Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My ball python is fairly young and just recently have developed what seems like a sneeze or hard breathing but only every so often. She also seems a little red just before her anus. And my girlfriend said she saw that a little open this morning. what is the deal and what can I do to make it better. Cage is clean and has heating pad water bowl which has conditioned water??????????????????? need help.......thanks

a pic of the cage is attached

I would consult a vet that deals with snakes. Sounds like your snake is developing respiratory probs, as far as the rest, I have no idea. I think a vet is your best bet. At least give a vet a call, maybe they could suggest something over the phone.
Kim

It sounds as if your snake is developing a respitory infection. This may be related to your husbandry practices. What is the temepratures of the cool end of the tank and the hot end of the tank, as well as the ambient temperature of the room? If the snake is kept at too cool of temperatures or is not provided with a thermal gradient to preperly regulate its body temperature it can often develop a respitory infection. The same goes for the relative humidity of the enclosure. Too wet or dry an environment can also affect the respitory tract. If the temperatures are raised to a proper level a mild infection may clear itself. However if it persists or becomes worse such as visible mucus or bubbles coming from the mouth then the snake will need to go to a vet for treatment with antibiotics. You can go to Melissa Kaplan's web site anapsid.org and get help in finding a vet in your area that deals with reptiles through a link on her website. An inexpensive book for you to get on reptiles health is Dr. John Rossi's "What's Wrong with My Snake?" from the Hepretocultural Library press, also Dr.Roger Klingenberg's "Understanding Reptile Parasites" also from the same press.