Gail's garter - the snake kind silly.

[kueluck]

Took some pics of Mona and Sadie (just shed today), and these two girls are growing fast. Sadie has gone from 1 to 8 grams in 31 days, and is such a little sweetie. Mona went from 3 to 8 grams in 31 days also, and has calmed down a lot!! I hold her at least once a day for about 20 min, and for the past week no messes on me, and no attempts to bite. Sorry Mike but I think she's a keeper. As for Zena, she's gone from 112 to 138 grams in 41 days, and I thought I had cut back on her food. I'm afraid she's getting to fat. Even when Zena is getting ready to shed, she still eats like a champ and enjoys hanging out on the couch with us. I love this girl.
Mona & Sadie 9-15-12.jpgZena 9-15-12.jpg

[mikem]

Haha, no problem Gail! Glad she's warming up to you

[kueluck]

About 5 days ago I noticed this “spot” on Zena's eye. I tried to wipe it was a moist warm cloth but nothing. Her last shed was in July and both eye caps were on the shed. She's also be very dull looking and sometimes sounds “crinkly” if that makes sense. So I'm guessing she's getting ready to shed again?? I can't remember the process for her since it's been several months and the babies do their shedding in a matter of days start to finish. I've also put a moist hide in her tank and also put her in a moist warm shed box for 30 min. Any input would be appreciated.
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[ProXimuS]

Is it possible that it's just a tiny piece of an eye cap? Other than that I've got no ideas...

Hope everythings turns out ok

[EasternGirl]

It sounds like a possible retained shed but she doesn't look like she has a retained shed in the full body shot above. The spot on the eye does look like a bit of retained shed though. It sounds like you are doing the right things...with the shed box and all. Maybe someone else can give some additional input. I wanted to ask about the sani-chips...I guess I missed something. Was she wheezing in other substrate? Because Cee Cee has problems with that too.

[kueluck]

On her last shed the eye caps where complete. And this just showed up a few days ago. I'm afraid to mess with her eye, I don't want to hurt her.

Marnie, yes she was wheezing in the aspen, carefresh and ultra carefresh. But since I've had her in the sani-chips, no wheezing. I LOVE this stuff.

[EasternGirl]

Hmmm....good to know. Cee Cee was wheezing in the carefresh and I changed to aspen...she seems better in the aspen...but where do you get the sani-chips? I would like to try those.

I'm not sure what to tell you about the eye. Do you have a vet?

[kueluck]

I got the sani-chips here Native Earth Aspen Sani Chips 2.2 Cubic Foot Bedding | PetFoodDirect but some pet stores carry it also. And yes I have a vet. The eye thing isn't changing, by that I mean getting bigger or smaller. I just wonder if it IS a shed process going on since she's so dull looking. If it doesn't improve over the weekend I'll take her in next week. It doesn’t seem to effect her eye sight either.

[ConcinusMan]

Even if there was a dust issue, which I doubt, it wouldn't cause wheezing. A few quick sneezes to clear the nostrils would be expected if it was a dust issue. Not wheezing. Something else is wrong. I've never had an issue with any of the substrates you mentioned, even if they happen to be a bit dusty. Wheezing due to a RI will come and go regardless. Doesn't mean the snake is getting better and I certainly don't think wheezing is caused by your substrate.

This sounds like an infection. That's my opinion.

RI's in colubrids are most often caused by keeping them too warm, and lack of a wide enough temperature gradient so that they can regulate their own temperature. The infectious culprit is usually just common household bacteria that is normally not harmful. Baytril suspension (vet visit required) clears it up and as long as conditions are corrected, it usually doesn't come back.

[kueluck]

I don't know about all that, but I do know that once I changed her to sani-chips the wheezing stop.