A horrible start to the day as I discover my big female has an RI.

I was slightly concerned about her breathing over the past week as it has become clearly audible.

On Monday, with her having shown little interest in the male who's been courting her, I separated them and gave her a large feed. On Thursday I put the male back in, more from expediancy than anything else as he's too big for his holder viv and his own 48" viv doesn't arrive until Monday.

This morning I cleaned them and the female gaped, showing mucus in her mouth. I have immediately removed the male. Other than that the temperatures are optimal, so don't need adjusting. They were set high anyway because she was digesting a big meal - 90 at the hot end and 82 in the cool.

I've kept the temperatures at about this level the whole time the male has been courting. Since he didn't seem to need any encouragement, I saw no value in lowering the temps and risking an RI.

But it's happened anyway. I wonder if the male being in has stressed the female and made her vulnerable to the infection?

The male was quarantined with a reptile breeder I know for a fortnight before I introduced the two of them, and he has no signs of any such illness. They've been together off and on for about 6 weeks.

Anyway, she has an appointment at the best reptile vet in England at 09:30 on Monday.

Hope to God she gets through this.

There's a lesson in here that sometimes factors other than temperature can trigger an RI. I really think it's the stress of the male being with her that's done it.

Bugger my breeding plans for this year, I just want her to get well now.

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