Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Let me start by saying I have kept BP's for 2 decades now and still have my first. I have NEVER however had a sick animal and now dont know what to do!!

Well after browsing online the other day I came across an ad for a 2yo normal BP with 55gal tank, stand and all accesories for VERY little money. The people were moving out of state and decided not to take the BP with them. Naturally I think to myself "Hey! Isn't this to good to pass up!" After discussing with the wife as to why we need a 9th Ball Python I make the trip to go pick up my new family member.

After a 45 min drive to the middle of B.F.E and meeting the people at the door, they take me to the living room and see the most hideous conditions I have ever seen. Dried fecal matter smeared all over the enclosure, branches they obviously pulled off the tree next to the 5 beat comaros and trans ams in the yard and a water bowl actually GREEN and SLIMEY on the inside. I will say that at least they did have a UTH and a hide. Though the hide looked like what my baby corn uses. Not a 3ft BP.

Oh. And the substrate they have been using? Cedar shavings! Yep, all in the tank and a big ass bag sitting right next to it as well. All of the sudden I start thinking "This snake is probably going to die. But if it does I'm making its last days as comfortable as possible!" So I plunk down the cash knowing I'm at least getting a 55gal tank for next to nothing and load up the truck and race home. Since it was almost 10pm I decide it's not going to hurt to wait until the morning to start.

6:45am my 8month old decides he's hungry so after diaper change and feeding he takes a nap and I tackle the most disgusting task I have ever done since my son managed to pull his diaper off AFTER a nice big one. I put the snake in a rubbermaid container after giving it a much needed bath and spent the next 5 hours vacuming out cedar shavings, tossing out said slimey water dish, branches (which were freakin pine!) scraping off BP crap with a razor blade, bleach/water solution, virosan, windex on the outside and MORE virosan, I was covered in sweat and God knows what else and ready to get the set-up back together. And holy crap! I can actually see through the glass now! What a novel effin concept!

This whole time I'm thinking "It was dark last night and I really havent inspected this snake totally yet?" But I have OCD so the cleaning took precedence for the moment. Replaced redneck homemade out of 2x4's and chicken wire top with clamp on screen top. Made sure UTH was in good condition and heating properly. Fresh aspen layered in tank (aspen haters the snake room's humidity is perfect), new hides on warm and cold side, new water bowl and some driftwood and plastic vines for asthetic purposes. Damn! This tank looks so good I might move into it!

Time to get the little guy out and see how he likes his new home. He's very calm, good squeeze, looks like he's been fed well, no noticable skin conditions, one retained eyecap which if doesnt come off next shed hey I can take care of that. Wait a minute....whats that weezing sound? And it's HEAVY weezing. You stressed little guy? Let me take a closer look. What are all these bubbles coming out of your mouth and nostrils? You look like you drank dish detergent! Damnit. I knew I was taking a chance.

So, enclosure and snake are now in living room seperated from all the others, heat lamp added to dry things out and hopefully the mucus in his head some and now I wait. I have never had to deal with an RI and sadly the closest herp vet is 200 miles away. My little reptile store closed about 3 months ago and I'm left with petco which I never go to. Now what? I know this is long for a simple "Hey, my snake has a RI and I have no vet so what do I do?" post but I'm drunk. It's my birthday. So give me a present and tell me if there is anyway possible I can treat this myself. Thanks a ton everyone.

George.
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"What are you afraid of? What ever it is, it's here. That and things your little irrational mind couldn't even dream of."

Happy Birthday George!Good luck.Poor thing would have died for sure and soon it sounds like. I hope someone on here can give some good advice and he/she makes it.
I can save pups and kittens and even oppossums but much to learn about snakes.
Toni

Thanks for the Bday wishes Toni I appreciate it!
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"What are you afraid of? What ever it is, it's here. That and things your little irrational mind couldn't even dream of."

i've used tetracycoline and it's worked magic for some of the rescues that i've taken in, usually in a couple day's or so. not to long at all.

Ok im dumb on this but how do you administer tetracycoline and where can you get it?
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"What are you afraid of? What ever it is, it's here. That and things your little irrational mind couldn't even dream of."

you can usually find it at petco or other pet store that sells birds. it comes in a tablet form that dissolves in water that you offer the snake in its water supply. make sure you use fresh supply daily and clean the bowl daily. this has work for me in the past along with increased temp and humidity. severe cases need a trained vet and baytril injections will be needed. call you vet if its to far and ask his opinion its your best bet.

hmmm. If this is what you use then a feed store may carry it for poultry.
Toni

Yes, call your vet, even 200 miles away - they can still consult with you over symptoms and treatment options - even if that may mean your reptile vet of choice sends you to see another (closer) vet who may not specialize in exotics, but could still follow the reptile vet's recommendations.

Good on you for your attitude about your find! Best of luck to all of you!!

