New snake with RI and Stomatitis

[Minja777]

Bought a yearling albino ball python from someone on a classified ad 2 days ago....
Ugh what a mistake that was ... I looked her over but did not open her mouth and got swept up in conversation that I overlooked an RI and stomatitis.. Believe me I know I should have checked and it's 100% stupidity on my part, this is my very expensive lesson learned.
Im not a pro...more of a newbie but again lesson learned ... Anyway though ...

Took her to a vet recommended by a local reptile store and wow I was impressed he seemed to really know his stuff ...I had been reading posts on here about RIs and was hoping to not get a vet that just prescribed baytril and sent her home...

He prescribed Ceftazidime injections , took a swabbing from her mouth /trach for a culture and sensitivity test and recommended and wrote a prescription for a nebulizer.

Unfortunately I don't quite understand the nebulizer part so I am calling back on their next open day..

He did say she was pretty active ,good weight, has a pretty decent chance of making it.

Has anyone on here had to use a nebulizer with their snakes? Could you explain it to me a bit?

He also mentioned making or buying a humidity box with a type of moss in it .. I forgot to ask , do I use that in place of a hide box? .... shes in a 10gal right now so I don't think there theres room for both.

And soaking her in warm water that barely comes half way up her body,raising the temps in her tank ,which I already did....

Im hoping she pulls through ok , who knows what would have happened if she stayed there any longer. Thats the only thing that keeps me from getting very angry... that at least shes in better care now ...

[CoolioTiffany]

You can make a humid hide out of a container that the snake is large enough to fit in, cut a hole large enough for the snake to get into, and place warm, damp paper towels in the hide. I don't use humid hides for any of my snakes, all I do is raise the humidity to 70% when they shed and they shed in one hole piece. I still mist with warm water when the humidity gets below 50%, so I try to keep it in the 50%-60% range, but nothing over 65%.

[Big Gunns]

Big Gunns has no experience with a nebulizer....sorry. BG doesn't know anyone that has used one with success either.

[blackcrystal22]

Don't replace the only hide with a humid hide. If the snake is too moist all the time it can cause scale rot because they will chose to sit in the hide for the safety rather than the humidity.

I fit two hides in a 10g all the time. Either lower the size of your water bowl, or get a smaller snugger hide.

How much did you pay for this albino ball on classifieds? Even with the vet bills, you may have gotten a deal...

A nebulizer is a breathing machine. People with asthma use them all the time. I would assume putting them in a small tub with the lid cracked and the nebulizer feeding the medicine in would be what would be required. What type of equipment did you get? Maybe if you show us a picture or give us the instructions they gave you we could figure out how to use it.

[Minja777]

Thank you
Youre right, I was looking at the set up and I can fit both I'm going to get a smaller hide , she's a bit smaller than I had thought from looking at the pictures on the ad.

She was 300.00 dollars. Vet bills so far 140.00 , that includes a 3 week treatment of 7 shots of Ceftazidime every 3 days. The exam. Also the culture and sensitivity test.

He didn't actually send me home with a nebulizer , I believe he was saying that I can find one online or a medical supply store and then fax them the prescription...
He also mentioned Amikacin, which I think he was saying I could put in the nebulizer.
Im calling him back whenever they're open again to better understand it.
We talked about so much it's hard to take in all at once.

Thanks for your help

Oh and he said it felt like she has some decent sized spurs but a short tail ... so there is the chance of her being a him, which would be less of a good deal but still good for a yearling I guess.
He did not want to probe her and stress her while sick.

[RichsBallPythons]

If you had paid with paypal for this transaction with the breeder file a claim as the ad did not describe the snake was sick.

I would first contact the breeder about this to cover vet costs first. IF snake does not make it the he would be liable for sending a sick snake and will want replacement and or refund.

[Minja777]

Unfortunately , she didn't come from a breeder , just some young couple that got into the military, and she was paid in cash.
I truly believe they were just a bit neglectful more so than they just blatantly lied to me..or well it at least helps me feel better thinking that lol.

They were handling the rest of their snakes after her without washing their hands as well.


Thank you though for the suggestion , I appreciate it. :-)

[Kaorte]

Oh and he said it felt like she has some decent sized spurs but a short tail ... so there is the chance of her being a him, which would be less of a good deal but still good for a yearling I guess.
He did not want to probe her and stress her while sick.

Spur size and tail size has nothing to do with sex. probing and popping are the only ways to find out the sex of the snake.

[CoolioTiffany]

Spur size and tail size has nothing to do with sex. probing and popping are the only ways to find out the sex of the snake.

The only way I'd see spur & tail size working is comparing the snake with another that is the same age and different sex. But, every snake grows at a different rate, so it wouldn't be that accurate.

If your snake does make it, and isn't sick no longer, try getting it popped or probed (or even both) to confirm it is what it is.

[Minja777]

Right , thanks both of you :-)
He said it's only a "might" be male, just making a guess on those things.
If she makes it I will definitely find out for sure.

Happy Thanksgiving