Help: Air Release Inside Snake?

My ball has always loved going inside cardboard tubes and towel rolls, but I now believe he has out grown them considering this and a previous incident the other day where he struggled to fit. As he was trying to go through, I could hear him struggling a bit because his breathing was audible. I couldn't pull him out because I didn't want to injure him. As he was going through, I was holding near him back end to support him because he was exiting the tube and going into his enclosure. As he was going through, I felt some release of something inside him. It felt like a fart on the inside of his body. This was not near his vent or a hole, it was a few inches lower than his thickest part (he's ~40 inches).
Did he burst an organ or break something trying to get out of the tube? Was it just the passage of gas/food? I feel like such a fool. I unwrapped the remaining towels and ripped it open as fast as I could. He is moving around and seems fine now but I'm afraid that I've gravely injured him. Should I run to the vet?

I've never had this happen before neither have I seen it/heard of it, but I would be shocked if a paper towel tube managed to break something... gently feel down the snake, feel for any breaks in the ribs if you are concerned. He could have also passed gas, it happens in all animals.

Maybe he popped a joint? Like when you crack your knuckles or back. I know I felt one of my girls do that when she was resisting on me trying to keep her from wedging into a place she shouldn't be...

I would definitely keep an eye on them for any abnormal movements or if they seem tender. I would avoid giving them anything to climb more than a foot tall for a couple days just to make sure that there's nothing going on.

If anything changes, I would definitely get to a vet asap

What would a broken rib feel like? I did feel his body but he tends to tense up when I feel along him or gently squeeze. He doesn't get defensive or hiss or ball up at all though, and he hasn't since this happened last night. Regarding it being him passing gas, I was thinking that too, but it didn't seem like anything left his body. It felt like a release of something inside his body. I was holding just below his midsection and that's where I felt it.

Is there a chance that he just tensed up? I don't think an organ would have popped, if so you would also be able to notice something and the snake would be in distress most likely.

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Originally Posted by BeansTheDerp

I've never had this happen before neither have I seen it/heard of it, but I would be shocked if a paper towel tube managed to break something... gently feel down the snake, feel for any breaks in the ribs if you are concerned. He could have also passed gas, it happens in all animals.

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You misread the question- the OP was holding onto the snake & the snake was pulling forward against that tension.

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Originally Posted by iambecomedeath

...I was holding near him back end to support him because he was exiting the tube and going into his enclosure. As he was going through, I felt some release of something inside him....

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Originally Posted by iambecomedeath

My ball has always loved going inside cardboard tubes and towel rolls, but I now believe he has out grown them considering this and a previous incident the other day where he struggled to fit. As he was trying to go through, I could hear him struggling a bit because his breathing was audible. I couldn't pull him out because I didn't want to injure him. As he was going through, I was holding near him back end to support him because he was exiting the tube and going into his enclosure. As he was going through, I felt some release of something inside him. It felt like a fart on the inside of his body. This was not near his vent or a hole, it was a few inches lower than his thickest part (he's ~40 inches).
Did he burst an organ or break something trying to get out of the tube? Was it just the passage of gas/food? I feel like such a fool. I unwrapped the remaining towels and ripped it open as fast as I could. He is moving around and seems fine now but I'm afraid that I've gravely injured him. Should I run to the vet?

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Unless you just want to run to your vet for x-rays, I'd just wait & observe him closely for any abnormal behaviors, including a lack of appetite (that could indicate pain etc).

Because of the location (tail end) it doesn't seem likely that he's broken a rib, but that doesn't mean something else wasn't injured. Now you know- you don't have to literally pull on a snake to injure them internally- just merely hanging onto them when & if they pull forward hard enough, they can pop something. No way to know what exactly he did, or if there's any harm done. I'll keep my fingers crossed for him -& you.

I've given many paper towel rolls to snakes over the years- but never with any towels still on them. ***So if & when you need to get the snake out- without harm- all you have to do is separate the cardboard along the spiral "weak spot" & it will open up like a can of ready to bake cinnamon rolls.*** ;)

"Was it just the passage of gas/food? "

I would guess this. I agree with the 'monitor the snake' advice, and personally I'd try not to worry since everything is probably fine. :)

I was just holding his weight, not holding him in place!

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

You misread the question- the OP was holding onto the snake & the snake was pulling forward against that tension.

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Okay thank you, now that I understand the question better I have actually had this happen before and my snake was fine afterwards. Like Armiyana said, I had basically just popped/cracked his back, just like we humans crack our knuckles or our backs. Monitoring is a good idea though!

Normally I wouldn't give him any with the towels still on, but I needed to get him out of another tube (a much larger one that is like 4 feet long and a circumference like 3-4x his size) so I used it to lead him out because I didn't have anything else. It was very foolish of me and it is a mistake I will never make again.

I have spoken to a few vets over the phone and they agree with the monitoring advice.

I did handle him yesterday and he seemed normal and hasn't shown any signs that he is in pain. I just fed him last week so I won't be feeding him for at least another week or two. There are no marks or signs of bruising or internal bleeding from the outside of his body. I felt along his body and he didn't hiss or ball up at all. He also did his usual 2-4am journey of knocking his sticks and fake plants over, so his behavior seems normal so far. If anything happens I'll update though.

I'm glad to hear he's acting normal. My comments were out of an abundance of caution, but I figured he was most likely fine, & was hoping so.

Totally forgot about this thread but just wanted to let everyone know that he has been doing okay!

this is the best kind of update to see =)