Hello,

I sadly think my Ball Python has a RI . I noticed that when she breathes it makes a whistling noise so I called my vet. They said it's probably pneumonia so I'm bringing her in tomorrow for an inspections and probably to start an injection set.

I'm trying to figure out how she could've possibly gotten sick.

Shes a little over 3 ft long and a little over a year and a half in age. I keep her in a 50 gallon tank with aspen shavings, an overhead bulb 12 hours a day and an undertank heater 24/7. She has a hide spot on both ends of the tank and her water is kept on the cool side. I keep thee measurement gauges in the middle of the tank where heat reads 80F when light is on (usually no lower than 75 when it's off), and humidity is around 60% usually.

She shed 2 months ago I believe and seems to be due for another (her skin is starting to get flakey on her belly). Since December she hasn't been eating as much, she ate 1 adult mouse a few days ago, a month before the last time she ate she had 2 adult mice, time before that was 2 weeks previous and she had one mouse. I figured her lack of food (she was eating 2 adult mice a week) was due to the weather change (winter).

She lately has been hiding her in hide spot on the cool end of the tank, or burrowing under her aspen shavings.

Any ideas how she could've become sick? Also I would like some opinions as to how often I should clean her tank and how thuroughly. Thank you so much!

[ Hide Replies ]

• Respiratory Infection - VHLeo, Thu Mar 22 18:56:36 2012
• RE: Respiratory Infection - majorleaguereptiles, Thu Mar 22 21:07:22 2012
• RE: Respiratory Infection - g_vesper, Fri Mar 23 16:00:12 2012
• RE: Respiratory Infection - jdcobra, Sat Mar 24 09:02:51 2012
• Hope she gets better - Violetdixie, Sun Mar 25 22:05:38 2012