Strange behavior after drinking water???

[Generationshell]

Hey Everyone! I just signed up with this site because
I had some recent concerns about my ball python.

I'm not quite sure on his age, however when I bought him I was told he was about a year old. Which was hard to believe considering his size. He was so tiny and even know hasn't grown much. He is 28 inches long. And I've had him for more than 6 months.

Anyways. Yesterday and today I observed something really strange after he drank water. Which he seems to drink water all the time. For extended periods at a time. Yesterday i glanced over at him and he was by his water dish opening and closing his mouth various times but at a diagonal angle.Five to 6 times at least. But also while he was doing this water spilled out of his mouth while his head was sideways and he was doing a chewing motion. I watched him again today and he did it again! I've never seen him do this which is why I'm concerned. Also after he drinks he always holds his head vertical for a couple mins.... is this normal?

[sarahlovesmiike]

Also after he drinks he always holds his head vertical for a couple mins.... is this normal?

Yeah they have a hard time keeping the water down. I picked up my girl one day because she was out during the day and she must have been getting a drink because it all spilled out on me. It was quite a lot of water.


I can't really shed any light on the chewing... I've seen mine realign their jaws like that but only after the water situation^ and after eating.

[Generationshell]

Sarah thank you for the insight! I've always wondered why he would have to look up after he drank. haha now that that is settled... im stumped on the whole turning his head sideways and opening his mouth.

Its like he's gnawing on something that isn't there but with his head sideways... and then back and forth for a couple seconds. but at a fast pace. Then after that he usually realigns his jaw but idk i just find the gnawing really wierd...

[angllady2]

It may, just may, be an early warning sign of an impending RI {respiratory infection}.

Don't panic yet, just bump your temps up a tad bit, and keep a close eye on him. If you notice him holding his head up a lot, or if at any time he begins to make a whistle or click when he breathes, or if you see him wiping his mouth on objects in his enclosure, then it's time for a vet visit.

Gale

[Generationshell]

My poor ball has had so many things go bad with him. I brought him home from the pet shop and then to my demise i found out he had bad mites.... then i had a scale rot scare...which i treated with diluted iodine and some neosporin and thank goodness it has gone away!

speaking of possible RI
before vacation i was seriously considering to take him to the vet because he had slight scale rot and was clicking!! like little popping noises which i knew were signs of a possible RI. So when i got back his scale rot was getting much better...after he shed it looked way better. and he was no longer making the popping noise. He seemed to be doing great until i noticed his weird gnawing..... :/

he has no other signs of a RI tho so I'm not sure whats going on!
I'd take him to the vet in a heartbeat if he was showing any other serious signs.

he seems to be the runt of the litter...
but thank you!

[butters!]

doesnt seem normal to me at all

[jtyson123]

If he was popping and clicking before but isn't now, likely it was not a RI because they dont go away on their own. Might have been a piece of shed over a nostril.

As for holding his head vertical, that is a sign of a RI if they do it a lot. If its only after the water episode, then likely he is just trying to keep it all down. Now with him chewing...who knows! Typical to see that after they eat or drink, but not too much. They will align their jaws or yawn randomly too, but it isn't usually a chewing episode.

Maybe you should call your vet and see what they say? Better to fix whatever it is now, rather than wait and end up being too late.

[Generationshell]

Im going to be out of town the next three days. but I'll make sure to get a vid of it when i get back. That way everyone can get an idea of what i mean lol and also for future reference at a vet.

[tiny_tiger60978]

Maybe a video (even if it's just from a camera phone) would help everyone understand a bit better about the "chewing".

I agree...sounds kind of like a RI, but like they said, bumping up the temps a little early on can really make a difference. (Did the same with my bp and she got over it.)

You could def. call a vet, or at least they'd let you talk to a vet technition who may be able to give you some advice. Couldn't hurt.

Maybe next time you take your bp in (vet visit) have them look at his/her jaw? Seems weird that they'd keep trying to realign it so much...

I'm far from an expert, but just my thoughts...

[Generationshell]

So after 3 failed attempts at catching him do this on camera.... idk what to think. I literally sat next to his cage for 15+ mins each time waiting for him to be done drinking. And each time he never held his head vertical or did his gnawing at all. I was like "OH c'mon!" lol Idk if me sitting there staring at him had anything to do with the failure to catch his strange antics on camera. Or maybe if was just a 2 day thing? Im not sure.....