can be made to work, by offering ample snug fitting hides and cover, ball pythons can successfully be kept in them. But if her health is taking a down turn, think about setting her up in a 12 qt tub for the mean time.

[frankykeno]

I would assume (not having had a 6 month old BP with an RI myself) that the vet will treat appropriate to age, weight, etc. just like they would when treating an adult dog vs a puppy. Just make sure the vet you pick does have actual herp experience and then go from there. The snake needs to see a vet as soon as possible.

For now I'd put that snake on layers of plain white paper towel as a substrate (something I think is smart with any snake with any medical issues). I'd make sure the two snakes are in different rooms but consider both in full quarantine and watch that other one like a hawk for any signs it's also becoming ill.

Make sure you have gel hand sanitizer and do all your husbandry with the assumed healthy snake first, then anything you need to do with the sick one afterwards. After that wash well and sanitize and don't return to work with or handle your remaining healthy snake. You want to minimize any aspect of you being the transmission of germs between those snakes. Make sure they have all their own equipment and nothing is shared between them including equipment, prey, etc.

[fattielumpkin]

Update: I spoke with the herp store where I got her, and they offered to treat her for free! she got her first injection yesterday afternoon. keep your fingers crossed.