should i be worried?(kinda ramble :))

calmprice · #1 (**permalink**) 08-05-2002, 07:29 PM

i have a 2.5' redtail named salazar. i feed him either small rats or large mice every 7 days or so and he is a very! good eater.

sometimes, at night mostly, he raises his head toward the light and opens his mouth all the way (170degres or so) and holds it open for about ten seconds or so, i've looked into his mouth when he does this and i don't see any problems like the pics i've seen of mouth rot, also he only does this a couple of times per day, so i don't think it's a resp. problem(trouble breathing) all this has just started, to my knowledge, a few weeks ago(i've had him/her for about 2 months)....i'm also concerned that he has yet to show the first signs of shedding. how often should he shed?

thank you in advance, and so far i love the info on this sight

ps....i spent 2.5 hours reading other posts trying to find the answer there to no avail, if i'm just repeating, sorry
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Ed_r · #2 (**permalink**) 08-05-2002, 07:56 PM

First off Welcome to RTB!!!
Snakes commonly Yawn. Sometimes they do it after a meal to reset their jaws. Or before a meal. Or sometimes just to do it. Now why it is doing towards the heat lamp I don't know. May just be coincidence. I'm sure others on here may have more to say on this.
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calmprice · #3 (**permalink**) 08-05-2002, 08:06 PM

thank you for the info, have any idea about the shed question?
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Ed_r · #4 (**permalink**) 08-05-2002, 08:26 PM

Oh yeah... Shedding is in direct relation to growth. My baby BCI is 5 months now he shed twice in the first month then like once every other month. I wouldnt worry too much. Definately feed him rats they are more nutricious. Make sure your feeding prey that are equal diameter to the thickest part of the snakes body, to make sure he is getting enough food. The sheds will come when he is ready. Oh And please dont feed him live prey BCIs dont require live prey they eat frozen thawed quite easily.

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#5 (**permalink**) 08-05-2002, 09:33 PM

It is entirely possible that he IS in fact showing the first signs of shedding, by gaping his mouth to stretch the skin around his head area, espically if he has yet to shed for you and has just started this behaviour recently.

If his breathing makes no audible sounds (wheezing etc), then that would be my guess...and if he's not wheezing, you're probably ok to keep an eye on him for the next week and see what happens...
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Dr.Oviparous · #6 (**permalink**) 08-05-2002, 09:57 PM

Welcome to RTB!

I agree with J.R, it could be a sign of an up coming shed. it does not sound like an RI to me. open mouth breathing due to RI is a lot more frequent, and the mouth is usually just bearly open for a few minutes. it sounds more like yawing, or more just like stretching "skin" for shedding. 2 monthes really isn't an extreemly long time inbetween sheds, I wouldn't worry yet, but you might want to re-evaluate the size of rodent your feeding (when stretched out, rodent should be same size of largest part of the snake). -Juggalo
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driftwooddodgeman · #7 (**permalink**) 08-06-2002, 06:13 AM

Since we're on the subject...is it good to have a little bulge in their stomach? I've been feeding my 2'4" Burm an adult mouse the last 5 feedings (every 7 days) and am switching to rats of the same size until his girth increases...I don't want to overfeed him, ya know [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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eddie · #8 (**permalink**) 08-06-2002, 01:56 PM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>is it good to have a little bulge in their stomach? </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

Of course!
If you fed it the right size food, then it will have a slight bulge.
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driftwooddodgeman · #9 (**permalink**) 08-06-2002, 03:13 PM

okay...good. I was just wondering, 'cause a buddy of mine said he could feel the "fat" on my snake [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img] (he's new to snakes) Plus, you guys always say to find food the same size, so I would assume that to mean no buldge. Anyway, guess I'll keep feeding him the same then [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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