Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Aaah! My Sorong female has a bad cold! Raspy breathing that can be felt when held. No gaping or oral discharge. Last copulation date was 11/24, last feeding date was 11/30.

Brandon mentioned not getting her too hot which may reduce the viability of the sperm. I have her now at 86F under the heat panel and upped the humidity to 90%. How do I combat the cold w/out jeapordizing the ovums?? She's never been sick before. Murphy's law at its ultimate - finally successful courtship and now this. I figure the whole gestation process is stressful enough w/out these stressors added!

The audible symptoms can only be heard when she's disturbed, she's breathing normally when at rest.

Advice will be gratefully received,

Bill

Is she sitting with her head up at all? If you think she has an RI I would get her to a vet ASAP. GTP's have very sensitive lungs and they can go downhill in a flash. It's better to lose a clutch now than an entire snake. The combination of stress from egg production and an RI could be fatal. I've heard different thoughts on the humdity too. Some say that too low a humidity can cause RI in the GTP, others say when they have it to up the temps and lower humidity. Either way, I'd see a vet. Especially considering she might be gravid.
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I agree with Meg... Get her to a good vet ASAP... This is not something that can be fixed on its own alot of the time... Get the help from the vet before you loose your window of oppertunity, cuz when they crash they crash fast...

Good Luck, and keep us posted...

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Shiloh Hawkesworth
kansas
(Midwest Serpents)

It's hard to call if in fact your chondro is "gravid". By definition, a snake becomes gravid after ovulation which is when the actual ovums are fertilized and shelled. Based on your notes--compulation dates and last feeding (2 weeks ago) I would have my doubts as to whether she was in fact gravid. As for her having an RI--sounds like she may. As others have already stated RIs are not to be taken lightly. If you are versed with them and have the necessary meds in your home vet cabinant, then I'd suggest starting her on them ASAP. If you are not and also do ot have the meds "on hand" then I strongly suggest you see a local herps vet.

Here's a quick question..what is the background on your chondro? The reason I ask is many LTC animals and WC animals tend to come down with varying stages and strengths of RIs usually associated with the stress brought about by breeding.

Rich Culver

Thans to all who replied! I just got back in town from a business trip and took her out - not a sound out of her!! As I said in my initial post she really "sounded off" when I disrupted (held) her. I held her for 5 minutes and she seems and sounds totally normal! I have a good vet now who can get me in on a moments notice. I used to have ppropriate meds in house but haven't for some years. I'm going to monitor her closely for the next 24 hrs. and see how she progresses. Very strange set of occurrences.

This is a 5 year old cb Sorong and is huge in both length and girth. As to my "gravid" depiction, I know she's not technically gravid yet but I'm hopeful after 4 witnessed copulations.

Bill