The Problem Snake

[Sarah1029]

We just got a baby ball python about one and a half months ago. About four weeks ago he got some symptoms of RTI but when we spoke to the people at the pet store they told us to up the heat before we took him to the vet and so we did and all the symptoms went away. Now a few weeks later he is "yawning" again and there is the faint popping. All this seems to happen directly before he sheds. Other then the two he has never had any other symptoms and last time they disapeared it was directly after he shed. Any comments/help would be of great assistance. Thank you.

[reptile3]

If it was my snake... I would take it to a vet, who knows about snakes. There is a list here, you could find a vet in and around your area.

My first post here, was about my bp with the same symptoms. And I was told he had an URI. So I took him, sure enough he was wheezing - Pneumonia . Was on antibiotics for 2 weeks, I had to give him shots, after the shot, put in a luke warm bath. Boost up the heat too.

Good luck!! & Welcome to BP.net

[BastianUSA]

What is wrong if a snake is yawning?
Cause mine does it all the time.

[Thor26]

ya mine to if they are breathing with there mouth open its bad yawning is fine =]

[rabernet]

Respiratory infections need to be treated with antibiotics. The snake should be taken to a qualified herp vet to take a swab and do a culture to determine the best course of treatment.

Raising temps etc only helps to mask the symptoms, and in the meantime, the RI is silently doing damage to your snake's lungs.

Constant yawning (not just occassional, but frequent) can also be a sign of a RI.

Here's where to locate a reptile vet near you:
http://www.arav.org/Directory.htm

http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html#vetlist

[sneakerpro]

I see my BP yawn once or twice a day.. normal?

[Elvyra's Keeper]

When I first got mine and it was her first shed, I also heard a faint weezing and popping noise. I panicked to the point I was crying because of what people told me on here, some even went to say I was a bad owner. Then one guy on here told me that sometimes when they shed, some skin gets loose in there nose and makes that noise. If it goes away after the shed, then most likely nothing is wrong.

But the other people are right to say go to a vet if it happens more than just when he/she is shedding.