I've done a lot of research on RIs in balls, but I haven't actually found anything about the recovery time. I've had ball pythons for a couple years now, and this is the first time one of them has gotten sick. Spartacus (sick snake) was wheezing with every breath, and had some mucous and bubbles in his mouth, but not actually dripping or anything. I tried the vicks+eucalyptus oil treatment for 10 mins, and he seemed a lot better afterwards. The next day though, he is wheezing again, not as often as before the treatment. I live in the middle of no where, and there are no exotic veterinarians around, otherwise i would have taken him there. I just want to know if part of the recovery is coughing up all the mucous and gunk in him, kinda like how people do when they are getting over a cold.