ball Python wheezing

[Ginglis]

I'm a new ball python owner (I've only had my snake about a week). I had him out today and he is very friendly and calm around people, but he was climbing around my face and I could hear him wheezing every now and again. I know that it could be a sign of a respiratory infection and I'm not sure if I should be worried about it or not because he seems otherwise healthy. He is around one year old and is about 550g and 3ft long. Any suggestions about it would be great thanks very much in advance.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The main question is is it wheezing, heavy breathing or hissing, not knowing how familiar you are with snakes some people do mistake some noise for others.

Wheezing is usually one of the first symptom then it is follow my mucus in the mouth nostril area (the amount or presence is a good indication on the stage of RI if it is an RI)

Now has the animal recently shed? If so pieces of shed may be stuck inside the nostril.

Some animal also may have a nasal cavity issue creating this sound, this would always be present.

My best advice is open and examine the inside of the mouth, look for frequent yawning, open mouth breathing, keep an eye on the animal and if in doubt take the animal to a vet specializing in reptiles and get a culture done. (don't take him to just any vet that would prescribe anti-biotics just in case)

[Ginglis]

Ok thanks very much, I'm not sure when his last shed was but I've not seen him yawning or open mouth breathing. it could be him just making noise and I'm being paranoid, but just in case what should I look for I'm his mouth?

[Bogertophis]

Also watch for bubbles in & around his mouth. I have a good feeling though, that what you heard was just his breathing (forced exhales, to be more precise).
Snakes have a long narrow lung and when they climb around us it gets sort "folded", forcing air out that can sound like a slight hiss or wheeze. The bigger the
snake is, the louder than can be, & when I had a large BCI (boa) some guys doing work for me on my house were curious about her as she was climbing on my
shoulders, but were slightly alarmed until I re-assured them "no, that was a breath, not a hiss!" LOL They initially were afraid of snakes, but her calm beauty
changed their minds...at least for the time being, and they ended up petting her too, not that she cared...

[Ginglis]

Hopefully, it's me just being paranoid and he's showing no other sings but I'll keep a eye on him for a while to make sure.


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[Bogertophis]

Being a little paranoid for a pet-owner is a good thing...it shows you care & you're paying attention. Now you know more of what to look for, in case it happens
to progress & actually be an RI, or for future reference. Snakes have some unique issues (like bits of old shed skin getting stuck in their nostrils that can make
breathing noisy- who knew?) so until you have more experience (or read the right sources) it never hurts to ask those who've been keeping snakes a long time.
I wish there'd been a forum like this around when I got started keeping snakes.

[Ginglis]

Forums can be really handy. I think you can research for hours about snake but there's something that you just won't know without experience, so I'm glad I can ask people with more experience than me.

[mandymg86]

Hopefully, it's me just being paranoid and he's showing no other sings but I'll keep a eye on him for a while to make sure.


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I'm an overly paranoid pet owner. I think you're doing the right thing! (Seriously, I overthink EVERYTHING.) The folks here on the forum haven't steered me wrong.

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