Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my ball python for about 3 years and never had any problems I know of, he sheds in one piece and always eats. But twice so far he's done something really strange. He's under his hide but his head is outside of it and kind of turned upside down and looking up, like he twisted his neck and he's opening and closing his mouth, and sort of wheezing like he's gasping for air or something.

The first time it happened I opened the cage and pulled the hide off him at which point he got startled and pulled his head back. I thought he'd gotten himself stuck under it so it was cutting off his breathing or something. (I use those plastic tray things that go under planting pots to hold watering overflow, so they're pretty light and he can get under the side). But the second time it happened, today, he didn't look like he was caught. I pulled off the hide again and he stopped again. He seems perfectly fine afterwards. Right now he's slowly moving around the cage. It's pretty scary though. It sounds like he's dying or something.

Anyone know what's causing this? I can't imagine it's normal behavior.

Alex

It sounds like it could maybe a respiratory infection. If thats the case sometimes moving your snake to a warmer, drier, well ventilated cage could help. Also, I'd take him to a veteranarian familiar with exotics/reptiles incase antibiotics are needed.
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1.0 Albino ball python (high contrast)
0.1 100% het Albino ball (high contrast)
0.1 Normal ball
1.0 Candy cane cornsnake
1.0 Golden Retriever pup
1.0 Ferret

does he do this when he is shedding? many of mine will lay inverted when they are in shed both males and females.

wheezing is another problem though.

I agree, its sounds like a respitory infection. Is his head elevated??? I had one that did that, with the wheezing too. Its almost, and I'm not positive, but when snakes have upper respitory infections they elevate there heads so the fluid doesn't build up and come down into there mouths and nasal passages. I'd take him to a vet. Like the other post said, someone with experience...a herp vet. Good luck!
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1.0 02' Surinam Redtail "Vegas"
0.1 03' Normal BP "Kamaria"
0.1 04' High Yellow Reduced BP "Kanoni"
1.1 03' & 04' 100% Het Albino BP "Cosmo" & "Kalos"
0.1 Tuxedo Cat "Nickie"
0.1 Rescued Mouse
1.0 Betta "Pearl"

"The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm." unknown

Thanks everyone for the quick replies. If it's a respiratory infection that makes me a little less nervous, because it's something fixable. I'll get him checked out by a vet and work on making the cage warmer and drier.

...if it's a respiratory infection, there should be obvious evidence of bubbles/stringy saliva/respiratory sounds (don't confuse with hissing!)/vertical head positioning. As a rule, if the specimen is NOT agonal (writhing, seizuring, twisting, etc), then these odd transient behaviors are rarely indicative of a problem. That is not to say that it can't be. In this case where the snake instantly reverts to normal "on guard" behavior, it suggests nothing serious.

What's the latest on this specimen?

Scott J. Michaels DVM
Serpent City