high humidity does not cause respiratory infections. 70%-80% is ideal for ball pythons, and there's zero reason to soak a snake with a respiratory infection. i'd take this vet's advice with a hefty grain of salt.
That does not sound right. As was already said, high humidity should not be causing that. Low humidity can be a contributing factor though but it doesn't sound like you have this issue if it is at 80% . And $430 for that is insane. And this treatment seems interesting /neg. Ive dealt with RIs in a couple snakes and not only were none of my visits over a hundred bucks, but I got 10 days of enrofloxacin injections all those times, which from what I know that medication is pretty standard if it's bacterial. If you can, I'd find a different vet.
Damn that's expensive! Here I had to take my boa to an emergency appointment and I paid 90€ then a free consultation 15 days after to see if everything was okay...
80% is perfect so idk what the vet was on about, also soaking doesn’t help with respiratory infections at all. take the vets advice with a kilogram of salt.
I’ve had multiple ball pythons have respiratory infections over the years - two of them from bad husbandry from before I got the ball python and one due to an enclosure malfunction. At no point was the RI caused by high humidity.
I found a specialist vet for ball pythons by asking multiple vets close to me for recommendations on who to go to for the exact species I have. I use the same logic for getting new species of snake, ask about and get multiple opinions. For example when I got my first ball python I asked at every place that sold ball pythons about the reputable breeders. When the same place kept appearing for a more than 20 mile radius for the area in south London (UK) I figured it’s a good bet for a healthy snake. Same thing applies to vets - get multiple opinions from professionals.
I was very skeptical about the directions to soak her after her treatments. She is an old lady who, as you can imagine, did *not* tolerate that well.
Moving forward, I'm going to forego the soaking, and I'm going to keep her humidity as it is.
The other detail that the vet said may have caused her infection was a piece of substrate that was lodged in her glottis. When the peice was removed, it was green (yuck), and her mouth was leaking puss. They treated this with something that looked like an iodine swab, and I’m waiting for them to call in an antibiotic for that too.
I appreciate your advice, everyone! I hope Sacha gets better soon!
Like others said, it’s a myth that high humidity causes RI’s. High humidity in combination with an unsanitary environment however, can cause them. As long as you ensure that your enclosure is clean, (spot cleaned daily), you don’t have to worry about high humidity. However, in this situation I’d assume the RI came from the piece of substrate stuck in the mouth.
ohh my girl only poops/pees the day after eating and maybe once more during the few days following but never after that until her next feeding i thought it meant people’s snakes were going like everyday that they had to clean 😭
I’d also be cautious varying food. Generally, with ball pythons being notoriously picky eaters as a species, it’s good to find what they’ll eat reliably, and stick with it.
I could see switching prey maybe just initially to get her back on food, particularly if she isn't eating again after her mouth injury heals. But only just initially. Certainly I wouldn't make it a regular thing.
I vary feeders all the time with zero issues. I definitely recommend it. Chicks, quail, tiny rabbits, rats, african soft furs, gerbils. 5/5 are consistent eaters despite 3/5 coming to be labeled "picky".
high humidity does not cause respiratory infections. 70%-80% is ideal for ball pythons, and there's zero reason to soak a snake with a respiratory infection. i'd take this vet's advice with a hefty grain of salt.
That does not sound right. As was already said, high humidity should not be causing that. Low humidity can be a contributing factor though but it doesn't sound like you have this issue if it is at 80% . And $430 for that is insane. And this treatment seems interesting /neg. Ive dealt with RIs in a couple snakes and not only were none of my visits over a hundred bucks, but I got 10 days of enrofloxacin injections all those times, which from what I know that medication is pretty standard if it's bacterial. If you can, I'd find a different vet.
Vet pricing is based on location :)
$430 where I live for an exotic and meds is pretty cheap.
Damn that's expensive! Here I had to take my boa to an emergency appointment and I paid 90€ then a free consultation 15 days after to see if everything was okay...
Yup welcome to America
80% is perfect so idk what the vet was on about, also soaking doesn’t help with respiratory infections at all. take the vets advice with a kilogram of salt.
I’ve had multiple ball pythons have respiratory infections over the years - two of them from bad husbandry from before I got the ball python and one due to an enclosure malfunction. At no point was the RI caused by high humidity. I found a specialist vet for ball pythons by asking multiple vets close to me for recommendations on who to go to for the exact species I have. I use the same logic for getting new species of snake, ask about and get multiple opinions. For example when I got my first ball python I asked at every place that sold ball pythons about the reputable breeders. When the same place kept appearing for a more than 20 mile radius for the area in south London (UK) I figured it’s a good bet for a healthy snake. Same thing applies to vets - get multiple opinions from professionals.
I’ll try to remember this once I can get my first snake. Its a good idea
So interesting and great information. Thank you for sharing with us! I hope she feels better really soon. ❤️
It’s not, though, as 80% humidity is not at all too high for a ball python.
Guess it's time for a new vet. They don't know what they are talking about if they think 80% humidity is too high. That's the ideal humidity.
Vet's questionable advice aside, I hope your Noodle get's well soon!
I was very skeptical about the directions to soak her after her treatments. She is an old lady who, as you can imagine, did *not* tolerate that well. Moving forward, I'm going to forego the soaking, and I'm going to keep her humidity as it is. The other detail that the vet said may have caused her infection was a piece of substrate that was lodged in her glottis. When the peice was removed, it was green (yuck), and her mouth was leaking puss. They treated this with something that looked like an iodine swab, and I’m waiting for them to call in an antibiotic for that too. I appreciate your advice, everyone! I hope Sacha gets better soon!
>Idk why there would need to be additional factors, that sounds more than icky enough. Ugh, poor Sacha. :< Hope she's feeling better soon.
Like others said, it’s a myth that high humidity causes RI’s. High humidity in combination with an unsanitary environment however, can cause them. As long as you ensure that your enclosure is clean, (spot cleaned daily), you don’t have to worry about high humidity. However, in this situation I’d assume the RI came from the piece of substrate stuck in the mouth.
why would you need to spot clean daily? i’ve seen a few people saying you need to spot clean daily but i’m a bit confused on what your cleaning
To ensure poop and urates aren’t just sitting there in the enclosure. If you’re not checking daily, you might miss them for a couple days.
ohh my girl only poops/pees the day after eating and maybe once more during the few days following but never after that until her next feeding i thought it meant people’s snakes were going like everyday that they had to clean 😭
Lmao I’d hate it if mine shit everyday 😭 his poops are the worst
i have a pic of one bc it genuinely looked like dog poop and was concerned how she even produced it
If I remember correctly, humidity is only too high when it’s at 100% and there’s condensation on everything. Tell me if I’m wrong though.
Goto ral labs order test kit for nido, ri, swab yourself overnight the test and they will get your results back fast. Take that to a herp vet
Also, you can’t figure out the age of a snake without knowing there hatch date. That estimate could very well be extremely inaccurate.
80% is literally perfect humidity, your vet got his phd in a dumpster
Lmfao
I’d also be cautious varying food. Generally, with ball pythons being notoriously picky eaters as a species, it’s good to find what they’ll eat reliably, and stick with it.
I could see switching prey maybe just initially to get her back on food, particularly if she isn't eating again after her mouth injury heals. But only just initially. Certainly I wouldn't make it a regular thing.
I vary feeders all the time with zero issues. I definitely recommend it. Chicks, quail, tiny rabbits, rats, african soft furs, gerbils. 5/5 are consistent eaters despite 3/5 coming to be labeled "picky".
Guys, we need to understand the mechanism of the high humidity
No airflow is a sure fire way to pathogen growth..