Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am worried my snake might be showing early signs of a respitory infection. Sometimes when she is out lounging about her head is resting on her body so that it is inclined a little bit. It is maybe a 10 degrees incline (heres a website with a protractor to help see what 10 degrees is like http://www.lawrencegoetz.com/protrac.htm).

Is that little of an incline something to worry about? I hear people talking about snakes with their heads raised becaue of RI but those snake are in an L shape and obviously sitting like that to breath better. I am ofcourse no expert but it doesnt look like she is trying to breath better, it looks more comfortable. Also, she only does this occasionally, most of the time her head is flat on the ground.

Also, the other day while feeding while she was constricting the already dead mouse (i feed thawed frozen) i could hear a very tiny sound that im sure was her breathing. It only lasted a few seconds and it was a very weak sound. Im assuming she was a little out of breath because of the constricting the way we get out of breath after running. Also, i usually can never hear her breathing while eating. Am i wrong in thinking this?

Otherwise she seems totally healthy. At night she cruises around the tank and sits on the branch i have for her. She always eats regularly and has never missed a meal. She has shed for me a total of 5 times. The first was not so great but the last 4 have been perfect. When i handle her shes very calm and very strong. About 2 months ago i heard her breathing while constricting and i took her to an experienced vet right away because i was worry about an RI but he said nothing was wrong she was probably just excited.

She is currently in a 10 gallon tank with 60% humidity, 88-90 degrees ambient temps on the warm side and about 80 degrees on the cool side. I use a heat lamp and head pad to heat the tank. I know thats not the best set up but she will soon be out of it. I have ordered a Boaphile Plastics tank heated by flexwatt and that should be arriving on Thursday.

Well sorry this was so long but im worried so any and all replies will be very helpful. Thanks a lot.

Rob Woods

I recently had a baby Ball that developed a RI about two weeks
after purchase. In addition to the inclined head position he was open mouth breathing and a sligh saliva discharge in his mouth.
I increaed the heat to 95 in the basking area and took him to the vet.
The vet ( who is awesome!!) cleaned him out with swabs and started a regimine of antibotic injections, he had a series of about 5 injections two days in a row then one every 4 days or so.

The baby is doing fine now and eating like a pig.

Hope this was of some help.

Good Luck,
Tony

Thank you for replying so quick. I have been watching my snake very closely and there is no discharge or snake snot or anything like that. Nothing is coming out of his mouth either and its always closed like it should be. What do you guys make of this? Thanks again.

Rob Woods

doesn't sound like an ri.

resting head on body - easier than keeping it up with muscles, and conserves heat.

squeak when eating - they breathe through a tube when eating (think it's the jacobsen's organ?), plus have a throat full of mouse, so wouldn't be concerned at all over a small noise that occurred only during feeding.

Regards,

Neil

n/p