Could be some shed in the nostril, but I would think it is still suffering from a slight respiratory infection or distress and has a slight inflammation that is itching its nose.
That behavior alone would not be indicative of anything to do with IBD although RI is usually in tandem with IBD.
It is typical of slight respiratory problems associated with improper temps or cage humidity and usually goes away when the husbandry error is corrected.
Typically humidity being to low is the culprit in my opinion.
Retics do better if lightly missed at least once a day. Not to the point of wetting the substrate, just some droplets on the skins surface will outwardly change the appearance of your retics overall general appearance and health. (IMO)
Most people opt for the "stuffed nostril" with shed. This does sometimes happen.
If it where leaking fluid or was crusty I would agree that there is a "blockage".
I think the parameters of how your keeping this snake need to be evaluated to correct the husbandry practice that caused his RI in the first place that your vet has treated.
Hot rocks are a poor choice as a hot spot for several different reasons. Uneven heat distribution and overheating and causing thermal burns the most common. Better to have a proportional thermostat and a heat matt like UTH or other matt like heat source attached to the unit outside the tank and set for about 87/88 degrees to help him further convalesce. Usually correcting the humidity and temperatures makes that symptom go away and therefore completely ridding the snake of the underlying factors that once again have him back to the vet to be treated for the RI that has not completely gone away and the environmental issues not being recognized and addressed will make this a repeat problem and weaken the snakes immune system from over treatment with antibiotics that can not correct the factors causing the RI.
In some cases it is the snakes genetics that make it more prone to infection.
In more cases then not I believe it's the husbandry factors. I have seen that behavior myself before RI set in and readjusted my temps and humidity and it subsided before the problem resulted in a full blown RI.
So the good news is I do not think your snake has IBD.
Below find a link to the symptoms that IBD usually has in Pythons. IBD in pythons is usually quite lethal with a quick and sudden onset of death. Boas being the true carriers of the disease. With the amount of boas in your collection I could see why you may be concerned, but who knows.
IMO Your vet never hearing of IBD is a VERY BAD RED FLAG to me in regards to his/her expertise with Herptile Medicine.
So perhaps you should give them this link so they can research the subject and become more versatile in their field.
When you follow the link be sure to look at the other link info off the page as well.
Boid Inclusion Body Disease
-----
=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,
Frank Roberts
I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.
