Hi everyone,
I need your help. I'm currently in the process of hunting down a reputable veterinarian that specializes in reptiles, but in the meantime I'd like to know if anyone can shed light on what's happening to my BP.

First, I'll give a snapshot of the husbandry conditions I have him in:
  • 24x36" glass ExoTerra terrarium with mesh top
  • A 1-inch thick, 50/50 mix of coconut fiber and cypress mulch as substrate.
  • 2 cork-bark hides, one on cool side and one on warm side. 5 inch water bowl. Some natural wood vines.
  • Around 8x5" heat pad in one corner, hooked up to a thermostat (probe taped to the mat outside) that holds it at 91 degrees.
  • Ceramic heat emitter above hot corner, hooked up to a separate thermostat that holds it at 90 degrees.
  • Ambient temperature monitored by digital thermometer on cool side. Fluctuates between 72-78 degrees.
  • Humidity, I have a hard time with. Hygrometer is set up under the ceramic heat emitter and I get readings ranging from 21% to 55%, depending how long it's been since I've re-wetted the substrate. The humidity levels drop fast and it's very hard for me to keep up with. I have folded up towels covering 75% of the mesh top lid that I re-wet every couple days to help trap in the humidity. I admit the humidity hangs out on the low end more than the "high" end.



So, I have a 7 month old banana pinstripe male, and I've had him for 7 weeks. He is my first snake. He spent his first 4 weeks with me being very active in his enclosure, roaming around a lot, seemed very curious about everything, would poke his head out of his hides to watch me, and if I took him out, he would be very active and liked to explore and was constantly moving. He ate his once-a-week frozen/thawed hoppers with much enthusiasm.

Around week 2 I noticed he had some scales on the TOP of his body that were black around the edges, dotted along his body. None like this on his belly. I would rub my finger along them and nothing would come off. I really don't think it's mites or scale rot. He still has these.

A couple times when I would take him out, I could hear him breath. Every couple breaths I could hear. But it never struck me as a "wheeze."

At some point, I don't remember when, I started noticing that he has black gunk in his nostrils. This seems to have gotten a little bit worse over the past couple of weeks. He also seems to like to rest his head on something so that his nose tips upwards. He doesn't do this all the time, but it's common enough.

Two weeks ago (after having him for 5 weeks) he suddenly became much more inactive. It was almost over-night it seemed. It started the day after I did a full clean of his terrarium. I boiled and baked the natural wood vines (which I didn't do when I first bought them...), wiped down and sanitized the terrarium, and did a complete replacement of his substrate. I then fed him that night. It was a stressful feed for both of us because he struck at the mouse's back and could not reposition it. So he ended up rolling the mouse in the substrate, coating it in coconut fiber. I did everything I could to pick off any bits of cypress mulch I could see with the tongs while he was swallowing. He definitely ate some coconut fiber that night.

Two days after being fed, he usually starts cruising around his enclosure again. But that week he didn't. And he was much less active when I took him out. I would put him on my lap and he'd just chill there. Eventually he'd start moving around and exploring, but not with as much gusto as before.

Two days ago (this is week 7 now, if you're keeping track lol) I woke up at 5:30am to him making loud squeaking sounds. They sounded almost exactly like mouse squeaks. I get up and see him curled up tight around his water dish, which I've never seen him do before. I watch him and witness a couple of the squeaks. His body would contract and jerk when he did it. It seemed like he was expelling air out of his nose and that was causing the squeak.

I take him out to examine him. Again, not acting very curious. I put his nose up to my ear and can hear him breath after every couple breaths. I notice that he has two scales right at the tip of his nose that are flaking off, so I figure he is getting ready to shed? I looked in his enclosure where he was just laying and see that he pooped and left a urate. Maybe the squeaks were from him pooping?

So, what I need help with is... which of this stuff is normal, and which of it is something to be concerned about? I'm wondering if maybe there is mold in my house and it's growing on his substrate, and then getting in his nose? Or perhaps coconut fiber dust is collecting in his nose and clogging it? I want to try to clean out his nose but I don't know how! Or perhaps he is just going through a very slow shed cycle?? Maybe he's comfortable with me now and that's why he's not as active?? Any insight would be much appreciated!!

Much thanks,
-Hamamelis