snake cough

Has anyone had a snake cough? The other night my female pastel ( six months old ) was sitting in her tank and she opened her mouth wide open and let out what sounded like a cough or a retching sound. She did this 3 times then sat for a second with her mouth open and then went back in her hide. It had been three days since she ate. The temps and humidty were all spot on and she has no audible breathing issues. I would appreciate any feedback. I have never had this happen before and thought it was strange. Thanks

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Originally Posted by luvmyballs

Has anyone had a snake cough? The other night my female pastel ( six months old ) was sitting in her tank and she opened her mouth wide open and let out what sounded like a cough or a retching sound. She did this 3 times then sat for a second with her mouth open and then went back in her hide. It had been three days since she ate. The temps and humidty were all spot on and she has no audible breathing issues. I would appreciate any feedback. I have never had this happen before and thought it was strange. Thanks

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How long has it been since she ate?

I just read an old thread on here last night where somebody's BP did that and they'd possibly eaten their food backwards and the fur or a claw irritated their throat.

Here's hoping it was nothing more than just one of their usual "scares us half to death" but-means-nothing incidents.

Oh my gosh, I just posted a thread last night about my snake doing this. She opened her mouth three times and made what to me sounded like a type of hiss. It was right after eating for mine. She was looking right at me when she did it, so I ultimately look it as a series of "back off" hisses for no apparent reason, but now that I think about it, defensive hissing is generally with the mouth closed, not wide open.

Anyway, all of that to say, I am as stumped as you, but my snake also just did this and she is currently doing her routine midnight tank exploration, so she is just fine. Can't tell you why your snake did it, but I can tell you she isn't the only one. :weirdface

Snakes can't cough...

I agree with Salamander, it could be some small thing like an irritation, but keep an eye on her for sure. If temps are within range then she will definitely have digested her meal by now, so there's no chance she was regurgitating. I have heard of some types of parasites causing dry heaving in snakes, but hopefully that's not what's going on.

If she seems fine now though, I don't think you have to be too worried? It's tough to tell, sometimes they just like to scare us with strange behaviors.

My boa has done sumthing like that before it sounds like a hiss/cough and I have it on video but I can't upload it from my iPad.Sum people say it could be a sign of a RI so make sure your snake is not doing it often or that she doesn't have mucus in her mouth.good luck with everything.

Was it a fart? They are horrible retched sounds lol...

Snakes are unable to cough, they don't have a diaphram.

If she persists in making this sound, it could be a RI and will need veterinary care.

What was the other end doing at the time?

I ave females that done this, But you will see the tail up and them convulsing backwards letting out gas and poop.

The only time I have heard of snakes making that sort of noise, is when they have RI. But I have never experienced that. Watch out for mucous. Not sure what causes RI, maybe some one else can help with what causes it, or what else to watch for. I have heard they are a pain to get rid of. Hopefully it was just a wierd thing.

That doesn't sound good. I would also keep a close eye on her for a respiratory infection. Like others said, they can't cough, but she may have been trying to breathe through all the mucus -caused by respiratory infection.

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Originally Posted by dr del

What was the other end doing at the time?

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Not sure what the back end was doing in was hidden behind her hide. Just my luck I probably have a farting bp. It's bad enough when my dog does it but now my snakes. LOL

All snakes fart, some are just louder than others :) Mine have woken me up from a dead sleep before.

Seems like the basics have been covered here, just watch and make sure it doesn't persist. Mine did that when she began to show symptoms of an RI. If it happens again, especially more than once and you notice her resting with her head straight up, take her to the vet.

Hopefully, it's just a fart. :P

OMG. My five year old Ball-Python opened her mouth wide and made a sneezing or coughing sound four or five times!! It startled me as she has never done it before! By the time I got up and approached the tank, with the last one some poop and what I think was a piece of bark came shooting out of her back-end! I believe she was trying to pass it by making her body contract?? She is Very Fat and Healthy otherwise, so I'm not really concerned.

Yes with no diaphragm they cant cough.but I have a male that do this once a month.
But the symptoms are exactly like Richsballpythons said.My opinion is that its not a cough
but a fart.You will notice it better when the specimen is small & light in weight coz every time
you hear the sound the rear end goes up like jumping.& you will see some poop.Usually you hear the sound for 3 times & when stopped the snake makes 30 sec with its mouth open wide.
In my opinion its a gas release.But you also need to be sure whats causing gas accumulation,coz it can be parasites or even something wrong with digestion & food is rotting inside.

Hope you find something useful.But the best thing if it persists is to take it to a vet.

My snake literally just did the same thing. she opened her mouth wide, "coughed" 4 times, then farted really loud. Nothing came out though. The last time she ate was November 7th, and being the 11th she should have fully digested it. I've never seen or heard her do this before....her mouth was watering, too. Almost as if she was trying to throw up but its been too long. there's no mucus or anything though. She's perfectly healthy and everything else is fine. Did you ever figure out what this is??

Heh my albino female pretty sure just ripped a huge fart. Gary genetic described it perfectly. That was startling.

Last time one of mine did that it left a present at the other end