Reptile & Amphibian Forums

sorry if this is long. i have a 7 ft alb burm. had him for over a year. about a month ago i had him out and he started blowing bubbles. thought it was ri so i put him in his cage and bumped the heat up. opened his mouth the next day and there was nothing. i thought that was odd in one day it had gone? checked a week later nothing. the over night had him out for a while all was good. then he got real attived and i look at his mouth and he was drewling. he looked like a dog. cant get an apointment for a couple of days. but untill then does anyone have ideas what this is. is it ri. i have 13 snakes and none of them have ever been sick.

thank you
mark

Keep the heat up and bump the humidity up. If you have too low of humidity, then lower it. Are you using hygrometers and thermometers? If not, then this is why this is happening because you have NO clue what the temp/hum is. What type of bedding are you using? If pine...get Aspen...if other please specify.

Past that....get it to a vet ASAP because there really isn't anything else you are able to do. The first sign of that should have triggered a VET call. That was only a beginning sign and I can't think of any other reason why a snak would be blowing bubbles. By delaying and waiting you might have allowed the situation to worsen.

Correct husbandry.

Hope this helps.

Chris
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Chris Law
U.A.P.P.E.A.L. (Uniting a Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League)
Herpetoculture Element Representative

View my website: www.herpfanatic.com

We are all familiar with the signs of RI's but we often forget that not all snakes will show them all, or in any particular order of appearance. If the problem has only been apparent for a few days, then a few more won't be of much consequence. This of course is to assume that the RI was discovered immediately, as they often are inapparent for a long time prior too. As goini pointed out, use electronic devices to monitor your perameters, raise the temps, but still with a gradient, and still withen the prefered range. Aim for a relatively neutral humidity for the species of around 70-75 until otherwise directed.

Once at the vet, don't skimp on anything. Most vets will offer a plan A and a plan B, plan B usually is the most cost effective but it has it's drawbacks and could screw you in the long run. Plan A of course is what what happen if your snake were human. A culture and sensitivity is a relatively cheap diagnostic that is of great benefit. X-rays will benifit in diagnosing the extent of the RI, does it involve pneumonia? If it does, then medical care has to be much more stringent and long lasting.

Good luck with your snake, I'm sure it will get well with care.
I frequent the herp health forum regularly if you have any more health problems or followup questions

Ian