Your one stop reptile community - Info on RI (or maybe just a paranoid parent!)

slaponte · #1 (**permalink**) 10-24-2002, 06:09 PM

Hi everybody.

Been fairly new to my RTBs, I have little frame of reference. Once you actually see mites, you recognize them after that. Nothing beats actually seeing (hearing, smelling) something to learn.

I read a lot about RI but I have never (I think) had to interface with a snake that actually has RI. Every now and then I get concerned about my babies, but then maybe I am been paranoid.

The other day I picked up Chica (BCI, about 4.5 feet, heavy (fat?)). I carried her on my arms/shoulders outside to enjoy the florida sun/humidity. I noticed the was "exhaling hard", like somebody holding their breath and then "whoooooooshhhhhhh". I wanted to think this is just nervous since she doesn't get out that often, but then, like I said, I read about RIs etc and I get concerned.

There are no bubbles, no mucosity or anything like that. She eats well every week (jumbo rat, thus the ? about been fat). Can a snake be overweight?

I will answer my own question in part and say she is due for her yearly checkup at the vet. That might be the best way to make sure all is ok...
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JuliusSqueezer · #2 (**permalink**) 10-24-2002, 07:17 PM

yes they can be overweight and obesity is no better for them than it is for us healthwise. I think a jumbo rat a week is a little much for a boa that size personally....depending of course where you are getting your rats. Jumbo rats from mice on ice are roughly the size of everyone elses large rats for example. If the size rat you are feeding is consistant with her girth...which by your observation is a bit thicker than it should be, it might be wise to feed her every 14 days at this point instead of every week. Personally, once a boa gets up to large rats, I start feeding 10 days for a short while (3-4 feedings) and then go on to 14 days. She is still young enough that she can grow into her weight so weight loss is neither necessary nor advised.

A lot of times when we handle nice plump boas ...the moving around makes them expel stomach gas...(burp) it may seem like heavy breathing or even a hiss....but she's probably just letting a little air bubble out.

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slaponte · #3 (**permalink**) 10-24-2002, 11:22 PM

I am not sure she is too wide. In comparison, I find my male thin. The jumbo rats fit her well, you can barely tell the bump. In her schedule, she eats on sat, by thursday night she roams the cage, by sat morning she is "expecting". I let it go a few days extra recently and she seemed annoyed about it. (Can a snake be spoiled? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img])

What I think she needs is a little more exercise. I am about to move her to a larger enclosure and she will have more space to move around.

Again, not having a frame of reference I count on your experience. I have to update all my pics, I'll try to get some size reference on them.
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slaponte · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2002, 05:42 AM

Hey Jules, here is Chica eating one of her Jumbos :

Here is tonite, head resting on body :

More pics in my album...
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JuliusSqueezer · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2002, 07:42 AM

She's not overweight and that rat looks about right for her. You really want her eating all that bedabeast though? I don't think it will impact her....it should pass easily but keep an eye on her teeth and make sure none gets stuck in there....it will cause infections (stomititis) or better yet...a feed tote [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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slaponte · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2002, 05:04 AM

How do I make her "open wide and say ahhhhh"??? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

This is frday PM. She pooped last night and is pacing her cage wating for tomorrows rat. BTW, she poops about every second week, sometimes 3. Fairly regular.

I might move her to her new cage tomorrow. More pics to come.
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