[Cazador]

Fons and Hans both make excellent points. A snake that's gaping its mouth like this is probably in pretty bad shape already. They don't often reveal their illnesses so dramatically until a problem is fairly advanced. As far as I know, there are no vets here.

I'm a PhD candidate in biological sciences with a fair amount of experience and book knowledge, but I'm not a vet. I'm always torn between offering medical advise and just saying go see a vet because offering advise is really sticking one's neck out there. I realize that vets are expensive, and a lot of people won't pay the vet fees. Then they're left on their own, so I try to help when asked.

If you're looking for a litmus test to determine whether your snake's condition warrants a trip to the vet, the answer is yes... it does. The gaping mouth, poor appetite, and weight loss can only be easily treated if they're due to a diet containing too much thiaminase (or improper husbandry, but I don't think that's the problem here). Otherwise, you're going to be dealing with medications.

If you'd like to take the hands-on approach, I'm sure there are a number of us willing to share our experiences and try to offer help. I just wanted to acknowledge my limitations and those of online help. Either way, I hope you will keep us informed about your snakes' conditions.