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I do have an appointment with a vet tomorrow but you know me...I am worried too death. My snake is about to shed. His eyes went white on Saturday and cleared today. Since Saturday he was sat all stretched out on the forks of the branch on the cold side of the cage. He ate a very small fuzzy (next size up from pinkie mouse) on Saturday morning and let the other lay. I thought he was just hitting the fake plants in his cage that were twisted around his branch because I keep hearing this clicking noise. Well after watching him all day yesterday while I had a migraine, I have decided he is sneezing. He also does another really weird thing. He opens his mouth like EXTREMELY wide every now and then. I thought maybe it was because he was going to shed and it helped him loosen the skin but now I am not so sure. When he sneezes, nothing comes out. I did take him off the branch to see what was up and he sure drank a lot of water from his dish and sucked the water drops off the outside of his dish. I never saw a snake drink before so that was weird. Anyone have any idea how serious this is? I am going to post a few places to see how fast I can get a response. I am pretty upset. He refuses to stay off the branch and the cold side. Can this be good for him? Has staying on the cold side for days on end made him sick?

I feel so bad for this guy. Things have just not been going well for him or us lately.

My snake is about to shed. His eyes went white on Saturday and cleared today. Since Saturday he was sat all stretched out on the forks of the branch on the cold side of the cage.

Not uncommon. Mine usually go in the hide on the cool side... however they spend the majority of their time on the cool side it seems.

He ate a very small fuzzy (next size up from pinkie mouse) on Saturday morning and let the other lay.

just be glad he ate. out of my 5 snakes, 1 wont eat all when it gets close to shed, two will just eat less, and the rest will eat just like usual. It's dependant on your snake. No need to worry so far...

I have decided he is sneezing.

From my understanding, this is the possible start of a respiratory infection. Taking him to the vet is the right thing to do in this case.

He also does another really weird thing. He opens his mouth like EXTREMELY wide every now and then.

This is commonly done after eating to realign the jaw.

When he sneezes, nothing comes out.

oh come on im sure air comes out ... I haven't ever had a snake do this, but I don't think stuff normally does... but someone please correct me if im wrong here.

I did take him off the branch to see what was up and he sure drank a lot of water from his dish and sucked the water drops off the outside of his dish.

Does he have easy access to his water dish? Maybe he was just thirsty

Anyone have any idea how serious this is?

I would have him checked out by the vet for the sneezing.. and it wont hurt to mention the other stuff. If nothing more, it will let the vet know you are definately a concerned individual.

He refuses to stay off the branch and the cold side. Can this be good for him? Has staying on the cold side for days on end made him sick?

What are your hot/cold side temps? You may just have the temps too hot for him. For his size, i'd keep the warm side somewhere around 82 or so. He's growing, therefore more surface area to absorb heat, so he doesn't need the temps quite as high. However, my licorice stick black rat always stays on the cool hide, and my black rat always says on the branches. Being an everglades rat snake it will stay somewhat arboreal... they love trees. Give him/her some more climbing sticks, and you'll see a lot more activity!

Actually I just looked at your website... it seems that the branch gets higher on the cool side. I've noticed my snakes liking to get as far up as possible. You may want to try and put another branch at the same height for the other side as well.

I doubt that made him sick however, I'd just keep the vet appointment. You caught it early, and it should be completely treatable.
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote
Information on substrates

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
0.1 Texas Bairdi (Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)

My current temps are 85 warm and 74 cool.

I do have another branch that won't stretch acrossed the cage but I could rig it up I think for the warm side. Down the the sink of bleach I go again

It's all hard to tell what is normal because we have never hit a normal stride yet. So when he started hanging out on the branch for days on end I thought it was weird since he has spent the majority of his time hiding between the cold and warm hideouts.

He goes to the vet at 4:30 pm tomorrow. I'll be sure to post what they say. It's going to be quite a haul to see a Vet who sees snakes so don't look for a 5 pm post

Thanks again! You're the best!

85/74 really isn't bad. if it's steady at that, for now i'd probably leave right around there.

On the bleach, you only need one capful per gallon of water. Not strong at all.

Well you just recently brought that snake home, and as you said you haven't hit a normal stride yet. Whenever they go in a new place it freaks 'em out somewhat... so s/he just had to get accustomed to the new place he was living.

good luck.
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote
Information on substrates

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
0.1 Texas Bairdi (Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)

My snake is about to shed. His eyes went white on Saturday and cleared today.

When a snake's eyes go clear...that means your snake is about to shed any day now. That is, if he hasn't already shed by the time you read this. I didn't see this addressed in the other replies and wasn't sure if you knew about this. But this normally freaks out a lot of people new to snakes.

Thanks but I knew it should be happening. Still hasn't shed yet. I can't wait until he does.

The snake has a Respiratory infection so he will be getting 7 injections, one every 3 days. It was really quite weird taking a snake to the vet. The Vet was holding him to give him the injection and as soon as he was done the snake shed from where his hand was down! Guess he had a trick up his sleeve for getting away quickly. Now he still has skin from where the Vet's hand was up.

The Vet also said I should feed him every 3 days and put Vitamins on his food? I have always read vitamins weren't needed.

I did ask him about whether my snake was a boy or a girl and he said he couldn't tell without probing him and that was that. This Vet isn't big on words. I guess maybe my snake is too young for that or that when he is sick is not the time? Who knows, but the Vet did come back in calling him a he.

I am in no way trying to suggest that your snake is not sick. I'm sure the vet is right.

However, my Bairdi exhibts similar symptons during some shed cycles. I will hear little clicks, a sneeze or two, heavy breathing - this always clears up immediately after he sheds.
This has a happened many times over the 4 years I've had him.

Anyone else experience this?
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- John

1.0 Baird's Rat (Milton)
1.0 Okeetee Corn (Edgar)
0.1 Ball Python (Agatha)
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Rudyard)

I have wondered the same thing myself. He's just shed the remaining skin so I'll be watching to see if it clears up before the next injection is due. How long does it take for yours to clear? All I know is the Vet peered down its mouth and saw bubbling, even showed us and said it was an early infection. I'll give him his injections as much as I hate to poke holes in my snake but I'll be watching to see if it happens the next shed. I am also wondering if its not the time of year for this illness. Seems strange all these snakes are getting sick at once...hmmmm. But I'm too new to even have an opinion yet.

My Bairdi's symptoms clear up immediately after the shed.
Again, if the vet saw bubbling, I'm sure he's right, but I am curious as to why this happens to my snake and if anyone else has seen this phenomenon.

Definitely post though if things clear up immediately.
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- John

1.0 Baird's Rat (Milton)
1.0 Okeetee Corn (Edgar)
0.1 Ball Python (Agatha)
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Rudyard)