Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First off Hope hasn't been acting any differently lately. She seems perfectly normal. The thing is, I fed her a pinkie today and she was coiled around it so I couldn't see very well. And once I got a good view I noticed the pinkie had something that looked like "slobber" all over most of its body... I am pretty sure snakes don't drool (do they?) so I am afraid maybe a respiratory(sp?) infection? once she got the snake down I could hear kind of a popping noise for a minute but thought it was possibly her lower jaw.... I don't hear any popping now nor does she have any of the drool/slobber on her that I can see and she is acting normal. So does she have an infection or could I have missed something? Cage temps are normal...between 82-86 in the day and 75-80 at night. humidity is about where it should be and nothing has changed in her cage. Any suggestions? thanks!

Try to listen to the snake breathing. If you a bubbling or gurgling noise it probably has a respitory infection. As for the "drool" did the snake eat and then regurgitate? If so some times that leaves a slime on the pinkies. Is this snake prone to regurgitating? If so you can get Nutri-Bac to help them recover and get back to normal. You can get it from www.cornutopia.com under the tools and supplies section for $10.00. Hope this helps.

Snakes do 'drool'. They generate a lot of 'saliva' in their mouths as a lubricant to make the prey go down easier (Just like us humans have difficulties to swallow with a dry throat.). Your snake may have snapped at the pinkie but let go for one reason or another.

It's difficult to see this but i sometimes use to vitamine powder the feeder animal. As soon as the snake starts to swallow it turns to mud.

there is no popping when she breathes.. she did snap at the mouse twice but didn't get a hold of it... could that have caused her to salivate?

From what i heard, there is no reason to worry.