Is My BP Sick? Mucus-Like Liquid from Mouth

Hello,

Tonight while handling my 1y10m old female ball python, I found a streak of clear mucus-like liquid on my arm. I then saw a little bit of it hanging on her chin. She then opened her mouth as if to “yawn” as she normally does, and I could see there was more in her mouth.

I checked to see if there were any kind of critters on her anywhere. I also held her snout up to my ear for a long time to see if I could detect wheezing or difficulty breathing. Everything appears normal, other than this mucus-like liquid.

What is going on here?

Respiratory infection. Go to a vet specializing in reptiles asap.

Post temperatures and humidity, please.

Thanks for the fast response.

Warm side surface temperature (taken with a tempgun): 88F

Cool side surface temperature (same deal), this is normally about 78F (see below): 84F

Humidity: 55%

Where I'm at is suddenly about 12F warmer than it normally is. In the past few days the temperatures just rocketed up, it was 106F out there today. I had her out yesterday and did not notice the mucus. It got to about 102F yesterday.

Sounds like a respiratory infection to me.

Do you have photos of your setup? What are your temps? Humidity? What do you use for a heat source? What are your hides like? What do you house the snake in?

Go to a vet as soon as you can, a respiratory infection can kill your snake quickly. Reptiles go down hill very quickly once they have a sickness, so you do not want your snake to die.

For an estimate of what the bill will cost, around $100. But every vet is different.

If you own any other snake, reptile, or amphibian, please take your sick snake to a different room in the house to keep it away from your others. The others can get sick easily from being exposed to this sick snake in the same room. You may want to check the others for any respiratory problems, AFTER you wash your hands thoroughly.

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Originally Posted by fire-eyes

Thanks for the fast response.

Warm side surface temperature (taken with a tempgun): 88F

Cool side surface temperature (same deal), this is normally about 78F (see below): 84F

Humidity: 55%

Where I'm at is suddenly about 12F warmer than it normally is. In the past few days the temperatures just rocketed up, it was 106F out there today. I had her out yesterday and did not notice the mucus. It got to about 102F yesterday.

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Are you controlling the heat source with a thermostat or rheostat (dimmer)?

EDIT: Was the mucus more liquid or more stretchy and thick (well.. like how mucus normally is)? If it was more liquid, you could have handled the snake right after a big drink. Sometimes they will leak out whatever was in their mouth or throat after being handled from having a drink.

Your temperatures actually don't sound bad, but you should probably raise them if she's getting sick. I believe they're cause by low temps and low humidity.

I could definitely be wrong but the only thing people seem to mention in conjunction with mucus is respiratory infections, and it's always what they say to look for if you suspect one. It's a big sign. They don't just go away, even if the symptoms do. She will need antibiotics.

Is the enclosure kept clean? Is the substrate dusty? These might also cause it.

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

Are you controlling the heat source with a thermostat or rheostat (dimmer)?

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I am controlling both the heat source and humidity with a Zoomed HygroTherm.

Quote:

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EDIT: Was the mucus more liquid or more stretchy and thick (well.. like how mucus normally is)? If it was more liquid, you could have handled the snake right after a big drink. Sometimes they will leak out whatever was in their mouth or throat after being handled from having a drink.

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It was very liquid, I didn't see any stretchyness or thickness to it. It didn't look as clear as water, however, maybe that was just what was already in her mouth plus water? When I got her from her cage, I did notice that the water was noticably lower than when I had filled it earlier in the day, and I thought to myself "I guess she is thiristy".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fire-eyes

I am controlling both the heat source and humidity with a Zoomed HygroTherm.



It was very liquid, I didn't see any stretchyness or thickness to it. It didn't look as clear as water, however, maybe that was just what was already in her mouth plus water? When I got her from her cage, I did notice that the water was noticably lower than when I had filled it earlier in the day, and I thought to myself "I guess she is thiristy".

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You will normally get temp spikes with a rheostat unless the room ambient was always the same temperature.

If it was very liquid-y, then I suppose it's not a respiratory infection. You most likely caught her right after she drank some water. However, I'd still watch for signs just in case.

Well, she APPEARS okay. Some info i found suggested squeezing the snout lightly and looking for anything from the nostrils. No sign of it there. She is acting completely normal.

I will watch this like a hawk and update. I am supposed to work 12.5 hours Sunday but I'm going to make it 6

Thanks for all the concern and help, everyone here is the GREATEST!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fire-eyes

Well, she APPEARS okay. Some info i found suggested squeezing the snout lightly and looking for anything from the nostrils. No sign of it there. She is acting completely normal.

I will watch this like a hawk and update. I am supposed to work 12.5 hours Sunday but I'm going to make it 6

Thanks for all the concern and help, everyone here is the GREATEST!

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You don't have to cut your work hours to watch the snake, but hey in all honesty I'd probably do the exact same thing LOL!

We are always here to help:salute:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fire-eyes

Hello,

Tonight while handling my 1y10m old female ball python, I found a streak of clear mucus-like liquid on my arm. I then saw a little bit of it hanging on her chin. She then opened her mouth as if to “yawn” as she normally does, and I could see there was more in her mouth.

I checked to see if there were any kind of critters on her anywhere. I also held her snout up to my ear for a long time to see if I could detect wheezing or difficulty breathing. Everything appears normal, other than this mucus-like liquid.

What is going on here?

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No wheezing. No other signs of respiratory infection (there are signs - right guys?).

Clear liquid coming from the mouth after handling the snake.

Sounds like she lost a bit of her drink on ya. Back down from Defcon 4, she's gonna be all right.

Sorry! I figured mucus meant mucus. Like snot.

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Originally Posted by stevepoppers

Sorry! I figured mucus meant mucus. Like snot.

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I did too, I simply didn't have experience. It never occurred to me that water could come out. Panic reaction, and like Skip said, back down from defcon 4 (for me). I'll be able to sleep tonight (but will still monitor).

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Originally Posted by stevepoppers

Sorry! I figured mucus meant mucus. Like snot.

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Pretty much. But if it's a respiratory infection you will hear wheezing, gurgling noises when they breathe. You will also probably see mucus dried around the enclosure where they rub their face trying to clear it...

Sounds to me like a RI...

Sorry didnt read the whole thread before I posted. Hope everything turns out alright for her.

Everyone,

Thanks for the fast and many replies. It's about 24 hours later now, and there are no signs of RI. There never was any wheezing, signs of difficulty breathing, crust anywhere on her head, or signs of mucus having been wiped off on the side of her cage. It was simply that she had drank some water immediately before I got her out.

So this was an overreaction by me primarily due to inexperience. The good news is I learned a lot and I know what to look for now. I hope others can learn from this too!

Holy cow I had one of my snakes do the same thing to me! I got him out of his cage and I felt something wet. I thought, "oh great, he's peed on me again." But I looked around and nothing. Nothing wet on my shirt, even. So I listened to his breathing and (I was freaking out) I SWORE I heard something (I didn't, LOL!) and I looked in his mouth and there was some liquid in there, too! I panicked, took him to the vet a couple days later. Turned out to be nothing! I did find a really good vet, though and I'm glad I took him bc Mr. Vet did a very thorough exam and checked him for parasites and everything! He got a clean bill of health!