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snakes sneeze?

mack1time Mar 25, 2006 11:24 AM

I had my king out last night and after playing with him for a bit. He let out a big gasp of air or something. Now i have had to deal with a RI before but could this have been a sneeze or something else.
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1.1 Columbian red tails (Zeus, Athena)
1.1 Corn snakes (Appolo, Boreas)
0.1 King snake tri striped cal morph (Helios)

Replies (6)

HerperHelmz Mar 25, 2006 03:14 PM

Could be a sneeze, could be something else. Keep a close eye on it.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.reptilebreederdirectory.com

xbertmouser Mar 25, 2006 05:22 PM

my 05 kings sometimes do this same thing before they are going to shed. i first saw this in my MBK. i told a friend and he said it was due to the nose holes being blocked by the skin. sure enough it shed its skin and is in top health. i have also seen it in my other 05 kings. start to worry if it gapes its mouth open to breath or you see fluid exspelled. just keep an eye on it.

the_Ox Mar 25, 2006 06:16 PM

We've got a sneezer. We have a colubrid that "gasps" "sneezes" whatever - he had been doing it for half a year, or more. He doesn't feed agressively, other then that he seems normal. We have had him to a couple specialty vets and they can't find a thing wrong with him.

His mouth is nice and pink and dry, flicks tongue quickly, very responsive, but we can't seem to put any weight on him, and he only wants to eat as little as necessary to survive. It's a damn shame, I know something is not right, but we can't figure out what. He is an absolutely gorgeous snake to boot.

anyone have any tips?

Matt

mattcbiker Mar 26, 2006 02:24 PM

Both of my kings occasionally sneeze; and one of them does it quite frequently but only when I take her out of the cage. I think it happens when she flicks in some hair or fuzz, etc. She's been doing it for years and has always been healthy...
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Matt from Minnesota

antelope Mar 26, 2006 03:29 PM

Matt they are allergic to you! Send them to me as soon as possible, lol!
Todd Hughes

Rivets55 Mar 31, 2006 08:20 PM

My speckled KS did the same thing - I believe it was a "startle refex" - he did it whenever he was first touched or handled. The loudest was once when I was snapping the top on his box and he decided to make a break for it...he got the tip of his tounge caught! Sounded like a 6 week old kitten! No worries - it grew back quickly good as new.

Not a bad idea to keep an eye on it and especially watch for gapping, fluid discharge, and bubbles.

Good Luck,
John D
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1.1 Creamsicle Cornsakes
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake

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