What to get?

[Corey209]

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

My boa came with an RI, he didnt show any issues at the shop i got him from and the second I got home the open mouth began- much to my displeasure, called the shop they gave me a half refund. Took him to the vet the next morning, did a culture and it was bacteria. Lucky for me I already had a herp vet in mind to see my snake the day after I got him. His RI cleared up in about a week after a series of 3 shots. He hasnt had an issue since. Also the vet told me to bump up his humidity to help get the gunk out of his lungs. A warm moist air helps them hack up that nasty film.

Point is OP, get a HERP VET. Not just a regular vet but one for reptiles. Humidity DOES help. And RI's are completely TREATABLE. I think the total cost for EVERYTHING was about 120. That was the visit and the 3 rounds of shots. Not an issue since.

The snake was almost completely good after one month of heat and humidity. He had a little mucus in his mouth but RI never fully clears up it always leaves the snake at a higher risk of getting it again (I'm not arguing about this, talk to a reptile specialist...). So I think which I am assuming is that when he got the mites he stressed out which does weaken the immune system and he was soaking in his water dish which could have easily cooled his temps down a lot making his RI worse. The ex-vet I know did work with reptiles by the way.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Corey209

The snake was almost completely good after one month of heat and humidity. He had a little mucus in his mouth but RI never fully clears up it always leaves the snake at a higher risk of getting it again (I'm not arguing about this, talk to a reptile specialist...). So I think which I am assuming is that when he got the mites he stressed out which does weaken the immune system and he was soaking in his water dish which could have easily cooled his temps down a lot making his RI worse. The ex-vet I know did work with reptiles by the way.

I am one, thanks.

To my knowledge, it can go away if treated properly. You sir, did not. If you just treat the symptoms (as you did) then yes it can come back. If it's just bacteria then it's 100% curable as stated. Virus makes it more difficult.


Your mites must have been DISGUSTINGLY over populated for it be so quick acting.

[Corey209]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I am one, thanks.

To my knowledge, it can go away if treated properly. You sir, did not. If you just treat the symptoms (as you did) then yes it can come back. If it's just bacteria then it's 100% curable as stated. Virus makes it more difficult.


Your mites must have been DISGUSTINGLY over populated for it be so quick acting.

I didn't get any medication because all he had was popping and an occasional open mouth breathing. He was getting a lot better with just heat and humidity but I wasn't checking on him as much because of him being sick and I didn't want to stress him out. I only found a few on him even after soaking so they weren't that bad but there is a possibility I wasn't thorough enough.

You can't tell me though that from the mites and self soaking his RI couldn't have gotten worse.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Corey209

I didn't get any medication because all he had was popping and an occasional open mouth breathing. He was getting a lot better with just heat and humidity but I wasn't checking on him as much because of him being sick and I didn't want to stress him out. I only found a few on him even after soaking so they weren't that bad but there is a possibility I wasn't thorough enough.

You can't tell me though that from the mites and self soaking his RI couldn't have gotten worse.

Never once heard of soaking making RI worse. This would be the first case. Especially if it magically happened within a day!

Your information doesn't add up.

[Corey209]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Never once heard of soaking making RI worse. This would be the first case. Especially if it magically happened within a day!

Your information doesn't add up.

That was just my assumption like I had already said, his RI was getting better he got mites soaked in cold water then his RI had gotten worse.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Corey209

That was just my assumption like I had already said, his RI was getting better he got mites soaked in cold water then his RI had gotten worse.

Yeah, and you passed your assumption off as fact. You're guessing. You failed.

Anyway, you don't have the animal anymore. Let's hope the ball python fares better.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Originally Posted by Corey209

That was just my assumption like I had already said, his RI was getting better he got mites soaked in cold water then his RI had gotten worse.

I'm not gonna say anything about the RI 'cause I don't know, but I have a possibly really stupid question: How was the water cold? I mean, wouldn't the enclosure be warm enough that the water wouldn't be cold?

~Maggot

[CMRetics]

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

I doubt she does.

Ego check please. You don't know more than every vet, you don't know this vet, so lets kick that before it starts. Internet diagnoses are pretty humorous. doctor. LOL

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I've never heard of water somehow making an RI worse. I want to know where you get your information instead of just assuming things.

You know nothing about RI's. Did you get a culture done to see if it was bacterial or viral? Did you then get medication that was specific to that?

You're wrong about RI's. They can and DO go away. You're making excuses for your shoddy keeping.

You're sitting here telling people about RI, but then you list cultures done for 2 types of RI. If you knew so much you would have suggested fungal as well. Careful before attacking someone on their lack of RI knowledge.

Originally Posted by Corey209

The snake was almost completely good after one month of heat and humidity. He had a little mucus in his mouth but RI never fully clears up it always leaves the snake at a higher risk of getting it again (I'm not arguing about this, talk to a reptile specialist...). So I think which I am assuming is that when he got the mites he stressed out which does weaken the immune system and he was soaking in his water dish which could have easily cooled his temps down a lot making his RI worse. The ex-vet I know did work with reptiles by the way.

Mites + cold water will make an R.I. worse, especially if it hasn't cleared up fully, it's very easy to regress. If it's a viral RI you're pretty much stuck and every little thing can bring it back on, if it's a really set in bacterial one- antibiotics are sometimes needed to help finish it off, or else it will stick around.

Next time, move him into a small shoebox style container with paper towel as bedding, heat the whole box up, keep humidity high and treat the mites, but deny him a tub big enough to soak in. He's soaking to get rid of mites, which you can kill easily, if he's soaking after that, his humidity is too low.

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

I'm not gonna say anything about the RI 'cause I don't know, but I have a possibly really stupid question: How was the water cold? I mean, wouldn't the enclosure be warm enough that the water wouldn't be cold?

~Maggot

Water is naturally cooler than air, and if placed away from the heating element, its easy for it to be too cold.