Snake yawns frequently, is it bad?

My snake yawns often. I see him almost every day doing it. He opens his mouth wide and closes it again.
I am worried because of RI but he doesn't show any of the signs. No mucus around mouth, no weezing, temperatures are fine, humidity should be fine (50 to 70%). He eats great, is active. It's just the yawning. I know snakes do it but mine does it really often so I just wanted to ask.

Snakes yawn for various reasons- besides trouble breathing (RI), they yawn after most every meal to re-set their flexible jaws (the rows of teeth) back to where they're comfortable & fit- sometimes they get out of whack when snakes eat, & sometimes they even catch their teeth on another part of their mouth accidentally- you'll typically see part of the edge of their jaw appear to be rolled inward a little. I've had to help snakes "un-hook" their teeth more than once over the years...above all be gentle & make sure you don't hurt their mouth if this is what's going on.

Also, a complete shed includes the outer part of each nostril- if they're dehydrated or their humidity is too low, sometimes the old skin gets stuck in their nostrils & that can make it harder for them to breath, since they cannot "blow their nose" like we do to clear the obstruction. So if you're sure you see no signs of RI, I would try misting a few times, then look in each nostril closely- see any bits of loose skin? I've been able to remove it with tweezers & a calm hand- but you may need some help if your snake is uncooperative. Or wait for the next shed, & hope they clear it by themselves.

Sign to look out for for ri

Wheezing/crackling breathing
Elevated head position
Visible mucus or bubbles
Rubbing side of face on enclosure(when not in shed)

If none of these together probably just a yawn.


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To add to the above snakes also will yawn in new environments to bring in more scents (the more effective version to flicking their tongue). So if your snake flicks his tongue often or you recently got a new snake/pet this could be it.

I have had him for three weeks now.
And he is really small still, 3 month old so looking inside his nose is tough since his head is tiny. And I am scared to hold his head since he seems so fragile.
I know that it's normal for them to yawn sometimes but he does it really every day and that's where I am unsure if it's normal.
He really seems healthy otherwise.
His mouth looks clean.

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Originally Posted by Jamiekerk

Sign to look out for for ri

Wheezing/crackling breathing
Elevated head position
Visible mucus or bubbles
Rubbing side of face on enclosure(when not in shed)

If none of these together probably just a yawn.


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Nothing really. He just lifts his head and neck in a S position and looks at me when I am in front of the glass but I thought this to be normal.

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Originally Posted by CakeLike

Nothing really. He just lifts his head and neck in a S position and looks at me when I am in front of the glass but I thought this to be normal.

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That is normal if he’s just looking at you I wouldn’t worry


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@CakeLike: From what you've said, he's normal & healthy & nothing much you can do about his yawning, so you shouldn't worry. I'm just wondering when he's due for his next meal?

I have a hunch that maybe one of his teeth got loose & bent out of shape the last time he ate. If that's the case, it's likely to fall out with the next meal, so watch & see if he keeps yawning after the next time you feed him, okay? Something like a bent tooth would feel peculiar to him, & without hands, the only thing he can do is yawn, as snakes often do after they eat, just getting their mouth (teeth) realigned. As I said, this is just a guess on my part, but let us know if his yawning continues after the next time you feed him, okay? It might be that he'll stop yawning.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

@CakeLike: From what you've said, he's normal & healthy & nothing much you can do about his yawning, so you shouldn't worry. I'm just wondering when he's due for his next meal?

I have a hunch that maybe one of his teeth got loose & bent out of shape the last time he ate. If that's the case, it's likely to fall out with the next meal, so watch & see if he keeps yawning after the next time you feed him, okay? Something like a bent tooth would feel peculiar to him, & without hands, the only thing he can do is yawn, as snakes often do after they eat, just getting their mouth (teeth) realigned. As I said, this is just a guess on my part, but let us know if his yawning continues after the next time you feed him, okay? It might be that he'll stop yawning.

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That's something I haven't heard yet. He ate Thursday. But he's been doing this since I have him, three weeks. And he's had three meals with me so far and it didn't seem to affect the yawning when his meal was.
I suspect he is going too shed sometime soon since his color became dull, he has little flakes on his skin and his belly is pink. He hasn't shed since I've had him but I don't know if this could have something to do with it.

