We have a small ball python, who we've had since last August. She's shed three times, and is due for a fourth. She's grown quite a bit, eats once a week like clockwork, poops regularly, and pretty much stays in her little cave. We try to handle her at least once a day.
Over the past couple weeks, we've noticed that the snake squeaks during handling. She can be held for a while, then she starts to squeak and squirm. Before then, her breathing is fine. When she's put back into her tank, she'll open her mouth once or twice, and then she's fine again. She has been sitting in the back of her hide rather than at the entrance more as well.
I should add that, back in December, this snake had a full-fledged "panic attack," where she just sat on the rim of her dish, filled up her lungs, and squeaked. I took her to the doctor that day, who put her on a course of antibiotics thinking that it was an RI. Through that entire trip to the doctor, she was absolutely quiet, giving one small squeak later that night. She started to shed a few days later.
I know the conventional wisdom is that this should be an RI, but it doesn't seem to me that RIs should be situational. Any thoughts?
Facts:
30 gallon tank with heat lamp near middle and UTH at one end
85 degrees, around 30-40% humidity, supplemented with a wet paper towel in her hide changed twice daily
Astroturf substrate
Two hides, though prefers the one on the UTH, obviously.
Large water bowl.