Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I noticed today that our albino garter was breathing kind of hard. She's done this once before. When I put her head up next to my ear, I can hear every exhalation. They almost click. When I watch her sides, it reminds me of when a human retracts. Her sides go in, then out, then in again. That's all one breath. She's a really good snake and I'd hate to lose her. Any ideas?

Maranda
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Salato Wildlife Education Center

Sounds like a respiratory infection.
Such a condition is often caused by keeping garter snakes too wet
and/or cool. The best treatment is to keep the snake warm and dry with only a water bowl
for moisture. Many people often keep garter and water snakes
in too damp of conditions thinking that they are mirroring the snakes
natural habitat. The difference is that a wild snake can get out of the
water and get dry when necessary. Good luck.

Brian

>>I noticed today that our albino garter was breathing kind of hard. She's done this once before. When I put her head up next to my ear, I can hear every exhalation. They almost click. When I watch her sides, it reminds me of when a human retracts. Her sides go in, then out, then in again. That's all one breath. She's a really good snake and I'd hate to lose her. Any ideas?
>>
>>Maranda
>>-----
>>Salato Wildlife Education Center

If the above post's advice doesn't see improvement soon, or your garter gets worse, take it to a vet that sees snakes. RI's are often fatal when left without treatment.

www.arav.com will help you find a herp vet if you do not already have one.

We don't keep the enclosure wet. We make sure we keep it dry. And we have a heat rock and a lamp, so they have one end of the tank constantly warm. Do you think it could still be an infection? I know anything's possible, but she's still eating okay. Other than breathing hard, she seems okay. I tried listening to her breath with a stethescope, but I'm not really sure what she's supposed to sound like. Any descriptions?
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Salato Wildlife Education Center

First, you need to fix your heat rock for garter snakes
by performing the following steps.
1. Get a pair of scissors or wire cutters.
2. Unplug the hot rock and let it cool down.
3. Pick up the cool hot rock.
4. Cut off the cord of the hot rock next to the rock.
Now you will have a cage decoration that is safe for your garter.

Alternatively you can just remove the hot rock from the cage
altogeather. Hot rocks are not a good idea for snakes especially garter
snakes since they have evolved to get their heat from above.
The heat of hot rocks is also hard to control making them
often too hot and the animals will just avoid them or they will
cook themselves on them.

Second, with the hot rock disabled or removed, measure the temperature
of your cage directly under your lamp and on the opposite side
of the cage where the light isn't shining directly and
post the temperatures here. Also tell us what substrate
you are using in the cage.

Usually if you can hear breathing that is a sign of infection.
The snakes breathing shouldn't look labored either.

I hope her condition improves. I had a couple of garters that
got a respiratory infection from being hibernated slightly to warmly
due to a warm winter spell which effected the ambient temp
of where I hibernate my snakes in my basement.
After warming the snakes up naturally for a month I kept them
warmer and dryer for about two months and they were able to recover.

>>We don't keep the enclosure wet. We make sure we keep it dry. And we have a heat rock and a lamp, so they have one end of the tank constantly warm. Do you think it could still be an infection? I know anything's possible, but she's still eating okay. Other than breathing hard, she seems okay. I tried listening to her breath with a stethescope, but I'm not really sure what she's supposed to sound like. Any descriptions?
>>-----
>>Salato Wildlife Education Center

Good news, our resident herpetologist came down from the main office today and said the garter is in fine health. I've not had much experience with garters, so I guess I just panicked. He said her breathing was fine.

BTW, we use paper towels that we change out daily. I would love to throw out the rock, but it's not my call. I'm working on it.

Thanks so much for the response, I appreciate all the help and concern.

Maranda Denson
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Salato Wildlife Education Center

hi i found the albino male e. garter in boyle county.glad shes ok.i keep all my albino checkerd garters on care fresh,its the gray or white wood pulp stuff not made from news paper.it look realy good and you dont have to change everyday.that what Scott Felzer uses on all his garters.i hope to come and see your center soon. lee