RI question

[kasper22]

How contageus is RI? I noticed one of my boas was really wizing(sp sorry) today so I took her to the vet she has RI. Thing is about 3 weeks ago I had put a male in there to see if he was interested, and now he is in with another female. These two show no intrest in breeding could they have gotten RI too? Should I get them on meds now? I have rasied the temp in the cages. any advice is very welcome thanks for your imput.

[Doug]

Hi,
my primary concern would be why did the boa get RI.
Most common cause is temp gradients and problems with humidity, It seems the reptiles immune system will not work if the temps are off, an induced immune problem.. The bacteria that causes RI is fairly common in reptiles it seems that many animals become compramised from stress problems with temps and then they develope RI.
 So first and formost is be sure no part of your cage is less that 82 degree's , thats the cool side to..
  Be sure your humidity is correct after the RI Clears up.
Poor humidity in Pythons and probably boa can cause a change in lung tissues that can lead to reoccuring RI, this is evenafter the correct treatment with medication's.
 Have you downloaded the >:( care sheets at the top of this forum, they are free and very useful.
 I have a copy of this month Reptiles magazine ( cheep if you order a subscription on line it list many causes and effects all the end result of environment or cage
 Good luck
 doug

[kasper22]

Thanks Doug, I think it may have come from when I moved this summer, and is now just showing up. As for the cage I have it at about 84 on the cold side and 92 on the warm side, so I don't think that temps are the problem. The only problem I have is I can't keep the humity up. It tends to hang around 40%

[Doug]

HI,
Sounds like your on top of the temps, be sure your temp devices are accurate , I went to walmart and bought three  electronic thermometer/hydrometer's and found a huge error in my reptile thermometer's.
 If your having humidity problems your probably using external heat in a glass tank this is a very common problem with tanks it requires some creative ideas to find ways to raise humdity in my 40 critter's I used to have problems I finally bought some wall insulation it comes in sheets and cut a large piece to fit the top of the cage this held the humidity , I also added a uth to the equiation and a thermostat for the tank, haven't had any problems since,,psps I gave away all my tanks and now have melanine cages,,

ps them boaphile cages are really sweet.and probably cheeper in the long run that a fish tank with all the requirements needed to control temps...one sick snake can  be expensive as you know.
 doug

[azdesertman]

ya i just got a ney hygrometer and thermometer and the hygrometer seems acurate but the thermometer reads 70 and the temp in the house is 84 my room warmer and his cage even warmer.maybe it just needs to adjust.. we will see tomorrow.

[azdesertman]

oh ya and the thermometer is an aquarium thermometer for underwater but i thought it would work.was this a mistake?

[Boa_Dan]

hey matt
what is a hygrometer ?
thanks
Dan

[azdesertman]

a hygrometer is a device used to measure humidity. any animal that not from the desert should have one in there cage because my boas humidity was at 80%! before i got one. now i just need a new thermometer.lol mine still reads 72. stupid piece of cheap :-X