Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My female is in the blue and i seen her soaking i took her out and there was a bunch of clear thick fluid drooling from the mouth in a clump hanging i wiped it off and it was rather sticky. I guess similar to spit also she was blowing bubbles from her moth and more drool ran out? Is my baby sick? has this happened to anyone before?
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1.1 Columbian red tails (Zeus, Athena)
1.1 Corn snakes (Appolo, Boreas)
0.1 King snake tri striped cal morph (Helios)

sounds like an URI (upper respiratory infection) to me. i would get her to a vet asap. until you can get her to the vet up the temerature in her enclosure to about 85F.
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- Jason F.

in her throat and mouth, you need to get her to a vet ASAP.

Boas can't cough, and can EASILY DROWN in their own fluids. In fact, this can ALSO occur when a Boa regurgitates, the mucus (saliva) can get into the trachea and lungs and cause the boa to suffocate.

It may be over warrented caution, but please do NOT ignore this advice.

I am not going to overlook this at all. However i cannot afford a vet trip until the 31st. Now what can i do until then? She seems to always be on the cold side of the tank. Should i keep lights on all night?? My uta from Exoterra really sucks and is not sufficiant for nights i think? any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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1.1 Columbian red tails (Zeus, Athena)
1.1 Corn snakes (Appolo, Boreas)
0.1 King snake tri striped cal morph (Helios)

What temperature do you normally keep the cage at? Does your cage have a screen top?

If the temps are dropping a lot at night when you turn the lights off that might have instigated the infection. Buy a blacklight or a red light and use that in your lamps instead (you can keep them on 24 hours and it won't bother the snake's light cycle). If you have problems keeping temperature up and you do have a screen top, cover most of the top with cardboard, plastic or sheet insulation (not touching the lamps) to help keep heat in.

Also, I found when I used to use critter cages (screen top terrariums), in my climate I'd have to use a larger UTH than recommended (ie 50-60 gal size UTH for a 40gal breeder cage) in order to get temperatures up.

You may have to add another UTH if one isn't enough and the lamps aren't doing the job either. I had 2 uth's on each of my 40gal tanks and the temperatures were acceptible (I also had an overhead ceramic emitter on one side).

I know it might not be a solution you can do now, but these are the frustrations that made me ditch those cages and buy plastic ones.

To answer some questions. He lives in a custom tank built from wood with a floor vent in the back. also i thought i had a UTH in there which was Exo-Terra but i just felt it and the thing dont even work. The temps in my bsmt drop to 69 degrees. I have a night bulb i will put in there for nights.

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1.1 Columbian red tails (Zeus, Athena)
1.1 Corn snakes (Appolo, Boreas)
0.1 King snake tri striped cal morph (Helios)

may have led to an RI. Often times a respritory infection can leave a boa succeptable (sp?) to other things that may not have affected it, or it could lead to an allert to other problems. One example is internal parasites, which are common even in captive herps, sub-optimum conditions can lead to this natural occurance to pose a threat to your boa's health.

I would check around and see if you can find a vet that will allow you to make payments later (post visit). Even if this is attainable, if you don't have an EXPERIENCED vet, there is often very little to do. (A sad thing I know.) Make sure your Boa has the proper temperatures, try a ceramic heater. Do you have a portable room heater in your house that you can heat the room with?

Do NOT feed your boa until you are sure that it is healthy. I know this may seem awkward as you are not replentishing its nutrients, however if it has digestive trouble this could lead to even more problems. The vet will most likely administer electolytes directly into your boa's system to replentish this loss.

Good luck, and I hope I was of some help. I am not a vet though, and this is all precaution. It may be over warrented, but better safe than sorry.

-Chris

i will take her to a vet on the 1st
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1.1 Columbian red tails (Zeus, Athena)
1.1 Corn snakes (Appolo, Boreas)
0.1 King snake tri striped cal morph (Helios)

Forgive me for picturing what the snake might look like in 10-11 days. Perhaps try burrowing money from family/friends, asking for a credit limit-up, payment plan, are a cash advance... ect. It's not my place to tell you what to do, but working at an emerg clinic, I find many clients just need some ideas to get them going.

Ian

I appreciate the input but have noticed no open mouth breathing or froth since. I have already called the vet and booked the 1st. Because there is no other way i can afford 200$ till then
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1.1 Columbian red tails (Zeus, Athena)
1.1 Corn snakes (Appolo, Boreas)
0.1 King snake tri striped cal morph (Helios)