Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My male has started doing something weird in the past 2 days. He is opening half his mouth at a time, much like when he realigns his jaw after feeding. But he does this at anytime and he does it on either side, not just favoring one side or the other. He has been doing this all day long for the past 2 days. This male hasnt been eating regularly for the past 2 months, any help is apreciated.

Phil
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1.2 Bearded Dragons (Rocky, Adrian, and Big Foot)
1.3 Leopard Geckos (Cleatis, Kamelle, and Karma)
1.1 Veiled Chameleons (No names yet)
0.1 Ball Python (Venus)
0.1 Argentine Boa (Angel)
0.1 Cat (Star)
1.0 Dog American Eskimo (KoKo)

Is there anything in his mouth? When he's not doing it, is is mouth closed properly?
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Nothing in his mouth, and his mouth is closed the right way. The same as my females mouth when closed.
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1.1.2 Bearded Dragons (Rocky,Hollywood,Zeeba,Flavor Flav)
1.1 Ball Python (Lafaunda, Napoleon)

Then I would just closely monitor him. It could be nothing but if it continues, a vet visit might be best.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

What could it be? My female is fine, they were housed together until this started to happen. Now they are seperated, and the male is quaratined on paper towels until I figure out what is going on.
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1.1.2 Bearded Dragons (Rocky,Hollywood,Zeeba,Flavor Flav)
1.1 Ball Python (Lafaunda, Napoleon)

I'm not a vet so I don't really know. However, they usually align their jaws after a meal - once they unhinge. So unless he recently ate that leaves a couple of things (in my mind):

His jaw became unhinged due to shed process, during yawning, or a strike. Or something is in his mouth somewhere. Or it could be nothing at all.

Keep us posted though. Oh and BTW, unless you are breeding, your animals should be kept separately.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

.

What? Where is it man
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1.1.2 Bearded Dragons (Rocky,Hollywood,Zeeba,Flavor Flav)
1.1 Ball Python (Lafaunda, Napoleon)

No message was sent.
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1.1.2 Bearded Dragons (Rocky,Hollywood,Zeeba,Flavor Flav)
1.1 Ball Python (Lafaunda, Napoleon)

.

Thank you , we are going to check the mouth in a few minutes. I will post pics if we find anything out of the ordinary.
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1.1.2 Bearded Dragons (Rocky,Hollywood,Zeeba,Flavor Flav)
1.1 Ball Python (Lafaunda, Napoleon)

we didnt find anything that didnt look normal. we even compared to the female, and it all looked the same
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1.1.2 Bearded Dragons (Rocky,Hollywood,Zeeba,Flavor Flav)
1.1 Ball Python (Lafaunda, Napoleon)

We were just watching it for a little while, and it looks like he cant get his tounge out of his mouth. Any thoughts?
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1.1.2 Bearded Dragons (Rocky,Hollywood,Zeeba,Flavor Flav)
1.1 Ball Python (Lafaunda, Napoleon)

If you have advise to give, you should share it with everyone. This is a forum, and when someone asks a question, the answer is ment to be shared with everyone. Not only that, but if bad advise is given, it gives people a chance to stop them from doing harm... I am not saying you gave bad advice, but I have heard some really stupid things said here, and if a newbe heard it they might not know better.

He was just telling me examine the mouth and post again if I found anything out of the norm. If he wanted to post it he would have posted it, not emailed it to me.
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1.1.2 Bearded Dragons (Rocky,Hollywood,Zeeba,Flavor Flav)
1.1 Ball Python (Lafaunda, Napoleon)

I would say this can be many things. Perhaps a sign of infection. Perhaps he cant relocate his jaw. Perhaps a parasite. I would say go to the vet. for $50 you can perhaps save your $700 investment. When you notice something is really wrong with an animal/living creature dont sit around and look at it for 2 days... what are you going to do with any info gained by watching it? The only thing I can think of is that if it goes away, you will be all good, if it doesnt you will be back to square one, but the snake may be that much closer to perminate feeding problems or death. A vet can help you. Now you may actually have to wait until tuesday, because it maybe had to find anyone to look at it right now. Good luck!

Ben

Ben, I agree with what you say, but if the snake were in any immediate danger there would be other signs, I would think. Waiting till tuesday to call a vet shouldn't present a problem. JMO.

Quig

I finally got a hold of my vet friend and he told me to try soaking him. We looked in his mouth and saw nothing out of the ordinary with his tounge or jaw,no obvious infection. So we soaked him in warm water for 45 min, and he seems to be more active and has stopped doing the thing with his mouth. Could it just be an early sign of dehydration maybe? From being on the paper towels even
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1.1.2 Bearded Dragons (Rocky,Hollywood,Zeeba,Flavor Flav)
1.1 Ball Python (Lafaunda, Napoleon)

I have never been a big fan of paper towels, so I dont know all of the issues they may cause, but paper towels are ment to soak up any water, and maybe they are doing a good job.

Just some simple questions about how the snake is housed... day/night temp, humidity, source of water, hide area, cage size (just ball park LxWxH), size of snake, skin appearance (shiny, dull, milky), last shed condition (one piece, several pieces, tons of pieces, what shed?), defication status (large chunks, small chunks, liquid). Some of these things may help one of us figue it out (or you), but these are all things you should know whats normal and whats not, and be able to tell a vet about.

Ben

In past experiences i would say it could be the start of an RI. Mucus would not be visible at fist as it would start lower and as it progressed it would be visible in the mouth. If you arent going to bring him to the vet, or if there is no good reptile doc around you, bring the heat up. sometimes you can "cook" the cold out of them. You can raise it into the 90s 95- 98. If you notice the snake is hanging toward the cool side of the cage this is also another sign of early stages of RI. A snake will act just like us when we are sick and running a fever, you dont want to be warm you want to be cold, although heat is the only thing that will help.
Good luck..

Well, you maybe right, but what if there is something he isnt telling us because he didnt notice? What if it was an infection... 2 days could make all the differance in the world. Problems with most animals snowball. In the beginning they are not see so much, but with most animals by the time you see visable signs of a problem it has been going on for a long time (he said it hadnt been eating normal for 2 months). Of course it is up to the owner if they take it to a professional for help.

After reading his new post I am glad to see his vet friend was able to provide some insite. The solution was soo simple, yet no one here figured it out... thats what makes a vet worth calling. Hopefully the snakes dehydration turns out to the the problem not a symptom, but looks like he is now headed in the right direction.

Hmmmm. Hopefully, it turns out to be nothing at all. But from what I read, it does not sound like dehydration. No mention of folds in the skin, nothing on dented/wrinkled eye caps, no mention of dry skin, etc. All common signs of dehydration. Recent, frequent yawning and not feeding well is limited information. Balls are notorious for not being good feeders so that really left one clue.

Again, I hope it turns out to be nothing and the animal ends up ok.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles