\"hissy\" sounds

[stonergirl]

just a thought...my rtb escaped for about 3 weeks back in march and when i found her she was ice cold and had an upper respiratory infection. i took her to the vet and got her shots and she became healthy again...i've recently noticed that i can hear her breathing or what sounds kind of like a nonthreatening hiss but she doesn't have any fluids coming out of her mouth or anything...is that normal or should i take her back to the vet for a followup visit? she eats just fine with no problems or delays...so should i be worried?

by the way, i am totally diggin' this website!!! this is the coolest thing and i am so glad that i stumbled across it!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
[addsig]

[telefrag]

welcome to RTB,

you may want to keep the snake warmer than usual, keep a nice basking spot around 90 degrees for him/her, and see if that curtails the noises, but it is still a good idea to have a vet take a second look.

m
[addsig]

[stonergirl]

GREAT! thank you so much. i have her in a pretty large showcase that is about 6 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 5 feet tall. i have one large red heat bulb that sits over her water dish, and a ceramic heat lamp that sits over her "loghouse", which are the two places she hangs out the most. the temp is usually about 85 -90 degrees by her loghouse, and roughly 90 - 95 degrees by her water...is that ok? should her water be cool to the touch or bathwater warm?? or what?
[addsig]

[RevMojo]

temps sound a bit warm....88 degrees on the warm side is what's usually recommended...

as far as water temp....well, that's up to the snake...I keep water on both ends of my cage, usually he drinks out of the cool side


[addsig]

[telefrag]

90 is warm under normal circumstances, but ill or gravid/pregnant animals do ok with temps in the low 90's although I wouldnt keep my air temp/basking temps over 88 for normal husbandry.

? should her water be cool to the touch or bathwater warm?? or what?


well, keep in mind warm to us for water is in the upper 90's low 100's
to a snake thats really really hot,
just room temp water is the best way to go.

	Gravid Gravid term used in biology to describe the condition of a female oviparous when carrying young internally.

[morti]

I don't know much, but it sounds to me like you don't have a temperature gradient hapening in that cage. By that I mean a warm end somewhere around 86-88 dergrees ambiant temps and a cool end something like 78-80 degrees. That way the snake can decide for itself just how warm it wants to be.

I would also reccomend that you read the care sheet on boas here on redtailboa.net.

You never know what you don't know until you learn it. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Here is a link to the care sheet:

General care of Boa Constrictors

Good Luck and Welcome to Redtailboa.net!
-Your Sick Uncle Morti.
[addsig]

[stonergirl]

hahaha...thank you so much! that care sheet is pretty informative...not anything i haven't heard before, but it definitely helps to review it...a couple of things in there that i had forgotten.

Wow... this is such a great website; i just looked at the clock and realized that i had unexpectantly spent 3 hours just looking at all the cool stuff.
[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
[addsig]

[morti]

Check it out ya'll! We've got another one addicted already! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Redtailboa.net: On a Fast Track to being reclasified as a Controlled Substance.

-Your Sick Uncle Morti.
[addsig]