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Dingjr
Snake mite
United Kingdom
23 Posts |
 Posted - 02/05/2012 : 17:01:44
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Okay, so here's the thing. I recently got myself an adorable little Columbian Rainbow boa. To start with, i kept him in a plastic Exo terra fuanarium. But that had to many holes in and i was struggling to keep humidity up and changed him to a komodo plastic terrarium (which has far less holes in) with a damp piece of fabric over it. Inside he's got orchid bark as a substrate, a hide on the warm side and silk bushes on both warm and cold side for him to hide, He's got a water bowl on the cold side and i mist the tank 3 times daily to keep a nice humidity between 75% and 85% I have a heat mat covering around a 3rd of the tank...
I may be going of topic but im just being specific and trying to describe everything straight away :3
Anyway. Before i moved him to a more suitable tank, he had a problem shed which stuck around his head and eyes. So, I bathed him in luke warm water and rubbed gently with a damp towel with no success :(
Since then he's been inflating his neck just like a frog whenever i pick him up! This is enough to worry me as neither of my other snakes ever do this! (Jungle carpet python and corn snake)
Any idea's what this is and any tips on how to solve it would be appreciated! Thanks in advance! :)
Oh! Some advice on what to house him in in the future as i've heard wooden vivs such as viv exotic aren't suitable due to warping of the wood from humidity |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2012 : 23:32:17
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Sometimes stuck shed really sticks. If you adjust humidity right, it may come off on its own with his next shed.
As for the puffing...he probably did not like the effort, and is somewhat suspicious of you right now. With time and regular, gentle handling it will hopefully pass.
Agreed that wooden vivs (unless sealed) are not a good choice. Plastic is best for rainbows. |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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Dingjr
Snake mite
United Kingdom
23 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 07:27:31
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So his puffing of the neck isn't something too worrying? :-)
As for housing in the future. Could I be quite cheeky and ask for a link to a site that sells plastic tanks big enough for him when he's an adult as I don't know where to find them. My original plan was to put him in a 90cm x 45cm x 60cm komodo glass tank with a damp piece of fabric on top due to mesh? |
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Dingjr
Snake mite
United Kingdom
23 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 16:51:51
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| I just put him back from a 20 minute handliing session. Good news is after a few minutes he stopped "inflating" his neck. Bad news is he's making an odd clicking sound when he breathes? My suspisions are either RI (I hope not!) Or stuck shed in his nostrels? Please advise :( Thanks in advance! |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2012 : 23:35:13
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| I *think* the inflating is nothing to worry about, especialyl if it stops after a bit, but I could be wrong. The clicking is more worrisome, and could (as you suggest) be either. Raise his temps slightly to boost his immune system, and strongly consider getting him to an experienced keeper or herp vet to check further. |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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Dingjr
Snake mite
United Kingdom
23 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2012 : 09:37:36
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I upped the temps in his tank and fed him a few days ago. After that i left him until yesterday, only bothering him to mist the enclosure and change water. Got him out yesterday and he's back to normal! No puffing of his neck, or wheezing and popping. All is good apart from his belly going pink. But spending some time browsing the forum and found that this could be a sign of iminent shed? Which could also get the previous shed of his head! Just want to confirm the possibility for pink belly leading to a shed though...
Any way. Thanks for the contribution and advice, Cliff! Much appreciated! :-) |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2012 : 00:26:44
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| Yes, a pink belly often foreshadows an impending shed. Just make sure the temp increase did not boost it too high for his safety (over 85F with no cool retreat is too high). Also, while I am by no means trying to scare you, a raised temp can often address symptoms of an RI but not "fix" the underlying issue. I doubt it is an RI in this case, and am telling you this only so you keep an ear out for further clicking sounds...just in case. Looking forward to that next shed, which will hopefully fix everything! |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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Dingjr
Snake mite
United Kingdom
23 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2012 : 21:23:47
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Will hopefully post a pic or two of the little guy once he's shed. Thinking about taking him to a vet just to give him the all clear also. Like you said, just in case!
One last thing. What would you reccomend out of these two? A glass tank (Mesh top but covered with a damp towel) or a large RUB with holes drilled into it. Was just wondering as I'm a little worried about maintaining humidity once I move him on up |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2012 : 23:27:06
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| Glass tanks with mesh tops (even covered) are not rainbow-friendly. A tub is much better, but even then should be only temporary. These creatures deserve their own full vivs by the time they grow up. As for the tub, start with fewer holes than you think you need. It's easy to add, tough to take away. |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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Scared for my Baby CRB's health
