Yawning - is it ever normal?

Other than after feeding is it ever normal for a BP to yawn? How much yawning would be considered "excessive"? I know that yawning is a symptom of RI and after treating one of my snakes for an RI I'm hyper paranoid about possible RI symptoms. So...is yawning ever normal?

Java does it sometimes when he's out. I never see him do it more than twice an hour or so. Definitely normal though, there's pictures and videos from just about everyone. :)

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Yup, it's normal. Mine does it sometimes, usually right after she comes out of her hide to explore at night, although I have seen her do it at other times as well. Yawning isn't the only symptom of a RI, and I think the only time I'd be concerned if you were also hearing wheezing along with it. I'm not really sure what "excessive" yawning would be, but I imagine it would be several of them right after the other, and more than just once or twice a night. But most yawning has nothing to do with them being sick :)

I hope it's normal, because I usually witness a yawn a day! I assume they're all yawning up a storm when I'm not even looking.

my theory on yawning after eating is it's to help re-align their jaw.

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Originally Posted by Alex.B

my theory on yawning after eating is it's to help re-align their jaw.

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That's why I thought they did it after eating. Why do they do it the rest of the time though?

One of mine actually does yawn fairly often even when it hasn't eaten in a while. No idea why, but its pretty normal I guess.
I've read somewhere most snakes would realign their jaws in that way but some species including BP's yawn at other times too, but no reason why.
and I like it that my BP does it since it allows me to check for mucus or any other signs of RI when it does. I feel you have nothing to worry about, but then again I'm probably one of the least experienced around here

Does anyone know if they truly yawn or not? I was about to post a thread about this today because I was so curious. My girl and boy both do this at least once each time I take them out. Also after they eat. I seldom see the colubrids do this, although I have once or twice.

I know yawning has something to do with needing more oxygen in mammals. Snakes do require oxygen, so maybe it's dual-purpose. It's so darn cute though! :snake:

I forget how it got into my head, but at some point I either read or was told that when not re-aligning their jaws yawning is just another way for them to get a taste of the environment.

Could it be like stretching? They are opportunists, could be just their way of staying prepared for any possible prey! Just a thought. I usually see Maru yawn a little after we have gotten him out to handle and he settles down a bit. Not too often, but it happens enough that it's normal to see. Never am fast enough with the camera though!