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Ball Python Resp. Infection

VHLeo Mar 22, 2012 06:32 PM

Hello,

I sadly think my Ball Python has a RI . I noticed that when she breathes it makes a whistling noise so I called my vet. They said it's probably pneumonia so I'm bringing her in tomorrow for an inspections and probably to start an injection set.

I'm trying to figure out how she could've possibly gotten sick.

Shes a little over 3 ft long and a little over a year and a half in age. I keep her in a 50 gallon tank with aspen shavings, an overhead bulb 12 hours a day and an undertank heater 24/7. She has a hide spot on both ends of the tank and her water is kept on the cool side. I keep thee measurement gauges in the middle of the tank where heat reads 80F when light is on (usually no lower than 75 when it's off), and humidity is around 60% usually.

She shed 2 months ago I believe and seems to be due for another (her skin is starting to get flakey on her belly). Since December she hasn't been eating as much, she ate 1 adult mouse a few days ago, a month before the last time she ate she had 2 adult mice, time before that was 2 weeks previous and she had one mouse. I figured her lack of food (she was eating 2 adult mice a week) was due to the weather change (winter).

She lately has been hiding her in hide spot on the cool end of the tank, or burrowing under her aspen shavings.

Any ideas how she could've become sick? Also I would like some opinions as to how often I should clean her tank and how thuroughly. Thank you so much!

Replies (3)

cherokeerose883 Mar 23, 2012 11:04 AM

my boa is still getting over an URI. I took him to my vet and he was on injection meds and also nebulized him once a day for an hour with Baytril. the nebulazations worked great after each treatment his breathing got much better. i just went to walmart and got a plastic container and drilled air holes for ventilation and cut out a hole to fit the mouth peice for the nebulizer. I would ask your vet about nebulizing because it really helped my guy out. hope this was a little helpful. hope she gets well soon. i also had him on news paper until he was well enough to us substrate again.

cherokeerose883 Mar 23, 2012 11:10 AM

i would get her off the aspen beeding and us news paper. i never really found out a reason why my boa got the URI. i do a spot check on my snakes every day but once a month i take everything out and us a deluted bleach solution and wipe out the whole enclouser. and any leaves and hides i clean very well

dchamberlain80 Mar 23, 2012 11:54 AM

‎1st off I'd get her off the aspen..I know its popular but i work for an exotic rehab/rescue group and personally I don't think aspen is that good..have lost a few snakes for unknown reasons and they were all on aspen and had URI's ...I recommend a bark substance nothing with cedar...

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