Do I have a problem with Damian?

[Jmarshall]

So everything has been going swimmingly with Damian and I am not sure if that is the case still. So Damian has been eating very routinely every week since I got him started until last week. He had refused his food.. no big deal.. I went to pick him up two or three days later and I noticed him hiss at me, which he has never done before. I started to do some research and I fear it may be a wheeze.. He has made this hissing/wheezing noise about 5 or 6 times over the past week. I have been doing research on RIs and have not noticed any of the other symptoms I have read about. His hot side is 90-91 cool side is 80 and humidity is 65%. His behavior has been normal other than refusing meals and the strange noise he's made.. One more thing, when I open his rack he tries to escape.. every time, If the lid is open he is trying to climb out of his tub.. I went to feed him again today and he crawled right past the mouse, showing no interest and tried to escape. Im not sure if he should go to the vet or what my next move should be. Any help would be appreciated!

[Bogertophis]

How are you measuring his temps? He might be too hot, especially if you're readings are off a few degrees.

Is he possibly going into shed? that can bring up a hiss or two. Do you hear this "wheezy" breathing when he is laying flat & NOT
being held? When we hold a snake it can force air from their lungs is such a way as to sound like a wheeze issue, but may not be.

What have you been cleaning his cage with? it's possible that the residue is irritating his lungs.

[Jmarshall]

his temps are measured with a digital thermometer, and checked with a temp gun.. I have been spot cleaning whenever he has made a mess and cleaning the tub with dish soap. making sure to rinse it thoroughly before putting him back.. He is my first snake and has only shed with me once.. he maybe getting close to a shed but he hasnt gone into the blue.

Should I turn down the temp a degree or two? They havent been touched for a few months and this is the first time hes shown no interest in food/tried the escaping..

I have only heard the wheeze/hiss when I am holding him.. I havent really listened to him when he has been laying flat. I will bring him onto my bed and listen to him in silence for a while to see if I notice it.

Update:
I went to grab him to set him on my bed for a bit and as soon as I reached to grab him, he made the noise. I am starting to think it may be a hiss just because of the timing of it.. and I havent heard any cracking or popping when hes breathing.. would a RI be easy to spot.. like obvious thats what it is?

Also I turned down the hotside two degrees, my temp gun read 92

[dakski]

his temps are measured with a digital thermometer, and checked with a temp gun.. I have been spot cleaning whenever he has made a mess and cleaning the tub with dish soap. making sure to rinse it thoroughly before putting him back.. He is my first snake and has only shed with me once.. he maybe getting close to a shed but he hasnt gone into the blue.

Should I turn down the temp a degree or two? They havent been touched for a few months and this is the first time hes shown no interest in food/tried the escaping..

I have only heard the wheeze/hiss when I am holding him.. I havent really listened to him when he has been laying flat. I will bring him onto my bed and listen to him in silence for a while to see if I notice it.

See if the wheezing persists when flat and in his tank. Also look for discharge from his mouth/nose and or smears of mucus on the substrate (easy to see if it's paper).

What is your humidity level? Very important if worried about a respiratory infection (RI). Too low or too high can be bad.

Even if temps are on point, if humidity is off, that's not good.

How long were you holding Damian before he exhibited the wheezing noise?

My BP, Shayna, is a doll, but if I handle her for more than 15-20 minutes, she can get a little stressed and I've heard a little wheezing from her when she breathes heavy. I generally don't keep her out that long, and I have other snakes that "like" being handled more than her, but she will stress if out too long. She has no history of RI and does not currently have one. However, several times in the past 3 years, if I keep her out too long, she can get stressed and that's a way she shows it.

Check humidity, don't handle for too long, especially if you hear wheezing, and see if he makes the noise on his own in the tank.

Please let us know about humidity and length of handling and how often (hopefully not more than 1 session a day 3-5 days a week).

[Jmarshall]

Also, I have noticed him spending a lot more time sitting on top of his hide and not inside when he used to spend all of his time inside of his hid. I do believe it was a bit hot in there for him..

If he is a bit too warm, could that cause agitation which would cause him to hiss?

[Bogertophis]

As far as the hiss (?), an impending shed might explain that (most snakes want to lay low at that time & they seem to know before we do that it's coming);
also, they shed the outer linings of their nostrils when they shed, so sometimes noisy breathing goes away after they shed, or when it doesn't, sometimes
it's because the shed failed to come out of their nostrils, so it's something to take a close look at.

