Strange cough?

I was just sleeping and I thought my dog was choking so I got up and it was my ball python. He had his mouth open and was in a "S" position and it was coughing or sneezing pretty loud. It sounded almost like a cat trying to cough up a hairball. He did it three times and then went about his business. I took him out of the tank and he has no mucus or bubbles in or around his nose and mouth and no noises breathing. There is no whistling or popping ethier. Temps are 82 cool side, ambient 85-86 in the middle with a constant 94 degree hot spot controlled by a thermostat. My snake is in my room and I have never heard this before.

Does he appear to have had a bowel movement recently? If a snake has a particularly large poo, they will open their mouth while passing it, they strain to excrete just like any other animal. I have a suspicion that what you were hearing was a fart, not a cough.

If it was in fact a cough, I'd definitely schedule a vet appointment.

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Originally Posted by Archimedes

Does he appear to have had a bowel movement recently? If a snake has a particularly large poo, they will open their mouth while passing it, they strain to excrete just like any other animal. I have a suspicion that what you were hearing was a fart, not a cough.

If it was in fact a cough, I'd definitely schedule a vet appointment.

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I think you solved it! I took a closer look and there is fresh feces right where he was doing that noise. Strange thing is some of it is solid and some is wet almost like diarrhea. I've had him for two months now and he has passed solid urates but has not had a bowel movement. Maybe he is constipated and straining?