He'll likely be a good bit better when he sheds. While he may indeed have also had an RI, the
mite issue will also cause breathing problems.
Mites will crawl into the nostrils and lay eggs there. When the
mites were actively feeding on him, they were biting through his skin which is made of keratin and is usually completely water tight. Between the
mite bites and the shots, his skin is no longer water tight and that is what made him go into this shed cycle. Clogged nostrils from
mite eggs and/or dead
mites along with the loose skin in the nostrils popping loose to be shed will cause open mouth breathing. I have seen a lot of RIs with
mite infestations. Perhaps the stress lowers the immuno system and allows it to take hold...I don't know. Perhaps the symptoms from having to breath openmouthed because of the
mites just look a lot like RI and the diagnosis isn't always correct...again, I don't know.
How did you get rid of the
mites? What was the treatment? What antibiotic are you giving? Baytril? How much and how often and how much does your snake weigh in grams? Is there any snot bubbles coming out of your snakes nostrils? Is there excessive mucous in his mouth? Is he wheezing when he breathes? Is he having trouble righting himself when you roll him on his side or back? Does his head flop to the side when you pick him up? Does he flick his tongue as he crawls around?
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