I asked about what you clean the cage with, just in case you were using diluted bleach, or something like that- it's both toxic & very irritating. (I'd want to
get out too, if that were the case...)

Cage temps: does he USE the hot side? does he stay on the "cool" side?

[dakski]

his temps are measured with a digital thermometer, and checked with a temp gun.. I have been spot cleaning whenever he has made a mess and cleaning the tub with dish soap. making sure to rinse it thoroughly before putting him back.. He is my first snake and has only shed with me once.. he maybe getting close to a shed but he hasnt gone into the blue.

Should I turn down the temp a degree or two? They havent been touched for a few months and this is the first time hes shown no interest in food/tried the escaping..

I have only heard the wheeze/hiss when I am holding him.. I havent really listened to him when he has been laying flat. I will bring him onto my bed and listen to him in silence for a while to see if I notice it.

Update:
I went to grab him to set him on my bed for a bit and as soon as I reached to grab him, he made the noise. I am starting to think it may be a hiss just because of the timing of it.. and I havent heard any cracking or popping when hes breathing.. would a RI be easy to spot.. like obvious thats what it is?

Also I turned down the hotside two degrees, my temp gun read 92

I use dish soap on bowls, but rinse really thoroughly. I use F10SC to disinfect, bowls, tank, etc.

I would not use dish soap on tub. I would definitely use F10SC - totally safe for him and will actually disinfect.

[Jmarshall]

See if the wheezing persists when flat and in his tank. Also look for discharge from his mouth/nose and or smears of mucus on the substrate (easy to see if it's paper).

What is your humidity level? Very important if worried about a respiratory infection (RI). Too low or too high can be bad.

Even if temps are on point, if humidity is off, that's not good.

How long were you holding Damian before he exhibited the wheezing noise?

My BP, Shayna, is a doll, but if I handle her for more than 15-20 minutes, she can get a little stressed and I've heard a little wheezing from her when she breathes heavy. I generally don't keep her out that long, and I have other snakes that "like" being handled more than her, but she will stress if out too long. She has no history of RI and does not currently have one. However, several times in the past 3 years, if I keep her out too long, she can get stressed and that's a way she shows it.

Check humidity, don't handle for too long, especially if you hear wheezing, and see if he makes the noise on his own in the tank.

Please let us know about humidity and length of handling and how often (hopefully not more than 1 session a day 3-5 days a week).

I handle Damian probably 4-5 times a week and only if he is okay with it. As soon as he becomes flighty I put him back.. I dont have him out for more than 10 mins at a time..The noise happens within 3-5 mins of having him out.. sometimes as soon as I pick him up..

The more I think/talk about it the more I am leaning toward it not being a RI. Hes never made the noise without being handled and there are no other signs of RI.. the Humidity reads 65% at the moment.

- - - Updated - - -

I use dish soap on bowls, but rinse really thoroughly. I use F10SC to disinfect, bowls, tank, etc.

I would not use dish soap on tub. I would definitely use F10SC - totally safe for him and will actually disinfect.

Okay, can I find that at big box petstore? Petco? I will get some this weekend..

[Bogertophis]

Also, I have noticed him spending a lot more time sitting on top of his hide and not inside when he used to spend all of his time inside of his hid. I do believe it was a bit hot in there for him..

If he is a bit too warm, could that cause agitation which would cause him to hiss?

If I was stuck in a locked room that was too hot, I guarantee you'd even hear ME hissing.
Does he have a cool-side hide too? (he should have) I'd lower his temps a little...& for sure check the humidity. (<that could cause noisy breathing too)

[Jmarshall]

As far as the hiss (?), an impending shed might explain that (most snakes want to lay low at that time & they seem to know before we do that it's coming);
also, they shed the outer linings of their nostrils when they shed, so sometimes noisy breathing goes away after they shed, or when it doesn't, sometimes
it's because the shed failed to come out of their nostrils, so it's something to take a close look at.

I asked about what you clean the cage with, just in case you were using diluted bleach, or something like that- it's both toxic & very irritating. (I'd want to
get out too, if that were the case...)

Cage temps: does he USE the hot side? does he stay on the "cool" side?

He has been using the cool side more frequently and lately I have rarely found him inside the hot side hide. He used to be in his hot hit all of the time, but not as often now.. He will be laying on top of it or around it.. I turned down the temps two degrees. Im going to let the tub do its thing for an hour or so then check with temp gun before I go to sleep tonight. I do believe it has been a bit warm for him which is strange because everything is on a herpstat which hasnt been touched.. Idk why the temps woud all of a sudden be too hot or have changed.