Bally Python breathing concerns (not RI)

My ball python is around 3yrs and I am concerned about his breathing. I have noticed he is exhaling with his mouth open and he isn't as active as night as is his norm. There is an audible noise when he is exhaling and the best way i can describe it, is a hiss. Its just not "hiss."

Originally, I thought it was the start of a possible RI, even thought I didn't seen an bubbles or saliva around his mouth. I took him into the vet ASAP and was told that he looked find; good color and weight, mouth and trachea looked clear, no odor, or bubbles. The vet made a few lighting suggestions but said that he looked in good health.

I tried to feed him to see if he would eat but he wasn't interested. I took the food away and let him relax for awhile and then we tried a lukewarm soak. Still the audible exhaling.

Please any suggestions, thoughts, concerns.


This is Gus!
http://imageshack.com/a/img560/8783/n4t1.png

I would still treat it like an RI - quarantine him away from other snakes, bump up his heat and humidity, watch him closely, etc. He may just be in the earliest stage of an RI, and thus only showing the one symptom.

Well the vet did not do anything other than use his eyes here so I would take him to another vet that has experience with herps and have a culture done to actually rule out an RI.

I don't know of any other breathing problems so I would keep a close eye out for RI. Like others said, treat the snake like it has RI, bump up temps, quarantine, keep the enclosure super clean.

If your vet is afraid to handle the snake get a new vet.


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I have had this problem b4 with one of my female. It is still RI. I treat her with baytril (antibiotic tablets for cats) crush half a tablet up and mix it in to half a tea spoon of vitamin B ( liquid form ) mix this with a small amount of sterile water, bottled water is fine.then put the solution in a syringe. Hold your snake by the head and gently push against the snakes mouth. Once the mouth is open slowly squirt the solution down the snakes trachea. Not to worry if all of it doesn't go in.Carry this out once a week until the snake is better , but after 3 weeks if it persists then go to a vet.Some people reading this will not agree with this method but as long as it is done carefully and gently and the animals welfare is the priority then i c no reason y not.I did this to my snake and she recovered after one dose after 3 days!


Joe Tully