~Rebecca

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1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa '04
1.2.1 Ball Pythons
[1.0.0 '05 Orange Hypo (Specter)]
[0.1.0 '05 Het Orange Hypo (Sylvia)]
[0.1.0 '08 VPI line Axanthic (Jane)]
[0.0.1 '03 Normal (Sue)]
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

...and MANY more years' experience in colubrids

The best thing you can do right now, considering you are far away from a vet, is to increase the temps and humidity. Whats worked for me in the past was a hot spot in the mid 90's and daily misting to get the humidity up so that the mucus does not dry up. After about a week of this I noticed a dramatic improvement. Just about the same as if I used Tylosin. Good luck!

Sam

Wow what a story, alot of people would have walked away(some?) BP's sound very resiliante, and I am proud to own a 2 monther.
I am a paranoid person by nature
I looked into my Baals cage, what is a normal breathing rate?
He seemed to be breathing alot, probably more then 60 a minute.
I am all freaked he is sick already!
Would I hear wheezing if there was a problem?
I am encouraged by the fact that you have owned BP's for so many years, and had such good luck(skill?) with their health.
I have a few dragons, and it seems everyday I am paranoid about them. They are always fine...
But these forums have been great, and normally soothe my nerves.

Temps
DAY
Center Ambient - 83-86
Left bottom center - 91-94
Left bottom sides - 85-90
Right side - 80-85
Humidity 60-65(once 70)

NIGHT
Center Ambient 75
Left side 80-85
Right Side 73-77
Humidity 55ish

I'm assuming you are housing Baal in a glass tank? If so whats the size? just wondering if the little guy has enough room to move out of the hot spot and cool spot. Your day temps looks fine but the night is a little cooler than what I would use for my snakes. I'd keep the temps at the min 78 degrees day or night.

As far as breathing goes, 60 a minute seems a lot. Although I've never counted how many times my guys take a breath in a minute. How is his feeding? Is he active? Any strange behavior? Maybe you just startled him?

Yes the night temps are a little cool, I dont have a blue bulb yet to help bring up the air temp during the night, thats the main reason for the drop.
His last feeding was with the breeder, Sept 12th I got him Sept 17th. I planned on feeding on tuesday, my normal trip to the feeder guy day.
He chills and only moves about a handful of times during the day that I see, and from what I see at night he moves alot more, in and out of his 'humid box' around the warmer part sometimes, but never really active like always moving just slows casual slumps to new locations.
When handling I have only startled him a few times, I move super slow, and always make sure he is gripping onto a finger, wrist whatever... holding him 5-10 minutes, once or twice a day. He has only once began an escape plan from me and moved faster then I would have liked. normally calm movements in and out of my figners down my wrists and such...
When I noticed his breathing he had just his head inside his humid box, its about 75-85% in there, with an avg of 85o. I later tried to pick him up, but as I slowly touched his back he started moving inside, so I let him go in peace.

Just out of curiosity, how are you measuring his heart rate? Its really difficult to take a snakes heart rate free hand; visually its really difficult to see respiration... and it's pretty much impossible without a doppler or stethoscope. I'm not questioning your methods or anything, but it might be that you are panicking over nothing??
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

I counted how many breaths I could see on his side.
If it is suposed to be hard to see breathing, then I do have a problem, He was breathing hard fursure, I have not checked tonight.
Thanks

I'm pretty sure it's nothing; the little ones can both get startled easily (like any time you're around) and breathe pretty fast when startled and/or active.

There are important behavioral cues to look for in addition to audible wheezing or visual bubbles from the mouth and nostrils to determine a Respiratory Infection. First of these would be decreased activity, which does not sound like the case for Baal. A sick snake will look and act as if it "feels like crap." Also, with decreased activity, a sick snake will stay hidden as much as possible, perhaps only coming out of hiding for water at night. Given that you say you've seen him out and about multiple times on a daily basis, again, I don't think he's sick.

Just for the sake of information, another behavioral cue of RI is that a snake will rest with its head and neck elevated (like pointed straight up, not just on top of its coils) to drain some of that mucus and ease breathing. This is not 100% in all cases - some snakes just like to point their heads upward to rest - my boa has done this for years, and I check him for mucus obsessively every time he does it, but he eats and grows and thrives beautifully, so I think that's just his thing.

Also, if humidity gets too low (like in the upcoming winter), you might hear a nasal whistle (very different from a wheeze, though just as disconcerting) - this can happen if the air is too dry and some of the normally-present healthy mucus gets dried up, much like our own noses in the winter.

I hope that helps

~Rebecca
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1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa '04
1.2.1 Ball Pythons
[1.0.0 '05 Orange Hypo (Specter)]
[0.1.0 '05 Het Orange Hypo (Sylvia)]
[0.1.0 '08 VPI line Axanthic (Jane)]
[0.0.1 '03 Normal (Sue)]
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

...and MANY more years' experience in colubrids

it was on cedar....it may not have RI.....it is just dying from the poisons in cedar....

it now has better air....time will tell

feed it, water it, keep it warm....

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example...Russian hamsters sold by large pet wholesaler, the pet shop put them on cedar, couple weeks later brought them back complaining their hair fell out, and they got replacement hamsters,,,,I got the hairless ones , took them home and after being kept well the hair grew back and they were fine....the toxins went away?.....

./.../.../.../....time will tell...........

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