Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a red tail boa on the 29th. She's about 5 1/2 feet. She was on pine shaving when I got her and immediately put her on softer more dirt like bedding.
Now I suspect she has a Respiratory infection. She breathes heavily, gapes her mouth open every once in a while, sounds like she's whistling but she doesn't have bubbles in her mouth.
I don't have any reptile vets around me. Is there anything I can do at home to fix this?

Hard to say for certain without actually seeing this animal, but it sounds like it may be in a pre-respiratory infection condition. This is where the lungs become dried out and irritated, but before a bacterial infection has become established. The symptoms you list with the lack of excess mucous in the oral cavity is typical of this condition. If left unchecked, it can very easily develop into an actual RI. Place this specimen on newspaper with a good size water bowl. Keep the ambient and floor temps in the upper 80's with humidity at a constant 70% to 80% by frequent misting if necessary. Try this for a few weeks and see if the symptoms improve. Pine shavings are also a poor substrate and should be avoided in my opinion. Good luck with her.

Kelly