Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Back in April I got a Beautiful 2 year old Male Columbian Rainbow Boa. He's a solid 4 feet long (Maybe more now) and eats 2 weanling rats (f/t) every other tuesday. He's never missed a meal (always eats like there's no tomorrow) and hasn't been acting ill at all since I got Him. He's still acting Fine, ate like usual today. But While He was swallowing His rats, and a coupe times after swallowing, He kinda whistled when He breathed. Not for the whole breath but for half a second and then it stopped. And it was very very soft sound, I had to lean in to hear it. But I haven't heard him do that before.... Is He starting R.I.????? What can I do to stop it??? I planned on taking Him to the Vet soon for a check up but was hoping to get a couple pay checks under me before I did.... Has anyone else encountered this? I keep him in two large sterilite Bins connected by a black tube. One bin is his Humid Bin (VERY humid) with His Soaking tub and the other Bin is His dry bin with branchs. I keep Him on paper towel for Substrate. I clean it whenever it's soiled so He's kept in a very clean house.... Help! What do I do now? Can I change something to stop it before it gets out of control or is this a Vet needed NOW situation? Like I said, He's still active and ate Great today. Did I catch it early? Will He be ok? Please help My Canth...... I love Him dearly and I'm very scared......
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2.0 Iguanas, 2.4 Beardies, 1.3 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 0.0.2 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 1.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.1 eastern garters, 0.0.1 Banded California King Snake (M.I.A.), 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 2 Horses, 4 cats, 1 dog, and I'm still not done.....

Heather,
. Snakes will make some breathing noises when they are eating. The question is; how much noise is okay and how much is a sign of a problem? I think your snake is okay but it is impossible to tell for sure. Colombian Rainbows are tough snakes. I have had no respiratory problems with them. When I have respiratory problems with other Rainbow Boas they make bubbly abnormal breathing sounds often and they also had some mucous looking discharge from their mouths and/or noses. I do not know how big your rats are but keep an eye on your snake to make sure it does not get fat. When they are young and growing rapidly they convert food to linear growth efficiently. After they reach maturity (usually around 4 to 4.5 feet) males require very little food and will get fat if fed too much and too often. My adult male does fine on around 10 to 12 medium rats per year. The females and the other subspecies of Rainbow Boas eat much more.
Jeff

>>Back in April I got a Beautiful 2 year old Male Columbian Rainbow Boa. He's a solid 4 feet long (Maybe more now) and eats 2 weanling rats (f/t) every other tuesday. He's never missed a meal (always eats like there's no tomorrow) and hasn't been acting ill at all since I got Him. He's still acting Fine, ate like usual today. But While He was swallowing His rats, and a coupe times after swallowing, He kinda whistled when He breathed. Not for the whole breath but for half a second and then it stopped. And it was very very soft sound, I had to lean in to hear it. But I haven't heard him do that before.... Is He starting R.I.????? What can I do to stop it??? I planned on taking Him to the Vet soon for a check up but was hoping to get a couple pay checks under me before I did.... Has anyone else encountered this? I keep him in two large sterilite Bins connected by a black tube. One bin is his Humid Bin (VERY humid) with His Soaking tub and the other Bin is His dry bin with branchs. I keep Him on paper towel for Substrate. I clean it whenever it's soiled so He's kept in a very clean house.... Help! What do I do now? Can I change something to stop it before it gets out of control or is this a Vet needed NOW situation? Like I said, He's still active and ate Great today. Did I catch it early? Will He be ok? Please help My Canth...... I love Him dearly and I'm very scared......
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>>2.0 Iguanas, 2.4 Beardies, 1.3 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 0.0.2 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 1.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.1 eastern garters, 0.0.1 Banded California King Snake (M.I.A.), 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 2 Horses, 4 cats, 1 dog, and I'm still not done.....

Thanks Jeff, I feel a LOT better now. There was no Mucus from nose or Mouth at all. He's as active as He was and eatting great. Temps are were they should be (Between 80 and 85 in both Bins)and I keep the humidity high. Here's a pic of His House.

http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbumPhoto.asp?userid=DalDove&album_id=146379&image_id=6

If you look in the "Humid House" (on the Right), Between the rock cave and Water Tub, You can JUST see him a little. But usually He spends most of His time in the other Bin on, under, or around His branch or in His tunnel. I'll still be watching Him for a while to make SURE He's ok. In a few days (after He digusts His food) I'm gonna take Him out and listen to him again. And after Hearing you say what you feed yours..... Baby Boy is going on a Diet!! LOL He's been getting two small rats every two weeks. Should I cut Him down to one?
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2.0 Iguanas, 2.4 Beardies, 1.3 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 0.0.2 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 1.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.1 eastern garters, 0.0.1 Banded California King Snake (M.I.A.), 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 2 Horses, 4 cats, 1 dog, and I'm still not done.....

How did you make the holes and then put the tube in and not leave any gaps.

Jack
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0.1 Hypo-Tang Leopard Gecko
0.1 Tremper Albino Hypo Tang Leopard Gecko
1.0 Hypo Tang Leopard Gecko
1.0 Crested Geckos
0.0.1 CB Baby Saharan Uromastyx
1.0 Amel Cornsnake
0.0.1 Spotted Python

We (Dad and I) Poked a start hole and then used His Dremel to cut the hole out. It took some work (seeing how we're both challanged with building/making things LOL ) but I think It came out nice.
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2.0 Iguanas, 2.4 Beardies, 1.3 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 0.0.2 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 1.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.1 eastern garters, 0.0.1 Banded California King Snake (M.I.A.), 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 2 Horses, 4 cats, 1 dog, and I'm still not done.....