Hi Ben –



The yawning is normal. Some snakes (we’re not talking just ball pythons here) do this immediately before and after feeding. So, of course, the speculation always has to do with aligning/realigning their jaw bones. However, as you’ve noticed, snakes yawn at other times, also. If you’ll look closely, you may notice that your snake frequently has its glottis (windpipe) pinched shut when it is yawning. So, apparently, they are not trying to get a little extra shot of oxygen into their lung(s), which is usually the case when humans yawn.



Bottom line – I don’t think anyone really knows why snakes yawn. But as long as you’re not seeing open-mouthed wheezing or gasping for air, then I wouldn’t be alarmed.



-Joan







>>Hi guys

>>

>>I posted a message earlier and mentioned this but I have just been watching him move around his cage and he yawned again (the 2ns time today). This is the 1st day I have had him and I know that he has not eaten for some time as he only shed a couple of days ago. Does this therefore that the environmental conditions are not correct or could it be something else??? I have been keeping him at 88 degrees fahrenheit and will be dropping this down to about 78 degrees fahrenheit. The humidity is around 55% at one end of the cage (I am going to try and increase this slightly) and about 85% up the other end.

>>

>>I will try and post some more pictures of my new baby once I get used to this bloody camera!!!

>>

>>Thanks

>>Ben

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