Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey All,
It's been awhile... I've still been super busy restoring vintage pedal start mopeds... and loving it.

However, I still dig my snakes and of course my favorite ever, Dixie, my 05 Female Texas Indigo. I've attached a pic from October...

Anyway, last night I had Dixie out, and I when I was sitting with her, she slightly opened her mouth. She's never struck at me when I hold her, and I thought she was about to. I jumped a bit, but kept holding her.

I also noticed that it looked like she was drinking... or swallowing over and over again. Then again, the mouth opened, this time wider... happed several times. Not wide open gape...and no coughing, like I've seen in Burmese Pythons with upper respiratory infections... just opening half way or so, and the bottom jaw moved from side to side, almost as if she were re-aligning her jaws. Maybe she thought she was about to eat, and just was getting ready?

I put her away and did not observe it again... at least in the couple minutes I watched her.

I'm a bit worried. I really love that snake, and she would be LAST to go in my collection if ever forced to do so...

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for your help.
Justin

Huum. Had she eaten just before you were holding her? I know that my Indigo does a jaw strech / yawn a couple times after a meal.

If you didn't notice any mucous strings between the jaws when she opened her mouth it sounds like she was "yawning" to adjust her jaws.

She looks terrific in that pic! I'm sure you'll keep an eye on her. If she's otherwise behaving normally I wouldn't worry about it too much (if you can help it!).

I kept one of her little sisters from last year and she is one of my favorite snakes. At six months she has just decided to act like an indigo and come out and watch me in the room. She looks like a little cobra.

Do let us know how she does and good luck with her,

Mike