Need Help Please!

Stalabros · 03-07-03, 04:08 PM

I have a CalKing, for about a year now, I recently changed her to a larger tank and new substrate (coconut husk), I've noticed that her behaviour has changed over the last few days (she's been in the new tank for a few months now). Anyway, she seems like she is sneezing, I have heard this a few times while I had her in my hands, and she is also kind of bobbing her head back and forth. She has also developed something on her belly as shown on the picture below, her tank is kept clean and dry, although she has access to a large water tub in her tank. If anyone has any idea what her troubles are, can you please help me out. Thanks in advance, also, it may be necessary to take her to the vet, so if anyone has any suggestions for a good herp vet, please leave their number if possible.

**Andy_G** · 03-07-03, 05:43 PM

Get her to a vet and take her off the husk. I say this for two reasons. First, if the snake is sneezing it has a Respiratory Infection almost indefinitely. Secondly it looks as if the scutes are slightly raised from normal, so I think the husk has gotten in between them. It also sort of looks like the beginning of scale rot. Does the snake's belly smell rank because that is what it is if it smells. I am not sure on the belly problem but the sneezing is without a doubt an R.I. Get her to a vet quickly.

**Andy_G** · 03-07-03, 05:44 PM

Also, the R.I. could be caused from dusty conditions, too dry/wet conditions,or insufficient heating. Since the husk that i've used was very dusty I took my snake off it because I didn't want her to get an R.I. Hope i've helped.

Stalabros · 03-07-03, 06:35 PM

Thanks, I've taken her off the bedding.

Xetox · 03-07-03, 09:18 PM

Nod, I rescuded a corn that already had R.I. and I have not been able to do anything about it since I got him. But I have had him now for 3 years and he is still growing has grown about 4 feet since I got him, and seem very healthy, just sneezes alot.

I would get him on maybe aspen seems to work good for me, and if his belly dont smell bad give it a week or so before vet....see if he gets better. But if you have a good vet around it never hurts to have em checked out.

GECKOMAN · 03-07-03, 09:46 PM

sorry

crimsonking · 03-07-03, 09:56 PM

I had a similar problem and found the affected snake couldn't be placed on aspen.??? No idea why. Allergy?? Anyway, a vet (competent) should be consulted and short of this, get him on newspaper first to get rid of any dust.Or paper toweling. This alone may clear up his sneezing. Temps? I had good luck with a triple antibiotic applied to belly (remove water dish-replace only to let him drink--then remove) for a week or so. He cleared up nicely.
:Mark

The_Omen · 03-07-03, 09:59 PM

It may well be an alergic reaction to the substrate, kings are sensetive like that.
Go for aspen or newspaper, keep some neosporin on it and see if it clears any before the vet visit.

It could also be a reaction to molds that are growing in the coconut causing the scale rot look and the sneezing.

I like the coconut for higher temp/humidity species but it does get changed often, due to not trusting it to not mold or absorb a lot of the urates before spot cleaning.

Xetox · 03-07-03, 11:07 PM

Crimson I think I remember you posting about that. I agree newspapers are great, and work wonders, but what I have found for the tanks that I want to look more decrative out of all the substrants that I have used aspen has worked the best. So far I have not had any problems with it. But like always there are the exceptions.

Stalabros, I would get him off the husks and onto somthing else! Lke crimson said take the water out. If you have access to a vet see what they have to say, if not watch him closly for a week and if it dont start looking better try to find a vet that know a little something something

Stalabros · 03-08-03, 03:51 PM

Thank you all for your help, I've taken her off the coconut and put her on calcium sand, it is dust free and she spent a year on it without any ill effects, so I'll just have to put out the cash to buy those little 5 lb. bags.

She is in a shed right now, but I've noticed her attitude change as soon as I put her in her old tank (like day and night). She has stopped sneezing, and hopefully after her shed she will be her usual self.

Once again, thank you all for your help.

I will still take her to the vet just to be on the safe side.