AfROCK

[reptile gueen]

Hello everyone
A really good friend of mine in bc has an afrian rock he only
3 feet but every time he holds him he foms at the mouth
please help

Thanks everyone

[NewLineReptile]

Sounds like a RI should get it to a vet right away

Brandon

[burmer]

It does sound like a RI. For the time being until a vet can see him raise temps and lower humidity.

[PoiSoNouS]

It looks like an Respiratory Infection.
Take it to a vet and rise his temps..

[skin78]

I always heard that you should rise the temp and humidaty also?? I did that with my rock who had RI when I got her.

[Ed_r]

Usually its lower the humidity. Depends on the treatment. Some antibiotics really dehydrate the snake, so they will need drinking water for sure. But I think they say to reduce the size of the bowl.

[Dom]

I am not a big fan of putting them on antibiotics as each time u put them on it the will be less effective .. especially just for an RI .. A vet check up is a great idea althoguh and high temp for a good prolonged duration should clear it up nicely .. I woudl then advise him to reviise his husbandry...

[Mike177]

It does sound like a RI. For the time being until a vet can see him raise temps and lower humidity.

True, allot of people say you should lower humidity BUT! i was talking to a Friend of mine (Jim (bebo))and he said that if anything raise the humidity. he says that he lost snakes to RI by lowering humidity but when he raised it the RI clears up in a few weeks. WHY??? well RI are a bacterial infection correct? well if you think about it bacteria thrives in DRY environments. so by lowering humidity you arnt helping any! that just what i heard and it makes sense to me.

Mike,

[skin78]

I agree with Dom on the antibiotic part. When any animal ( humans too) get antibiotics the body is making an antidote for it so next time the antibiotic could not work.

When you have a snake with RI and it is in an early stage pumping up the temp and the humidity will work out just fine for the snakle.. Just make sure the temp is 24 hours the same. Don't lower the night temp. When you will do this the RI will be gone in about 2 to 3 weeks.

[Doug & Deb]

Speeking from experience don't leave it take the animal to the vet I have lost 2 snakes with RI. One gave no warning other than a wheeze one day and dead the next. Increase your temp and increase your humidity. Put a tupperware container with holes and a lid in the tank. In the tupperware put a paper towel with a few drops of eucaliptys oil on it the vapours will help the snake breathe. You can get eucaliptys (not sue of the spelling) oil from any drug store. If the vet is not familiar with reptiles then you can tell them you want Amiglyde V 250 mg that is what our vet uses and it works great. This antibiotic does not seem to hurt the snake like I have heard others do. We have had to treat our Granite Burm twice for this and she is great.
After the snake is on the meds for 1 week and the noisy breathing seems to subside, lower the humidity in the tank. (or you may get the pnomonia again)

You can try all the home remadies you want but if you like your snake you will take it to the vet immediately. The costs are not that bad.

Doug & Deb