Possible health issue, possibly nothing? Please help.

Huge Noob · 04-19-15, 10:28 AM

Hi there. I have a Brazilian Rainbow Boa, juvenile, male. He's about 2 ft long and as big around as my thumb.

Suddenly his behavior has changed. He seeks out one of the coldest spots in his enclosure, he curls up underneath the water bowl on the cold side of the tank.

When I pick him up, he feels cold. Also, his breathing seems labored / heavy. Like his body is very noticeably expanding / contracting with each breath. When I pick him up he seems fine otherwise, he displays a fairly normal amount of energy, and he doesn't have any weird behaviors going on.

Is this normal behavior for a BRB, or is something wrong?

Thanks!

Albert Clark · 04-19-15, 12:43 PM

What type of enclosure are you keeping him in? How long have you had him? What are your husbandry numbers like(ie: temps on cool side, hot, and humidity)? Substrate? Sounds like he may be stressed about something but what? That is why we need to start with your husbandry.

prairiepanda · 04-19-15, 01:04 PM

How long have you had him? And has anything about your routine or the room he's in changed shortly before he started acting strange?

Is it possible that your heat source has malfunctioned? Do you have a temperature gun or some other alternative device to double check the temperatures around the enclosure?

Huge Noob · 04-20-15, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

What type of enclosure are you keeping him in? How long have you had him? What are your husbandry numbers like(ie: temps on cool side, hot, and humidity)? Substrate? Sounds like he may be stressed about something but what? That is why we need to start with your husbandry.

He's in a 10 gallon glass aquarium. There's an under tank heater that is the sole heat source. There's mulch for the substrate. Also, I built him a damp hide out of a piece of tupperware, it's about half mulch and half spaghum moss. The hide rests right on top of the UTH. I have been able to maintain a humidity in the general tank of about 80%-90%. The tank has a screen top, but I used a piece of parchment paper top mostly seal it, with some small holes in the paper for airflow. All temps throughout the enclosure seem to always be in the mid 70s, I have a laser thermometer I have taken multiple readings with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairiepanda

How long have you had him? And has anything about your routine or the room he's in changed shortly before he started acting strange?

Is it possible that your heat source has malfunctioned? Do you have a temperature gun or some other alternative device to double check the temperatures around the enclosure?

I've had him about a month or so. Nothing strange in the routine. He actually belongs to my son, he handles the snake 2-3 days a week, and never after feeding.

Pretty sure the UTH is functioning properly, when I get home tonight I can take some readings.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Snakesitter · 04-20-15, 01:57 PM

Welcome to the forum, Huge Noob!

Brazilians should have a temp range of 82F warm end to 72F low end. Glass tanks hold temps poorly, so it may be that your nighttime ambient temps are falling too low. If so, add insulation to three of the four sides.

Your humidity is spot on, but I would replace the paper cover with a plexiglass one -- they are quick and cheap at any hardware store. Just tell them the size you need, which should cover the entire top (just add a very few holes).

Check the snake for any signs of a respiratory infection -- bubbles, froth, wheezing or popping noises as he breathes.

Good luck, and please keep us posted!

Huge Noob · 04-20-15, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakesitter

Welcome to the forum, Huge Noob!

Brazilians should have a temp range of 82F warm end to 72F low end. Glass tanks hold temps poorly, so it may be that your nighttime ambient temps are falling too low. If so, add insulation to three of the four sides.

Your humidity is spot on, but I would replace the paper cover with a plexiglass one -- they are quick and cheap at any hardware store. Just tell them the size you need, which should cover the entire top (just add a very few holes).

Check the snake for any signs of a respiratory infection -- bubbles, froth, wheezing or popping noises as he breathes.

Good luck, and please keep us posted!

Hmm, ok, but I guess my question is, if the temps were too low, wouldn't he seek warmth? What's got me worried is he is seeking out the coldest area of the entire tank, and staying there the whole day?

Albert Clark · 04-20-15, 02:37 PM

Make sure the uth is regulated , and that you can set the temperature on the thermostat. This is very important! Brazilian boas are mainly arboreal species so try to get vines for him to climb on. Look into a "versa top" for your enclosure it will solve the lower temps along with the thermostat. "Versa tops" are dual glass folding panes that come with a plastic attachment that slides onto the glass edge and covers the enclosure. You can put holes in the plastic to facilitate air flow. I think you just need to tweak the husbandry and you should be good.

reptiledude987 · 04-20-15, 03:35 PM

they know what temps they need. As long as its providided with the proper temp range it knows what it needs. Ususally you they will find them on the warm after they eat. after a few days of digestion they typically go to the cool side to lower metabolism rates.

Huge Noob · 04-20-15, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Make sure the uth is regulated , and that you can set the temperature on the thermostat. This is very important! Brazilian boas are mainly arboreal species so try to get vines for him to climb on. Look into a "versa top" for your enclosure it will solve the lower temps along with the thermostat. "Versa tops" are dual glass folding panes that come with a plastic attachment that slides onto the glass edge and covers the enclosure. You can put holes in the plastic to facilitate air flow. I think you just need to tweak the husbandry and you should be good.

I have some logs that run across the tank, the snake has never been on them, at least that I've ever seen. I know they are a bit nocturnal, so for all I know he's all over the place at night. I'll look into the versa top for my next enclosure. I figure he'll outgrown this one in a couple more months so I'm trying to not put any more money into it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by reptiledude987

they know what temps they need. As long as its providided with the proper temp range it knows what it needs. Ususally you they will find them on the warm after they eat. after a few days of digestion they typically go to the cool side to lower metabolism rates.

OK, this is exactly what happened. He stayed in his hide on the warm side after eating for about a day, then hid in the cold part for about 2 days after.

Albert Clark · 04-20-15, 03:38 PM

Well, that makes me think the warm side may be too warm???? You don't know how warm it is if that uth isn't hooked up to a thermostat. Its probably too hot! He would seek warmth if temps are too low but if the warm side is too hot he may not. Move the substrate and check the temperature of the glass over the area where the uth is and see what reading you get.

reptiledude987 · 04-20-15, 04:18 PM

Good thats normal. Just double check your temp gradient and all should be fine if its in proper range.

Albert Clark · 04-20-15, 04:21 PM

Is the uth on a thermostat?

Huge Noob · 04-20-15, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Is the uth on a thermostat?

The UTH is not on a thermostat. The damp hide rests right on top of it, so he cannot dig down and touch it directly.

Albert Clark · 04-21-15, 05:35 PM

OK, that is part of your issue and his behavior. The warm side is more than likely too hot for him. Just get a thermostat or at least a dimmer to control the amount of heat coming off the uth. Good luck.

Snakesitter · 04-22-15, 01:57 PM

Respectfully, for the record, Brazilian Rainbows are not generally arboreal. They will climb, especially as babies (to escape predation I guess?), but as adults are primarily terrestrial.

I agree that the issue may be the warm end is too hot for him. These snakes like it cooler, and his avoidance of the warm end may be his way of telling you he does not like it. A temp gun should confirm. Even if it is not overly warm, however, I would add a thermostat to guard against tragedy. A customer of mine recently lost several of her baby rainbows due to overheating. :-(

Good luck!