Namea
07-30-11, 01:43 PM
10 year old BP having difficulty breathing - Possible RI?
Hello everyone. I am new to this forum but definitely not new to snakes. I've raised, bred, and cared for them since I was a child with the guidance of my father. Currently I am in college with the ambition of becoming a vet who specializes in reptile care.
Anyway, enough about me.
My Ball Python, Nico, is 10 years old. For the past two days he has been making extremely loud squealing sounds when he breathes. It is with every breath and he is frequently opening his mouth to breath. His tongue forks are not stuck together and there is no discharge coming from his nose or mouth. He is however often craning his neck upwards which I know to be a sign of mucous build up.
Could this be a start of a potential RI? That would not be good. I currently live in Idaho and as far as I know there are no vets that are qualified to deal with snakes here.
His care regimine is as follows:
His tank is kept strictly between 82 and 90 degrees farenheit with a humidity of 55%. At night I bring the tempurature down to 77.
Every friday I feed him a rat and he has been eating quite well this year. His normal yearly hibernation was much shorter than it ever has been as well to my surprise.
He has a hide box, a log, and a water dish large enough for him to curl up and soak in. (Which he does on very warm days)
His tank is four feet long by two feet wide and two feet tall. (Forgive me for not knowing the exact gallon size)
It is kept heated by an insulated heat rock. I know many recommend against them and claim they can cause burns. This is false if you purchase the right kind. They are expensive but extremely well insulated and do not get hot enough on the surface to burn him. He has been using this rock for over 8 years with no issues from it at all. My other snakes have also had rocks of the same brand and I've never had any problems.
His substrate is wood chips, I do not recall the exact wood except that it is most definitely not cedar.
I handle him on a daily basis except when he is shedding or has just eaten.
Medical History
Nico has never had any severe medical problems. His first year with us caused some alarm as we were taken aback by his refusal to eat for three months in the winter. However, upon realizing that it was simply his normal hibernation we were satisfied. Over the years he has continued to not eat for those three months until this year when he only hibernated for two. I moved in October so I suspect that the new climate is simply more to his liking.
He has never developed any of the common BP ailments.
Current Condition
Squealing noises when he breathes.
Laboured breathing
Holding his neck up to clear mucous.
Opening his mouth to breathe.
Still active
No discharge from nose or mouth.
Forks of his tongue separated.
Mouth and nostrils appear to be the correct "healthy" shades.
I would be glad of any assistance that can be offered. In all my years with him and other snakes I have never seen these symptoms and I am extremely worried. He is a part of my family and after having had him since I was very young I would like to do anything in my power to make sure he is healthy and happy.
Hello everyone. I am new to this forum but definitely not new to snakes. I've raised, bred, and cared for them since I was a child with the guidance of my father. Currently I am in college with the ambition of becoming a vet who specializes in reptile care.
Anyway, enough about me.
My Ball Python, Nico, is 10 years old. For the past two days he has been making extremely loud squealing sounds when he breathes. It is with every breath and he is frequently opening his mouth to breath. His tongue forks are not stuck together and there is no discharge coming from his nose or mouth. He is however often craning his neck upwards which I know to be a sign of mucous build up.
Could this be a start of a potential RI? That would not be good. I currently live in Idaho and as far as I know there are no vets that are qualified to deal with snakes here.
His care regimine is as follows:
His tank is kept strictly between 82 and 90 degrees farenheit with a humidity of 55%. At night I bring the tempurature down to 77.
Every friday I feed him a rat and he has been eating quite well this year. His normal yearly hibernation was much shorter than it ever has been as well to my surprise.
He has a hide box, a log, and a water dish large enough for him to curl up and soak in. (Which he does on very warm days)
His tank is four feet long by two feet wide and two feet tall. (Forgive me for not knowing the exact gallon size)
It is kept heated by an insulated heat rock. I know many recommend against them and claim they can cause burns. This is false if you purchase the right kind. They are expensive but extremely well insulated and do not get hot enough on the surface to burn him. He has been using this rock for over 8 years with no issues from it at all. My other snakes have also had rocks of the same brand and I've never had any problems.
His substrate is wood chips, I do not recall the exact wood except that it is most definitely not cedar.
I handle him on a daily basis except when he is shedding or has just eaten.
Medical History
Nico has never had any severe medical problems. His first year with us caused some alarm as we were taken aback by his refusal to eat for three months in the winter. However, upon realizing that it was simply his normal hibernation we were satisfied. Over the years he has continued to not eat for those three months until this year when he only hibernated for two. I moved in October so I suspect that the new climate is simply more to his liking.
He has never developed any of the common BP ailments.
Current Condition
Squealing noises when he breathes.
Laboured breathing
Holding his neck up to clear mucous.
Opening his mouth to breathe.
Still active
No discharge from nose or mouth.
Forks of his tongue separated.
Mouth and nostrils appear to be the correct "healthy" shades.
I would be glad of any assistance that can be offered. In all my years with him and other snakes I have never seen these symptoms and I am extremely worried. He is a part of my family and after having had him since I was very young I would like to do anything in my power to make sure he is healthy and happy.