Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have just received my adult male brooks yesterday He seems pretty healthy, except he keeps gaping and wheezing. There is no discharge, but i am not sure if this isnt just unshed skin on his nose. My friend pointed out that he may have a retained eyecap on one eye. Also, he supposedly had RI about a year ago. I cant remember, is RI contagious? And should i take him to the vet soon(planned to get him examined in about a month or two)? I would appreciate any advice.

Dan

P.S. I know i just got him, but its freaking me out that hes doing the gaping and wheezing.

First off you should contact the seller and give him an earfull and demand he pay for any vet bills are refund your money. I can understand you would probably want to keep the Brooksi but you should be compensated someway. Get him to the vet sounds like he may have one of those lingering infections or even a virus. Get a fecal check at the vet as well its not very expensive. Avoid feeding him for a week or so and keep him warm with decent humidity but not dripping wet. Temps of about 86 on one side and 78 on the other should suffice. What looks like dry skin on his nose may dried mucous. When you do begin to feed offer a small meal like something you would feed a snake half his size. Good luck.

Keith
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Maybe, i did contact him though asking his opinion. Also, i did more research. He just came out of brumation, and he did just take a trip across country through cold*although he was insulated and had a heat pack*.So maybe its just from being cold. I do think he has a retained cap, but i dont see anything on his nose. Hopefully, after he warms up, he should be better. If not, i will take him to the vet ASAP.

Dan

A snake isnt going to get a respitory infection from one trip in a cool box. Its usually a gradual process of improper care over a period of time. The fact that this snake was treated before raises flags as to if it ever really was treated by a vet. Did you get that snake from that guy selling a whole collection of Brooksi from Georgia on the classifieds? I saw he posted they had all been treated for respitory problems . I read that post and hoped what he said was true and gave him props for being upfront about it. The simple fact is you pay good money for a snake you at the very least should get a animals thats solid health wise.

Keith
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Yes, its that guy from Georgia. If he was lying, he could have not sent me the snake, kept the money, and never talked to me again. But he still replies to me, and is quite helpful with everything. Like i said, he just came out of 3 months at 57degrees(i said hibernate, same thing). I have put his heat pad on, if it doesnt clear up soon, i will get worried.

Dan

Sounds like he put the guy down b4 ridding the RI properly.Just my 2 cents,I'd take him to a vet for some shots imediately.

Mike

He coughed up some stuff, and had some clear liquid in his nose(i found out it was water, but anyway) I took him to a herp vet, she said he didnt seem to have anything. But just to be safe, im to give him injections of antibiotics every three days. So im relieved, and she said hes a pretty healthy and robust guy.

Dan