Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my snake for about a month now...seems relaxed and healthy. He eats voraciously and I hadn't noticed anything odd before. I have him out about once a day...even if just for a minute or so, to get both of us used to the handling. His eyes were opaque as of today, so I took a friend's advice and soaked him in warm water for about half an hour. Didn't seem to mind...just ducked his head under and scooted around a little. But when I took him out and put him down he made almost a little whine noise and his tongue flicked out and stayed out...moving very slowly. He only made it once more...but I thought I'd get any thoughts I could on it. Could it be from being in the water, with his head under? He did the tongue thing the other day also..is that normal at all??? A book I have said to increase heat in his enclosure but its up to 90 on the hot side already. If any one has any thoughts please share them!!!!!

sometimes they get a little water in there nose after a bath. dont worry about it. unless it always clicks and weezes then you need to take it to a vet.

His eyes are opaque? Maybe a light-blueish color?

Sounds to me like your snake is SHEDDING! Don't touch him!

The sound could have been a hissing to warn you to leave him alone! During the shed cycle, snakes become more timid and hissing is their way of letting you know that he's not in a good mood. The eyes should clear up in 2 days and the shed should happen in another 3. Leave him be and only if he doesn't complete a full shed, soak him in luke-warm water for roughly 30 mins.

The reason you shouldn't handle your snake is their skin becomes very delicate at this time. It's easily damamged.

Let me know if that helps.
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-Iman

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Hope it helps...

It is possible the noise is related to your snake shedding. A while ago one of the more experience members said that just before shedding, the skin becomes very lose and this somehow clogs the nostril area making it harder to breath and thus causing the wheezing noise. Your snake may have been hissing at you but i think you would be able to tell the difference between a wheeze and a hiss so i doubt it was a hiss. Hope this helps.

Rob Woods

...sometimes it's just a tiny tag of skin in the nostril, or a slightly/moderately elevated breathing rate with air moving through narrow nostrils producing whistling sounds. After a bath the snake may need to clear a nostril(s) of water. But keep an eye on things, this is the time of year I see RTI's.
Scott J. Michaels DVM