rubbing? stress? help!

[honeymoon]

I have a ball python that's a little over 2 years old. VERY friendly, has always been a fantastic eater, pees and poops regularly, good sheds, etc. Today after he ate (he ate perfectly as normal) I noticed he was rubbing his nose on the side of the tank. Not just rubbing, but firmly sliding and pressing his nose across the side, like his nose was squished flat and I have never seen him do that before. Is he stressed? What is this a sign of? He made this whistling/huffing noise when I opened his cage to adjust him and he started stretching up like he wanted to get out. Help???

[Bogertophis]

Hard to say what's going on without more details...remember we cannot see your snake.

Any chance he's trying to shed? Sometimes snakes go blue & back to clear without us noticing...and when they shed their skin, they usually start by rubbing
their noses. If this is the case, what is the humidity in his cage? They often need extra to shed properly...but they have a hard time requesting it...we need to
be "psychic".

Sometimes snakes do just want out for their own reasons...(mating season, for one thing) or is there any chance his cage is too hot? What size cage & what
are the temps (hi & low sides)? They also get restless when hungry...what are you feeding him, versus what is his size (weight)? We have a chart to show you
what size prey they should be eating...have you seen it?

[Sonny1318]

I seen my 4 males periodically exhibit that same similar behavior. Rubbing their faces in “a trying to shed manor” on the rough surface of their water bowls. I remember my boas occasionally doing the same thing. As long as your husbandry is on, and there’s no other underlying cause, I personally wouldn’t worry.

[Jellybeans]

As long as he's not rubbing enough to rub his snout raw.

I tell you what ....I would be more concerned if your snake ever started passing gas, lol!!
I watched some videos on YouTube last night and I was like oh my God. My snake has never done that and I hope he never does. I can't believe how LOUD it was. And can you imagine what it must smell like... decaying rodent!

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[Craiga 01453]

Could it be a piece of substrate stuck in his mouth?

[honeymoon]

I use newspapers as his substrate so I don't think that would be it?

[honeymoon]

I suppose it could be the shedding thing, but his eyes aren't clouded, he's not pale, and his belly isn't pink. Unless it's an early stage and I can't tell? Also he's eating rats, about the same size as the largest part of his body. His humidity is a little over 50 i believe, his cool side is in the 70s and his warm side is in the mid 80s.

[Bogertophis]

I suppose it could be the shedding thing, but his eyes aren't clouded, he's not pale, and his belly isn't pink. Unless it's an early stage and I can't tell? Also he's eating rats, about the same size as the largest part of his body. His humidity is a little over 50 i believe, his cool side is in the 70s and his warm side is in the mid 80s.

IF it's a "shedding thing" he may have gone back to clear (as they do right before they shed) & if that's the case, his humidity is too low. You want 60-70% for his
shedding to proceed easily. Also his cage temps are a bit low...want about 78-80* (lowest) to 90* hot spot. You might try offering him a "humid hide" (with very damp
soaked/drained sphagnum moss). Without seeing your snake, we sure cannot say if he's trying to shed... but just going by what is possible/likely from the behavior
you describe. Sounds like his prey is the right size...but keep in mind that snakes whose needs are not met do tend to get restless & want out of their cage to go find
what they instinctively need, whether it's food or warmth or humidity...their needs are fairly simple, now if only they could talk...