Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just got a 10 foot burm and his face looks odd, his upper jaw and nose area seems blackened he also hisses oddly and usually has some bubbles in his mouth. sometimes when he breathes it soundes gurgly. i dont know what, if anything is wrong with him. i was planning on putting him in the cage with my other 10 footer but i am hesitant because of this problem, i dont want it to hurt or infect the other snakes. also he was very docile when i got him. i tried to feed him once since then but he did not eat. now he is fairly hostile and strikes at me when i clean the cage, i have been carefull with him and thusfar have not been injured but i would like to know what is wrong. thanks alot for your help

The black color to the nose or lips could be from nosing on his old cage in attempts to get out. The gurgling sounds like a possible respitory infection. Whatever you do, the best thing you can do for him is to make sure his temps are 88 to 92 and his humidity levels are VERY high like 75 to 85%. If you have the money have a vet take saliva samples and fecal samples and have cultures performed to see how healthy he is.

>>i just got a 10 foot burm and his face looks odd, his upper jaw and nose area seems blackened he also hisses oddly and usually has some bubbles in his mouth. sometimes when he breathes it soundes gurgly. i dont know what, if anything is wrong with him. i was planning on putting him in the cage with my other 10 footer but i am hesitant because of this problem, i dont want it to hurt or infect the other snakes. also he was very docile when i got him. i tried to feed him once since then but he did not eat. now he is fairly hostile and strikes at me when i clean the cage, i have been carefull with him and thusfar have not been injured but i would like to know what is wrong. thanks alot for your help
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"If I had 365 enemies it would only take a year out of my life to settle all scores." Mia Miselfani

how much should it cost at a vet? What can i do if its a respitory infection? should i keep him isolated? is it contagous?

It differs from state to state and vet to vet, but usually a vet visit alone is 25 to 35 bucks. Each culture might be 45 to 65 bucks (saliva, fecal, blood) Antibiotics for a large snake can run in the hundreds, but seldom work if complex cultures are not performed and bacteria identified and are instead blindly prescribed. But,.. if you get your guy in really warm temps and very high humidity none of this may be necessary. He can get better on his own.

Wait and see what Rob Carmichael says about this. He has a lot of experience with rescued burms and gives great advice.

>>how much should it cost at a vet? What can i do if its a respitory infection? should i keep him isolated? is it contagous?
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"If I had 365 enemies it would only take a year out of my life to settle all scores." Mia Miselfani

thanks alot, i got him as a rescue but it made me too nervous to put in with my other pythons. i cant wait to hear from rob.

Like Brian said, the vet cost may vary drastically.

Yes, it is probably contagious, keep him isolated.
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Larry D. Fishel
Side effects may include paralysis
and death but are generally mild.