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Originally Posted by CakeLike

That's something I haven't heard yet. He ate Thursday. But he's been doing this since I have him, three weeks. And he's had three meals with me so far and it didn't seem to affect the yawning when his meal was.
I suspect he is going too shed sometime soon since his color became dull, he has little flakes on his skin and his belly is pink. He hasn't shed since I've had him but I don't know if this could have something to do with it.

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Okay, so if he was doing this from the start & he's eaten several times with you, that's probably not it.

Shedding IS another time they may yawn- that's to loosen the old skin around their mouth so it comes off with the rest of the shed. But that's normally only right before they actually shed. I have no idea why he'd be yawning for this long a time. :confusd:

How often is he yawning? Once or twice every time you take him out, or multiple times within 10-20 mins?

In my experience nervousness may also cause a BP to yawn. As mentioned above, it may be a way for them to take in more smells in the air by letting air hit their Jacobson's organ directly.

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

How often is he yawning? Once or twice every time you take him out, or multiple times within 10-20 mins?

In my experience nervousness may also cause a BP to yawn. As mentioned above, it may be a way for them to take in more smells in the air by letting air hit their Jacobson's organ directly.

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I don't monitor him constantly but I have a pet cam on him and he does it mostly at night when he is active. And I see it on the footage that he does it almost daily but not a couple if times in a row.
He yawns, than he goes on exploring.

It could be a way to test the air if he does it consistently before he explores. How much cover do you have in the tank?

BP yawns have always intrigued me. I'm aware of the RI aspect of them, and this is priority check one when I see any of mine yawn.

But I feel I've also noticed some yawn.... 'patterns'.

For example, my eldest male is bit of a shy eater, so it's rare to catch him yawning just after a meal as is a common time to see a BP yawn, but when you do catch him yawn, it'll generally be that one yawn and that's that.

My eldest female, also arguably my best eater (as it stands), when she displays a yawn, I can almost be certain it will be followed by a few more (unless you've just caught her final yawn, that is). Her yawns almost seem longer lasting than any other of the BP's yawns too and I always try to use the opportunities to inspect for anything that looks 'off'.

It's interesting to read in this thread that they can do it for a better sniff of food and that fits in with what may be the habit my the oldest female here as she does act like bit of a starver quite often!

I've found this thread interesting, thank you for raising it.

And to echo what everyone is suggesting, your little guy sounds like he's doing all the snake stuff he should, so unless there is anything that just doesn't seem right, just enjoy learning about him. :gj:

I've just had him out and he did yawn again on my hand. He was extremely excited/nervous. So I am still not sure with this.

This is his enclosure https://www.instagram.com/p/CUkZpbpM...dium=copy_link

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Originally Posted by CakeLike

I don't monitor him constantly but I have a pet cam on him and he does it mostly at night when he is active. And I see it on the footage that he does it almost daily but not a couple if times in a row.
He yawns, than he goes on exploring.

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Daily or a few times a day sounds normal to me :) I think most animals probably yawn a few times a day.

I wouldn’t worry about it too much. My green anaconda, mainly when I first got him, but he still does it, just not as much, yawned frequently. I worried about it but no sign of mucus and still feeding so I just let it go. Same thing as you, I have cameras in my cages. That’s when I would see it. I’ve seen my daughters ball yawn a couple times randomly as well. Numerous reasons, just make sure they aren’t holding their mouth open and your not seeing any mucus.

wait until you hear/see them fart. That’s freaky.

Honestly, I love it when my snakes yawn, because that gives me a chance to see inside their mouth (without a struggle), & besides, they look sorta goofy when they do it, but I don't see any of my snakes yawning very often. Then again, I have 19 to keep track of, & I'm not watching them 24/7 either- they're not all in the same room either. Frequent yawning might just be a quirk of this particular snake, so as long as no real symptoms of a problem (like an RI) are being seen, I wouldn't "lose any sleep" over this.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Honestly, I love it when my snakes yawn, because that gives me a chance to see inside their mouth (without a struggle), & besides, they look sorta goofy when they do it, but I don't see any of my snakes yawning very often. Then again, I have 19 to keep track of, & I'm not watching them 24/7 either- they're not all in the same room either. Frequent yawning might just be a quirk of this particular snake, so as long as no real symptoms of a problem (like an RI) are being seen, I wouldn't "lose any sleep" over this.

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It's over so quick that it's tough to get a good look inside. Plus his mouth is tiny but as far as I can see his mouth looks clean without mucus and has a healthy light pink color.
Haven't been able to inspect teeth yet since he's still so tiny and for not getting tagged reasons.