Is My BP Sick?

[Ian C]

Hi all,

looking for some advice here.

My BP has been perfect to this point. She eats well, responds well to handling, had a few sheds, etc.

Yesterday morning, three times in about an hour I heard a loud sound coming from her enclosure. We recently added a waterfall to increase humidity, although it's still only 40-45% (she has lived like this since September without any adverse effects of the lower humidity - even her shedding has been no issue). At first I thought the sound was the waterfall running low on water, as it almost sounded like air caught in the pump. It stopped and I just ignored it.

Tonight, she is sitting on top of her hide, and as I looked at her, heard the sound again. It's definitely her, looks like a cough or sneeze.

There is no foaming or bubbles near her mouth. She doesn't appear to be in any distress. If anything, she's more active than normal, exploring where usually she stays in her hide. No star gazing. She is adding weight constantly (she's just under a year old). She is eating well. Her tongue is flicking often.

I see zero signs of anything to be concerned about, other than this loud sound she is occasionally making.

Should I be concerned, or is this somewhat normal?

Thanks all,

Ian

[Homebody]

Yesterday morning, three times in about an hour I heard a loud sound coming from her enclosure. We recently added a waterfall to increase humidity, although it's still only 40-45% (she has lived like this since September without any adverse effects of the lower humidity - even her shedding has been no issue). At first I thought the sound was the waterfall running low on water, as it almost sounded like air caught in the pump. It stopped and I just ignored it.

Tonight, she is sitting on top of her hide, and as I looked at her, heard the sound again. It's definitely her, looks like a cough or sneeze.

There is no foaming or bubbles near her mouth. She doesn't appear to be in any distress. If anything, she's more active than normal, exploring where usually she stays in her hide. No star gazing. She is adding weight constantly (she's just under a year old). She is eating well. Her tongue is flicking often.

Sounds like a fart to me. So, I wouldn't be too concerned about it. You should be concerned about the low humidity, however. You don't want to wait until she's sick to address it. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Snakes are tough, but once they get sick, it can be tough for them to recover.

[Ian C]

Sounds like a fart to me. So, I wouldn't be too concerned about it. You should be concerned about the low humidity, however. You don't want to wait until she's sick to address it. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Snakes are tough, but once they get sick, it can be tough for them to recover.

Really? A fart? I had no idea a snake fart could be that loud lol.

Thanks for the reassurance. And yes, we've been trying to get that humidity up since we got her in September. That's why we added the waterfall. We spray her sphagnum moss around her hide often, so pretty sure it's nice and humid in her favorite place to be. I'm wondering if my hydrometer is simply in a bad spot. Feels humid when we open the door, and her sheds all come off in one piece, two at the most.

Ian

[Bogertophis]

Really? A fart? I had no idea a snake fart could be that loud lol...

Some snakes are much better at farts than others. Some BPs seem to excel- I think it has to do with their wider body- perhaps the sound resonates more?

You're not the first person to be startled or concerned. Often snakes will pass gas when they are actively defecating- so whether you hear it or smell it first, it might be time to spot-clean. It might also have something to do with what her feeder rodents were fed. (cheap dog food? or beans & broccoli ?)

[Armiyana]

I actually was going to say it sounds more like a fart too.
They are surprisingly loud. My partner had no idea that they could "rip so much ass" and he was terrified something was wrong when he first heard it.
They do sometimes open their mouths and thrash a little when it happens so it can look pretty scary too.

That said, still keep an eye out for anything funny. Make sure they're not too bloated. I had a girl get pretty bloated and gassy because of a large urate she was having a little trouble with.

[Ian C]

Thanks so much everyone. I have read so much about ball pythons and I have to say I never came across this anywhere, lol.

I feel much better about it. She's still doing well and ate fine today. No bloating I can see, no unusual behavior of any kind. No poop yet either, but it's been a couple of weeks so it should be any time now.

I wonder if there's a size correlation. She never did this before, but at the same time she is much thicker than she was back in September when we got her (healthy and muscular thick, not fatty).

Again, thank you all so much! I have learned so much in my short time here.

Ian

[mistergreen]

I think if my boy had legs he'd do that when ripping one and laugh about it. Firsttime I heard I got worried also though. so you're not alone.

[Bogertophis]

...I have read so much about ball pythons and I have to say I never came across this anywhere, lol...

We try not to embarrass them...