Air in throat?

[SkippyLynn]

Hi everyone. First time in a forum about my ball python baby, Jeremiah.

Tonight I noticed that he was holding air in his throat - he seems to be breathing fine, I'm not hearing anything but for sometimes he'll make an occasional little puff - but I know he does that when he gets upset and he was being held by someone who stressed him out a bit. I took him from the situation and he
only made his little huff a couple more times. He's curious and seems to be his usual self. He ate about two weeks ago and I'll be feeding him tomorrow (was going to tonight but he takes a bit to settle sometimes).

I'm just hoping that it's him being annoyed. I looked in his mouth and it didn't seem any more slimy than it should be.

Pic below is his neck all puffed up. It isn't constant, he just swells it up... I guess? I've never seen it before tonight.

[dr del]

Hi,

I normally only see that with respiratory diseases.

Any signs of "slime" on the cage furniture or in the waterbowl?

[SkippyLynn]

I haven't seen any slime anywhere. Haven't fed him yet today but he shows signs of being ready to eat. He pooped last night (in his fresh clean water bowl, of course) and it was healthy looking (I don't know if that helps/indicates anything). :/

I was/am hoping it was just stress related to being handled by someone unfamiliar with handling snakes. He stopped doing it and hasn't since?

[DVirginiana]

If you listen really closely is there any hint of a wheezing or popping sound when he breathes? I agree that doesn't look healthy.

[SkippyLynn]

I held him for a long time and listened but didn't hear anything? When I pressed on it last night it was definitely just air and he deflated it and it would stay that way for a bit and then he'd puff up. I made sure he was looking "normal" before I put him up last night and he's not been like it today. He hasn't been doing other behavior like the "stargazing" unless this is an ri just starting. The vet'll be open tomorrow so I'll probably run him in.

[DVirginiana]

When you say stargazing, is his snout actually pointed up? Or is he holding his neck up but keeping the head level? Because the second one is just periscoping which is pretty normal. If the snout is pointing up that can indicate several severe medical issues.

[SkippyLynn]

Oh! I was saying that he has NOT been doing anything like that. Thankfully.

[DVirginiana]

Oh! I was saying that he has NOT been doing anything like that. Thankfully.

Sorry I misread your post!

[SkippyLynn]

It's fine! ;3;

Update: He's acting fine again today like nothing is/was wrong. Whew. Who even knows.

[BoiseBallz]

While it can be a sign of respiratory infection, it can also be from nasal plugging in snakes that are about to shed or have poorly shed the skin in or around their nares (nasal openings) from prior sheds.

Watch him closely for signs/symptoms of respiratory infection, and turn up the temperature a bit (a just in case it is a respiratory infection). Double check your husbandry to make sure that it is spot on. Look for early signs that he may be going into shed (e.g. pink belly, darker coloration), and if he does appear to be going into shed, make sure he has plenty of humidity so that he will have a good shed and clear the skin plugging his nares.