My snake is not shedding in one piece or its wheezing!

In this post I will talk to you about some of the potential causes as well as some fixes to these common problems. Snakes need heat as well as a good amount of moisture. A good way to know your snake is ill is when you hear it wheezing or it not shedding in one full shed. I will now explain each potential problem and give you information on how to prevent it.

Heat helps with a few things with the snakes body. One of the first things it helps with, is the digestion of the prey item the snake ate. Without proper heat within the tank, and an area where heat is provided at all times the snake will have a hard time digesting its food. This can cause constipation within the snake and can lead to death. The second thing is to much heat or too little heat can cause is an upper or lower respiratory infection. A very lethal infection within the snakes lungs.

Moisture, better known as humidity, can cause its share of problems as well. Having improper humidity levels within the tank can cause upper and lower respiratory problems and as well as the heat can cause death. Another problem that can occur is a problem with shedding. Without the proper humidity in the tank, the snakes skin can dry out or even become to saturated with moisture and cause the skin to come off in pieces instead of one complete shed.

These problems are easy to control. The best ways to accomplish this are by monitoring the levels at which they should be set at. The temperature within the tank (air temp) should be kept around 90-95* degrees during the day and have a 5-10* degree drop at night. There should be a hot spot with a temp of 92* degrees provided at all times. The best way to control these is to buy a thermostat that has the ability to control two to three different heat sources. This will allow you to regulate the air temp and keep the hot spot where it needs to be. As for the humidity level an easy way to control this is to use a spray bottle and mist in the tank every morning. If this is not possible then you can pick up a sheet of 1/4 inch thick plastic drill about fifty holes in it and cut it to fit 3/4 of the top of the tank. This will help hold the moisture in and allow the air to still flow freely. You will still need to mist in the tank at least every two days.

Now that you have some information about what to look for and how to prevent such problems your snake should have a healthy and long life. I hope you have enjoyed this topic and please feel free to visit www.ballpythonplanet.forumotion.com/ and join the forum. Here you can learn more about your snakes as well as meet people with similar interests.

Thanks,
Eric Rovegno
http://www.ballpythonplanet.com/

Where to buy your repitle from

Today, you will learn the reasons you should not buy a reptile from a pet store and some booths at reptile shows.

When you are in the market for a reptile your first instinct may be to go to your local pet store. This is not always the best place to go. Why, you ask. The answer is very simple. Most pet stores buy their reptiles from an importer. An importer is someone that removes them from the wild and sells them to the stores at wholesale. The majority of these animals have disease and health problems that may cause death if not dealt with right away. The funny thing is that the pet store will not typically tell you where they bought the reptiles from, and in some cases might not even know themselves where they came from. This fact holds true for some venders at your local reptile shows. I am not trying to tell you that all the venders are selling wild caught animals just that you should ask them for some form of proof they are not wild caught. If the offer for a reptile seems too good to be true then it is probably a wild caught. A breeder would not sell their reptiles for a really low price. This is another good indicator.

So, if you are a person who does not care about all that. There are a few things you can look for to determine if the reptile is in good health.
1. Is the color bright and vibrant?
2. Are the eyes glossy and clear?
3. When you hold the reptile is it wheezing?
4. Is the animal alert and responsive to you when being held, or is it just sitting or lying there?
5. Is the skin tight or is it hanging off?

You can also ask the vendor or pet store when it was last fed. You may even request them to feed it for you while you’re there to see if it takes the food. Ask them how long they have had it, how old is it.

Ok, so now you bought your reptile and have it at home. If you have other reptiles of the same species DO NOT put them together. You need to quarantine you new pet from all others. Schedule an appointment with your local vet and have him check the stool for parasites. If they find parasites, go online and buy some Parazap. This will remove them and even help your snake with other problems that you may not see. After you have quarantined the reptile for about a month and have not seen or noticed any health problems then you are in the clear.

So, good luck with your new pet and make sure to pick up some books and do some online research to find out everything you can about their habitat and their favored food.

If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me through my site and I will do my best to answer them.

Eric Rovegno
www.ballpythonplanet.com