BP drinking

Ok so this is a first for me, but I was sitting in my chair watching some TV when I heard this noise that sounded like someone with a bad case of diarrhea. Gross I know but it's the best way to explain it. Anyway I got up and checked on my BP since the sound came from his cage and I saw him with bubbling water hanging down both sides of his mouth and he was elevating the first 4-5inches of his body off the ground. He was opening his mouth wide and it actually looked like he was gulping. He finished and moved on to his night time hide where he goes about this time every night. Has anyone ever seen their BPs drinking or heard that kind of sound before? It concerned me, but he seems fine.

Thanks.

I've never seen this, when mine drink they just dip their nose into the water and barely move their mouths. It is silent and defiantly not noticeable from across the room.

Mine just dip their nose in and make no noise....

I wonder if he got some down the wrong pipe and was coughing it up?

Same here, no noise, they just dip their faces in. Id keep your eyes out for something like an RI... did you see any mucous or bubbles? Im assuming itd be bad if the snake got fluid in its lungs. Im pretty sure that humans are susceptable to infections if they get fluids in their lungs...? Jinx would be able to confirm that though.

yeah there was mucus and bubbles coming down both sides of his mouth. He also showed no interest in eating this week, if that matters.

Sounds like you might have a Respritory infection on your hands. You need to get your snake to a vet to get a culture done to see what is causing the RI (what strand of bacteria/fungi) until you can get your BP to a vet (one that treats reptiles a culture is necessary don't let the vet just prescribe something) you should raise your humidity to 60% - 70% and bump up the temperatures a degree or so.

Ok will do. Right now the Temps are 80.1 in the cool end, 88.8 in the warm end and 58.3% humidity. Thanks for the help.

I would run the cool side at 84ish and the hot side at 92, maybe 93 but no hotter

bumping the humidity up shouldn't be too hard if you are starting from almost 60%

You wanna bump up the ambient temps of the cage by a few degrees til u get him to the vet. Good luck, keep us posted

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Same here, no noise, they just dip their faces in. Id keep your eyes out for something like an RI... did you see any mucous or bubbles? Im assuming itd be bad if the snake got fluid in its lungs. Im pretty sure that humans are susceptable to infections if they get fluids in their lungs...? Jinx would be able to confirm that though.

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Yeah, people can also get aspiration pneumonia. Usually from stomach contents though.

I agree it sounds like a RI.

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Originally Posted by jinx667

Yeah, people can also get aspiration pneumonia. Usually from stomach contents though.

I agree it sounds like a RI.

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Oh ok i gotcha. My grandma recently had open heart surgery and afterwards they had her on thickened liquids bc they were afraid of fluids getting into her lungs and causing an infection. Thats where i was coming from but i wasnt positive on the info. She hated it but i found it all rather fascinating, at her expense lmao!

My Ball Python did this once a long time ago. I was sitting on the floor watching him in his tank when all of a sudden his body flipped out and he made the sound you described. It really freaked me out. All his husbandry was fine and nothing really ended up happening. Since then I put him in a Vision 332, he was in a 100gal at the time. The only diff is when this happened to me there was NO mucus or bubbles, just the strangest sound in the world and weird body motion. He has been fine ever since and is healthy as a bull to this day :)

Well back from the vet today and I think I need to find a new vet. Her exact words, "It could possibly be a RI, the best treatment for this little guy is to bump the temps up a few degees and raise the humidity a few more percent and watch him for a week. If he doesn't feed or does this again, bring him back and well put him on some medicine."

Now I've know this vet for a very long time and she's always given sound advice, but this seems lazy to me. Am I wrong, or is she gonna kill my baby?

Was a culture done?? "Could possibly" is certainly not an appropriate diagnosis in my opinion.

Nope no culture done, she did nothing but talk for 20min.

Here's another small update for you guys. I just happened to come out of the kitchen and Scooter was getting himself a drink of water without any issues. He looked at me, flicked his tongue and slide off to his night time hide. I still plan on taking him to another vet Friday, just have to find another one. Thanks again everyone for the help.

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Originally Posted by rebelrachel13

Was a culture done?? "Could possibly" is certainly not an appropriate diagnosis in my opinion.

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x2 Theres also a chance i "could possibly" win the lottery ;)
Id get a second opinion from a vet thats better with exotics

So you saw bubbles just once and not since?

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Originally Posted by EricWright

So you saw bubbles just once and not since?

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Correct

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Originally Posted by Jhussey

Correct

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Then it's doubtful that he's sick. If it makes you feel better to spend money on the vet, then do what you will. A lot of people on here will rush to the vet, or tell you to do the same, if they wake up from a bad dream about their snakes.

Well you asked for an update and here it is! No RI, the new vet says he's a healthy python. Good weight, good color, nice tight skin, clear eyes. She say's that it was possible that he just aspirated some water, that it does happen sometimes in younger snakes. Something about the size of the air way in relation to the food tube. Did a culture and came back clear. I feel better and the doc really knows her stuff. Thanks everyone for all the help here.

That's great, better safe than sorry plus you found a good vet for next time