Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got a baby burm and a 1 yr old bp that share a 40 breeder. Both have a faint weezing that they have had for a while. Is this a respitory infection? If so how can I get rid of it? I don't have any vets around where I live (as far as I know) that deal with reptiles so I can't exactly take them there. Any help would be greatly apprecitated! Thanks.

RI's are usually due to temps that are too cold. A 40 gallon tank sounds too big for those snakes. They each need seperate tanks. Sometimes, young snakes will not be able to "find" heat if kept in too large of a cage. What are your temps at?

The wheezing you describe does sound like it could be an RI. Have you noticed any mucous? Any yawning or breathing with their mouths open? Those, along with wheezing, are the big signs. If you've caught the infection early, you should be able to fix the problem with proper husbandry. Get the snakes separated, and get the heats up. If not, you'll need to go to the vet and get some anti-biotics. Hope that helps.

I did have them in a 20 gallon (tall cause that is all I have other than 10 gallon tanks and the 40). They were starting to look a little cramped so I moved them to the 40. The burm is about 4 1/2 ft and the ball is almost 3 1/2 ft.

The temps are about 70-75 degrees F at one end and 80-85 degrees F at the other during the day (the temp changes through out the day because the appartment I live in is on the side of the building that the sun shines on, so around afternoon time when the sun hits the room more directly it warms up the room I keep them in even more). Night temps are 68 on one end and 72 on the other. They spend about 95% of their time on the warmer end because that is where I have the hide box at and they are usually hanging out in there.

No mucus is noticeable and the only yawning they do is after they eat. I haven't seen them breathing with their mouths open either.

With the temps I keep the cage at, do you think I still need to raise the temps any?

Yes, In my opinion you need another 5 degrees. High 80's during the day, high 70's at night. I really like ceramic heat emitters. Sure, they are more expensive, but the last almost forever. I get frustrated having to change light bulbs.

I'd also recommend offering them individual cages. That way, if one does get sick, the other doesnt automatically get it too.

Ok, I've added another light for now (75 watt). It's now in the high 80's. I'll get another ceramic to put in its place as soon as I can afford one along with another tank. I was just using one ceramic (60 watt) and one light bulb (100 watt). I too light the ceramic's, the one I've got has lasted amazingly for 5 years now believe it or not. It stays on 24/7. I only turn the bulbs off and on. Maybe that has something to do with why it has lasted so long? Both are on during the day. Just the ceramic by night.

Anyway, thanks for all your help!