email: please help

[RachelS.]

Here's a copy of the email I sent to the guy who sent me my black blood python. He probably can't do very much, and might not know much about bloods so I decided to give you guys a copy to help me out...

"I was checking up on my black blood today and noticed he is seriously dehydrated (I pulled his skin up and it sticks). I'm not sure what caused this because I have kept water in there everyday plus the humidity is usually up to 60%. He hadn't taken food the week before, so I think that's a bit strange too. When he tries to breathe he opens his mouth up to get air... respitory infection, maybe? I'm going to get him to the vet tomorrow as soon as I get out of school. I'm just hoping he'll be okay by then. When I took him out today I hurried and put him in my bathtub full of lukewarm water, and to see if he would drink but he's really weak. What else can I do? I know using a syringe to give him water verbally wasn't enough, but that's all I could do for now until tomorrow. I brought his heating pad up to High, too btw... I'm hoping that'll help. Is there anything else I can do to help him out? I'm not sure when you'll get this, but email me ASAP anyway. Thanks"

I feel like I neglected taking care of him while my cousins were over. I could've caught the problem much sooner, but instead I ignored him. Help

[Grant vg]

Your really gonna have to give us some exact temps and humidity for the past month...
If you leave bloods in less the perfect conditions even just for a while, they can develope a resp.
Hot spots? ambient? humidity highs and lows??? enclosure set up??? etc...
Substrate??
Maybe after you give us the info we can help...

[RachelS.]

I've kept him at about 88 degrees F on his hot spot and 75 degrees F on the cool side with 60% humidity for the past month,... some days maybe a little dryer or more humid than others. Ambient temp. is about 75 - 80 degrees F.
Enlcosure setup: I kept him on cypress mulch just until about 2 weeks ago when I put him on that coconut bark stuff, but I don't like it and I don't think it's the best so I'm going back with mulch. He has a large hide spot and water bowl. Lives in a 50 gallon long rubbermaid enclosure... about 4 feet long x 1 1/2 - 2 feet tall and the same wide.

[Grant vg]

Well, everything seems to be set up correctly... im not sure how i can help you on this. perhaps the humidity was a tad low.
i usually shoot for 60 and up, anything between 60-80% and i dont bother spraying or drying out an enclosure.
You probably wont get too much help from the guy who sold it to you, as it is not his responsibility anymore.
maybe you could get some pics, even if they dont lead to a solution, i would like to use them for my site.

id up the ambient if you can, and keep the humidity higher if a vet trip isn't an option.

Gvg

[Grant vg]

oh yeah, how is its body positioned? is it laying in abnormally stretched out positions with its head tipped upwards? Is it using its hide?
For the most part when bloods have semi-severe to severe resps, they will lay stratched out so that air can pass easier through there lungs.

If u have a camera, nows the time to be taking pictures. you must document this for all to see and educate themselves.

gvg

[RachelS.]

Too late... He's gone now :(.

I was going to take pics of him, too... but my camera wasn't working. It really pissed me off