Posted by:
amarilrose
at Mon Sep 22 01:25:56 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by amarilrose ]
I'm pretty sure it's nothing; the little ones can both get startled easily (like any time you're around) and breathe pretty fast when startled and/or active.
There are important behavioral cues to look for in addition to audible wheezing or visual bubbles from the mouth and nostrils to determine a Respiratory Infection. First of these would be decreased activity, which does not sound like the case for Baal. A sick snake will look and act as if it "feels like crap." Also, with decreased activity, a sick snake will stay hidden as much as possible, perhaps only coming out of hiding for water at night. Given that you say you've seen him out and about multiple times on a daily basis, again, I don't think he's sick.
Just for the sake of information, another behavioral cue of RI is that a snake will rest with its head and neck elevated (like pointed straight up, not just on top of its coils) to drain some of that mucus and ease breathing. This is not 100% in all cases - some snakes just like to point their heads upward to rest - my boa has done this for years, and I check him for mucus obsessively every time he does it, but he eats and grows and thrives beautifully, so I think that's just his thing. 
Also, if humidity gets too low (like in the upcoming winter), you might hear a nasal whistle (very different from a wheeze, though just as disconcerting) - this can happen if the air is too dry and some of the normally-present healthy mucus gets dried up, much like our own noses in the winter.
I hope that helps
~Rebecca
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1.0.0 Dumeril's Boa '04
1.2.1 Ball Pythons
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)
...and MANY more years' experience in colubrids
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RE: good job! some advice for me? - amarilrose, Mon Sep 22 01:25:56 2008
