Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok first off I recently bought an adult normal columbian boa for what I thought was a really reasonable price since she was a little on the thin side to breed this year but I know I could fatten her up no problem by next year or even try to breed her late in the season. I brought home some large rats to feed her today and when I went to feed her she blew bubbles at me meaning its probably a RI. She doesnt wheeze or breath heavy at all and I keep her tank near 98 on the hot side.

My question is can taking away some humidity help cure this problem or should I take her to the vet? I havent even owned her more than a full week yet I just picked her up in chicago last weekend and drove her from there to saint louis.

is that 98 degrees the actual heat source, or the ambient temp on that side of the tank?!

Either way, LOWER IT DOWN, you could fry your snake. Next thing you know he's wobbling and doesn't know left from up.

If he strikes at the meal way off, he's been overheated and may have brain damage.

If he is just laying there with mucous coming out of his mouth and/or nostrils, and blowing bubbles, wheezing, etc., take him to the vet unless you are thoroughly versed in administering antiobiotics, such as baytril.

Keep an eye on him, if he's lazy, wheezing, not responding to food, blowing bubbles, having runny stools, leaving mucous stains on the glass/paper, etc., these are all signs of RI and/or other infection.

I suggest scheduling a vet appt.

Take care, Joe Rollo - Bci Joe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

lol love my dislexic typing its 90 degrees :/ she hasnt been weezy or anything that I have noticed. lazy yes but from my experience most females around 8ft are just that. I tried to feed her prekilled today and she refused and blew a "spit bubble" Whatever the case might be I definately wont breed her this year.

>>is that 98 degrees the actual heat source, or the ambient temp on that side of the tank?!
>>
>>Either way, LOWER IT DOWN, you could fry your snake. Next thing you know he's wobbling and doesn't know left from up.
>>
>>Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
>>

I'll have to explain that to some of the rescues I've taken care of so they'll quit acting normal. LOL

I respect you Joe, but that just is not true. When ever i deal with an RI case, they are kept ambients no LESS than 85, usually a tad higher, and there hot spot a solid 100°, and i have never had this so called "brain damage" occur like I hear mentioned quite often.
In fact, with some medications they tell you to keep the animal at the higher end of the spectrum to enable the meds to work at their optimum potential. I've used high temps alone to knock out some cases of supposed RI also. Just an FYI.

I agree totally with the vet part though. If there is discharge of any kind, from nose or mouth, it should be cultured to check for sensitivity so you can get the right meds to knock it out.

My humble opinion.
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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

I agree as well,Ive "cooked" a few myself and no drugs were used.
BUT !!! its not advised for novice keepers or those that are prone to less then diligent husbandry when it comes to Animal Recovery.That "AS SEEN ON TV" (forum quoting/replicating) Husbandry will kill more then it will cure.
Joe is correct "excessive heat" will ding a snakes bell,therefore attempting to cook the RI out of the animal requires equipment that isn't sold by ZooMed nor is it a set it and forget it,come back in two weeks ALL DONE !!

Each animal is different,some respond some dont,then theres the few that never recover due to keepers guessing wrong and the assumed was in fact LRI instead of the URI and the animal suffered to its demise.

>>>>is that 98 degrees the actual heat source, or the ambient temp on that side of the tank?!
>>>>
>>>>Either way, LOWER IT DOWN, you could fry your snake. Next thing you know he's wobbling and doesn't know left from up.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
>>>>
>>
>>
>>I'll have to explain that to some of the rescues I've taken care of so they'll quit acting normal. LOL
>>
>>I respect you Joe, but that just is not true. When ever i deal with an RI case, they are kept ambients no LESS than 85, usually a tad higher, and there hot spot a solid 100°, and i have never had this so called "brain damage" occur like I hear mentioned quite often.
>>In fact, with some medications they tell you to keep the animal at the higher end of the spectrum to enable the meds to work at their optimum potential. I've used high temps alone to knock out some cases of supposed RI also. Just an FYI.
>>
>>I agree totally with the vet part though. If there is discharge of any kind, from nose or mouth, it should be cultured to check for sensitivity so you can get the right meds to knock it out.
>>
>>My humble opinion.
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TnK

Yeah, I should have mentioned, diligence is required when raising temps, and good equipment as well. Thanks for covering that Tom.
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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

Thanks for letting us know of your experiences.

I can only say i'm glad this hasn't happened to you.

A hot spot of 100 is not favorable in MY experience, my boas are kept at lower temps and still prefer the cooler side.

But an AMBIENT temp of 100 or so has proven fatal almost every time, from what i've seen in my days.

(heating accidents, a/c loss, snake left in a car, overheating in shipping, etc.)

Some snakes can tolerate this more than others, but generally, 100-105, the snake has NEVER come back from this trauma.

I received a box last year
2 boas shipped in a box with a heat pack during summer.

one boas was complete MUSH, dead, skin sloughed off, wet, etc.
the other was fine! go figure...

I have many more specific scenarios, but bottom line is, it has proven fatal for me in most of the cases i've seen AMBIENT temps go up to 100 or more.

Again, i'm glad it hasn't happened to you. Hope it never does!

PS - an adult would be able to sustain and survive this MUCH, MUCH more than a baby or juvi.

Thanks again, Joe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

I agree. If the Boa has nowhere to go from the heat, such as very high ambients, it very well CAN prove fatal, or permanently damaging to the neuro structure.

I was in no way suggesting those sort of extremes though. LOL High temps are not to be taken lightly, but if used PROPERLY, can be very beneficial for a few things.
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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices