Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, I recently decided to move my snakes into a rack system so it would be easier to clean and monitor the individual health of each of my ball pythons. I have the snakes in 28qt bins using newspaper as substrate with 4" flexwatt heat tape attached to dimmers and rheostats. I have kept the humidity between 50 and 75% (took a lot of hole drilling, 9 holes on top and 14 around the outside of each bin). After about a week of being in the rack system, I have heard two of my ball pythons "clicking" and wheezing occassionally. The two have been quarantined from the others as to try to stop the spread of whatever they may have. I have yet to see either of the snake have any sort of discharge from their noses or open mouthed labored breathing. This makes me believe that they are in the early stages of whatever they may have. I know the advice that I am going to be given is to take them to the vet immediately and get professional help, so I am curious how much it would cost (from previous experience perhaps) and whether I should take all the snakes in to get lab work done? Should I be worried yet, or should I give them a little time to see if they settle into their habitat? Also, it does seems like this is a case of early respiratory infection, but do snakes get other ailments that have such symptoms? Any advice may help, thanks!

I've been to a couple of vets and I've been charged from $60 to $150 per snake. At the moment, I have a vet that specializes in reptiles. He charges about 100 bucks an animal. This includes fecals and medicine (and the time to teach me how to load and give shots when needed). I've never taken him a ball put I would assume the price is around that. Honestly, I would wait if you are only hearing occasional clicking. Are they ckicking when startled? Not hissing but a slight click when they may be filling with air when opening the rack? I have several that have done that for years and I'm never seen any discharge, had problems eat or breeding. At first, when I was getting into balls I thought the same thing about them (they had RI) but I just kept monitoring them and it never progressed. I would double check my temps (hot and cool) spots on the inside of the rack with a temp gun. I would worry when you see any fluid (nose or mouth) or notice a behavior change...star gazing or mouth gaping.

W. Smith

The female that is doing the clicking has very normal breathing when undisturbed, but when handled she starts the noises. The male I heard in his cage whistling more than anything. Once again, no discharge, I opened the females mouth and her nasal passage seemed clear. Is RI consisten with constand labored breathing or can it be on and off? I'm gonna give them a week to see what happens, if it persists, I will seek professional intervention. As for now, I will just keep them isolated and monitor them closely.

Honestly, I don't know about that. The snakes that I have had to deal with, that had RI, all with were rescues and had obvious signs. I would think that if a RI were present you would see consistant signs. Maybe others have had differet experiances. Are they displaying any other changes in behavior (eating and drinking changes/pacing the container)? Is it possible that they have a small peice of shed around there nostrils causing the whistle? I'm sure that is a long shot but I'm just checking to see if anythin else could be causing the noise? Good luck with them, I think you are doing the right thing by closely monitoring their health.

W. Smith

when you moved them to the rack did you statr using a differant substrate as well?
the reason im asking is i have seen animals do the same thing when switched to a substrate that is dustier than they are used to.
also it may be that they are nose rubbing now being in a rack and the action of rubbing is irritating the nasal passages and maybe some swelling that is restricting and causing the whistling or clicking. check temps and monitor the situation. is the best advice i can give. check the temps on the substrate not directly on the flex watt.
adam jeffery
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" a.k.a. farfrumugen "
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

Yeah, I did change substrate. I went from a cage carpet material to newspaper. I don't think that this is that drastic of a change. I think the male is wheezing because he is constantly under his water dish hide. He never comes out and I have a feeling that it gets pretty humid under there and he doesnt get any ventilation. Maybe I should try a water dish that he cant get under, to get him some fresh air.