Not that all gular swelling like that indicates URI (Upper Respiratory Infection), but nearly all the snakes I've seen with the condition your's has, ended up having URI. Your snake's body temperature must NEVER be below 79F. Even that is too low for optimal metabolism.

If your snake was not utilizing the UT heater, it often indicates that the buffer (substrate) between your snake and the heater was inadequate, thus resulting in excessive heat. Hence, the snake emigrates to cooler spots in the cage. When given the choice, your corn will choose COOL over H O T. That decision is often deadly. They know TOO HOT will kill them, so they go to COOL, and that results in immuno-suppression. They get sick in the cool zone, and slowly die.

Bottom line: I'm not a vet, so I will not diagnose what could be wrong with your snake, but I will tell you that not having a heater under your corn usually results in a dead snake, regardless of the room temperature. Put a thermometer next to your snake. After ten minutes, if you do not see a temperature between 79F-85F, you must do whatever it takes to correct that. Increase or decrease substrate depth. Your snake should have a hiding place in the cage that is 80F-84F at all times. No exceptions!

I recommend that you immediately take your snake to a qualified reptile vet for evaluation and treatment. In the meantime, get a good thermometer that can either stay INSIDE the warm-side hide OR one you can put in there when you suspect something is wrong. Something will BE WRONG when your snake spends less than 80% of the daytime hours IN the warm-side hide.

Good luck, and let us know what happens.
South Mountain Reptiles

[ Hide Replies ]

• Swelling? - janome, Sat Sep 13 18:50:52 2008
• RE: Swelling? - SooperScoot, Sat Sep 13 20:31:41 2008
• RE: Swelling? - SooperScoot, Sat Sep 13 20:34:28 2008
• HERES THE LINK - STEVES_KIKI, Sat Sep 13 20:37:40 2008
• RE: HERES THE LINK - janome, Sat Sep 13 20:57:13 2008
• RE: Swelling? - aanata1, Sun Sep 14 00:35:16 2008
• Looks like URI . . . - DonSoderberg, Sun Sep 14 10:12:09 2008