i might have a problem

i just got this boa last week. they said she was about 3-4 years old, shes probably around 5 1/2 long but i haven't been able to measure her yet

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...8cb81a7a8c.jpg

my problem is that when she exhales i can hear her make a squeeking noise. it lasts from about 10-20 seconds. any ideas on whats wrong with her? i've never had any thing like this happen with any of my other snakes so i'm not sure whats going on with her

actually, she might be more like 6 1/2 feet

She looks like she might be in shed... very dark. Is her belly pinkish? If she's in shed, I would wait until she's finished before you start worrying too much. Sometimes, when the shed starts peeling away inside their noses, they make a squeaking noise when they breathe.

It was brought up in another thread that boas seem to make loud exhales... my big girl does, as do some other big boas that people own on this site. Just seems to be something they do... maybe it's hauling those big boa butts around :)

The other possibility is, of course, an RI... respiratory infection. Kinda like a cold for a snake. The wheezing is caused by mucus build up---does she have any build-up in her mouth?

If you're worried, take her to the vet. Always the best option to alleviate your fears :gj:

thanks for the reply.. and yeah shes in shed. i thought it may have been an RI, thats why i'm so worried but i haven't noticed any mucus. i'll wait until she sheds, if shes still doing it after i will set up a vet appointment for her

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Originally Posted by ladywhipple02

She looks like she might be in shed... very dark. Is her belly pinkish? If she's in shed, I would wait until she's finished before you start worrying too much. Sometimes, when the shed starts peeling away inside their noses, they make a squeaking noise when they breathe.

It was brought up in another thread that boas seem to make loud exhales... my big girl does, as do some other big boas that people own on this site. Just seems to be something they do... maybe it's hauling those big boa butts around :)

The other possibility is, of course, an RI... respiratory infection. Kinda like a cold for a snake. The wheezing is caused by mucus build up---does she have any build-up in her mouth?

If you're worried, take her to the vet. Always the best option to alleviate your fears :gj:

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that looks just like the boa my cousin got stolen from him in arizona.

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Originally Posted by patthesnakeman

that looks just like the boa my cousin got stolen from him in arizona.

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i wouldn't know, they said they had her for 2 months

uh oh thats never good

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Originally Posted by patthesnakeman

that looks just like the boa my cousin got stolen from him in arizona.

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How did he manage to get a 6 ft boa stolen thats a feat in itself

no worries i dont even really like my cousin lol. and plus the one that was stolen, its tail was kinda messed up at the end. but it always breathed really heavey to the point where it sounded like it was hissing at you all the time, but wasnt

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Originally Posted by jdmls88

uh oh thats never good



How did he manage to get a 6 ft boa stolen thats a feat in itself

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yeah, i was kind of wondering the same thing..

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Originally Posted by patthesnakeman

no worries i dont even really like my cousin lol. and plus the one that was stolen, its tail was kinda messed up at the end. but it always breathed really heavey to the point where it sounded like it was hissing at you all the time, but wasnt

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i never noticed anything weird about her tail, i'll wait to see if the breathing thing clears up after the shed. is heavy breathing a common thing for snakes like this? it doesn't sound like hissing really, more like a really quiet dog toy