Very sick Baby. Help!

[Bogertophis]

There's a few big red flags that jump right out at me. STOP HANDLING immediately & never handle any snake that's not eating. A new snake must be allowed to "settle in" (adjust to new surroundings, since fear is a very good appetite suppressant) and all new snakes (any age, but especially young ones) should be allowed to eat at normal intervals (weekly or so, depending on age etc) for at least 3 times without refusals for any reason other than being in shed- BEFORE any handling. Seriously- stop handling this snake if you want it to survive.

There's a very good reason for this: even when captive-bred, our snakes are "wild animals"- that is, they rely on their instincts (not us) to survive. In the wild, anything that picks up a snake is normally a predator about to EAT them. So whether you can tell or not, handling a snake makes them nervous & fearful- which ruins their interest in food. If you love snakes, you must first let them BE snakes- learn to appreciate their needs first. They are not "domestic pets" but natural wild creatures learning to live with us- be very patient. In time most learn to accept our respectful handling, but for them to survive, eating is #1. That & plenty of rest & privacy.

If handling is a no-no, vet care is even more stressful, & antibiotics are hard on their bodies. To us, an RI may sound like a cold, no big deal, right? NO, as you can unfortunately now see, your snake is seriously ill. Snakes cannot cough to clear secretions- they can choke to death from an RI- their lungs can be plugged. You're here asking for help but right now, you'll have to depend on your vet's experience & skills to pull your snake through this. We're hoping right along with you. We cannot take the place of vet help, but when the husbandry is correct, that often helps to prevent snakes from getting sick. Once they're sick, your snake requires vet care, so please follow your vet's directions.

Back to husbandry mistakes though- for snakes to settle in & eat well for us, it's important for you to understand that stress is as disruptive & unhealthy for them as it is for us. And something else besides handling that causes them stress is offering food daily. Please never do that in the future. If your snake doesn't eat, wait a week before you try again. Trying to feed a snake daily just reduces the likelihood that they'll eat for you- it makes them a nervous wreck having to deal with prey that seems to pester them. Snakes are shy & mostly low-key animals- maybe not the best pets for those who want more social animals. Only when we remain patient- they learn to relax, feel safe & they do well.

It sounds like you started off having trouble feeding your snake- it's very important, when you get a new snake that has eaten previously, to make sure you offer the SAME prey & the SAME way when you first try to feed it. That makes success much more likely. (Though even choosing the right food & offering the same way, daily handling might have made your snake refuse anyway.)

Listen, I know how hard it is to get a new pet- we ALL want to interact with them, watch them, learn about them. But with snakes- easy does it. We've all made the same mistakes too, which is why we come here to help others figure out their snakes, & to be successful with them. It can be done, & I hope your snake gets well so you can learn the right ways. With snakes, it's much easier to KEEP them healthy with good husbandry practices than it is to get them healthy again once they're really sick.

I know that vet care is very expensive- that's why it's so important to do everything you can to keep your pet healthy from the start. By reducing stress- & by making sure they keep up their strength & immune system function by eating regularly. Remember that a new snake has already been stressed just from the process of being sold & shipped etc. so they're often in no shape to fight off pathogens they've already been exposed to along the way, especially if they're further stressed when in their new home.

It's very possible this snake was harboring this illness when you got her, & it's even possible that nothing you did or didn't do could have prevented her from getting sick- there's no way to know that for sure. It's awful to get a new pet you expect to enjoy for long time, only to have it become seriously ill. But with any living creatures, it can happen. Vet bills are awful too. I'm just explaining all this NOT to blame you for your mistakes, but only to help you understand & not repeat them in the future. You did great by providing so much information- that shows me you truly care & want to learn. And I wish you all the best with her recovery- I hope you'll keep us posted so others can learn too.