resptiory infection

[ballpythonmorph]

i was holding my ball python today and he was weesing so when i went to the petstore i asked the owner to listen to him and he said he had a mild respitory infection he said to keep up the heat and it should pass because there wasnt any bubbles or anythin coming out of his nose. i will have the temps next week bevause im waiting for my temp gun to come in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[marisa]

The reason he could be sick is because you have no idea what temps he has access too. He could get badly burned or totally chilled.

It's extremely dangerous to not have a way to measure temps. It's good you are getting something now, but even a week something could happen. I'd buy a 10 dollar digital indoor outdoor at walmart until then.

Marisa

[ballpythonmorph]

i just moved him to a different cage today and in the old cage i DID have a thermometer but it was analoge

[TheMan]

I would advise you to listen to Marissa....knowing your temps/humidity is the most important thing when it comes to proper husbandry.

[ballpythonmorph]

the humidity is 65% i no it should be between 50-60% so should i make more holes in the tub?

[zero&stich]

65% humidity isnt a large problem but it might not hurt to drill a few more holes for ventilation.

In regards to your advice from the pet store, they prolly could have been more discriptive, least how RI infections are caused. But the pet store could have been correct if the current discription you gave them was accurate, it does sound like a mild infection. Bumping the temps and lowerin the humidity down to 50% should suffice. However, a call to the vet may be in order. Even in mild cases. I have dealt with mild RI's with my herps and bumping the temps to 95 and lower my humidity worked for me in the past. Ever senerio is different so what has worked for me, will not be the same for you. Please keep that in mind.

Now, it would help tremendously if we could have a better discription of your husbantry. Sounds like thus far, you have it housed in a rubber enclosure which is fine. But RI's aren't just caused from low temps. A damp subtrate, drafts from window, open doors ect can also be culprits.

You really should get a digital thermometer, the ones people often use in households to measure temps inside and outside of the house. You can find them at radioshack, wallymart, home and garden stores and internet.

I use this thermometer myself and it is awesome! I love it because I can measure the heat left from right and humidity. Plus it records the temps dropped over night and the highest temps reached so I know just how much my temps were flucuating while I was away. Great little unit.

http://reptilee.com/files/sections/inc/13.jpg

Edit
I should also add in addition to digi. thermometers in my enclosures, I also have a digi thermometer mounted to my wall to accuratly measure my ambient temps. This is also important in my humble opinion because ambient temps will often effect temperature fluxes in enclosures. Moreso at night. Most people have there thermostats to their house set to drop at 68 degrees. Something that is overlooked and also a prime senerio for RI's develope.

Good luck friend. :) And that is not my arm. :D

[ballpythonmorph]

i went to the store and got 2 digital thermometers so they are fine n ow where did you get yours from and how much?

[zero&stich]

Regal Reptiles and it was I think $20 or so.

Props to you on getting the thermometers! :) Now where did you get your tempgun and how much :D

[beanersmysav]

Zero Is the humidity gages correct? I've heard that most don't work that well

[ballpythonmorph]

well i didnt get a temp gun but iwas going to get one from www.proexotics.com for $25. my humidty wont go down when i take the lid off it goes to 57 but when i put it on it goes to 65% and i need it at 50% for his RI and i put more holes but it didnt work what do i do

[ballpythonmorph]

oh in the pic u posted is that a homemade incubator?

[zero&stich]

Try putting a smaller water dish in there. In all honesty though it the infection looks bad or not sure a vet call maybe in order. What are the temps on the warm side?? And yep that is a homemade incubator. Not sure if outside links are all right. But here:

http://reptilee.com/Section-1.html
It's a Do it yourself section. Really cool stuff. I think I might make one myself for fun. I have all the equipment, I just need dowels and some rubbermaids.

[ballpythonmorph]

the temp on the warm side is 95

[zero&stich]

Damn comp.

I meant to say if its 95 degree, just be careful that the animal doesnt get burned. I have my rubbermaid elvated bout an inch off the pad.

If anyone is more knowlegable please by all means step foreward. I been very fortunate with my herps and havent dealt with alot of RI's.

[ballpythonmorph]

yes

[zero&stich]

a picture might help to just to see but since bumpin the temps anything happaning?

[ballpythonmorph]

yes when i hold him i dont here anymore weesing but i might get a pen came today so i can take some pics