Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Erf. Me and this snake have had more trouble than any other snake I've had...

The history:
I saw my "Andromeda", a 5 year old Loxocemus bicolor, for sale at the Mid-Atlantic Reptile Show (September, I believe) and grabbed her. I'd been oogling bicolors for over a year, and never seen one available. I've never had a problem with my snakes before and was foolish enough to take her out once or twice at the show for friends to see. I got her home and put her in an enclosure in my bedroom (isolated from my other herps and in a good spot for me to keep an eye on her) and soon noticed that she seemed to be sneezing. She was eating fine, however, so I wasn't sure if it was the substrate (vermiculite) being dusty. November she was still eating, but I was keeping an close watch on her and could detect crackling when I listened, so I took her to the vet. The vet perscribed baytril injections, which I administered (not fun). She seemed to stop crackling and sneezing, but she also stopped eating as soon as I started giving her the injections.
Then she managed to escape from me twice... the first time I'd left her overnight in a feeding tub that turned out not to be as secure as I thought (and she didn't eat the mouse either) and was found by the upstairs neighbor in a gluetrap. I managed to get it all off and clean her up, and she quickly shed, but still wouldn't eat. She also soon escaped again because part of her cage came loose from when I was searching for her the first time, moving furniture around >< I found her again in the basement... by stepping on her. Still, she didn't appear injured, and I hadn't put all my weight on her, and she finally started eating for me again.
Now, after three weeks and three meals, I hear her sneezing again. What can I do? I'm emailing the vet now, but I'm a bit loath to give her more injections after she's just started eating for me again.
I've got her in a 50 gal (? 16" x 12" x 24" with dry vermiculite, plus two hides (on the warm and cool ends) with moist vermiculite.

Anyone have any tips they'd care to share...?

Some photos of her from when I first got her (have been too worried about stressing her out to take more photos since): http://www.aethersanctum.net/~spiffystuff/photos/snakes/loxocemus/andromeda.html

What are you temperatures? The humidity?

While it was most likely the stress of the show that brought on the RI, it is even more pertinent to have optimal husbandry for it to recover.
I question the substrate. While vermiculite is the same chemical compound as sand, and is non-toxic, it has been known to contain contaminents that may cause problems. It is also not the most common substrate, thus there may be other negative variables that havn't been seen yet.

In addition, the treatment is something to improve upon. I wasn't there, so I"m not sure what was discussed, but a culture and sensitivity will show what antibiotic will work best. Perhaps the dealer was already treating with Baytril without vet supervision (definetely a no-no!), and thus this infection has grown resistant. Baytril is a common drug used in reptiles.

X-rays may be used to acertain if the resp infection has moved into the lungs, complicating treatment. Blood work may also be used to measure the affects throughout the body.

While husbandry and stress cause 95% of all ailments, other factors may come into play. It is possible that your snake is immunocompromised for other reasons(such as IBD infected boids are often "poor-doers". Further diagnostics are needed when the primary course of action (mentioned above) isn't successfull.

Good luck with your snake

Thanks for the response!
Just as the vet was getting back to me saying they'll take X-rays if she's still wheezing, I took her out and listened to her carefully and didn't hear a squeek. I also haven't heard her sneezing in the past week (I heard her sneeze twice before that, which is what freaked me out initially)
So, either she's recovering already with rest, or I was overreacting to some normal snake noises... either way, I'm keeping a close eye on her.
Humidity-wise, her tank proper is probably pretty dry (ought I get a humidity gauge?) but I have damp hides on the warm and cool ends. The cool end is 70-75 and the warm end around 90. Do those sound like good temps?
I agree, I think the vermiculite may be a bit dusty for her, though I did seive/wash/bake it before putting her on it. What would you recommend? I've been thinking about trying carefresh. I'd like something that holds a bit of humidity and that she can burrow in, and blocks off light pretty well should she choose to burrow.
Thanks again!