New BP - Sick?

I just bought my first ball python a week ago. I just wanted to check if some of her behaviour is normal or not. I've read all the care sheets I could find on the net, but none of them really go into detail about what symptoms of sickness are.

All of the care sheets say that BPs are very inactive, but mine will literally stay in one spot indefinately until I move her. I haven't noticed her coming out for water at all unless I place her by the dish, then she'll drink. I know that you're suppossed to leave them alone for the first few weeks after you buy them but I was worried that she wasn't drinking. When i've gone to move her like this, i've noticed that she makes a "popping" kind of noise when I touch her. I've read that this is a sign of an RI, but is it still a symptom if she only does it when I touch her and not all the time? The care sheets also say to look out for stargazing and opening the mouth. When i've moved her near the water dish, she will raise her head towards the sky, but not for a long amount of time, maybe 20 seconds, and she also "yawns" a few times. Is this the same as gaping the mouth?

Thanks!

BP's drink trust me. They just do it when your not looking. Originally it all sounds normal, until you said you looks up and yawns multiple times. That in conjunction with everything else you mentioned, sounds like a RI. The BP will need medical treatment.

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Originally Posted by KareBear

I just bought my first ball python a week ago. I just wanted to check if some of her behaviour is normal or not. I've read all the care sheets I could find on the net, but none of them really go into detail about what symptoms of sickness are.

All of the care sheets say that BPs are very inactive, but mine will literally stay in one spot indefinately until I move her. I haven't noticed her coming out for water at all unless I place her by the dish, then she'll drink. I know that you're suppossed to leave them alone for the first few weeks after you buy them but I was worried that she wasn't drinking. When i've gone to move her like this, i've noticed that she makes a "popping" kind of noise when I touch her. I've read that this is a sign of an RI, but is it still a symptom if she only does it when I touch her and not all the time? The care sheets also say to look out for stargazing and opening the mouth. When i've moved her near the water dish, she will raise her head towards the sky, but not for a long amount of time, maybe 20 seconds, and she also "yawns" a few times. Is this the same as gaping the mouth?

Thanks!

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Do you see slime coming out of her mouth or can you see any in her mouth? If you notice slime in her mouth then yes its URI.Please make a vet app ;)

I don't notice any slime or mucus in her mouth at all. She has also been more active lately. I think I misunderstood the "stargazing" term. She doesn't sit with her nose pointed up, just with her head held an inch or two higher than her body, but with her head horizontal, not vertical. Does that change anything?
Also, i think she's shedding. Her eyes were blue a few days ago, now they're clear again, but she's still a tiny bit dull on her body.
One new thing that i'm wondering about, is that her skin tonight looks really wrinkly and almost sunken in. Is this a normal part of the shedding process??She does still "yawn" every now and then as well. Do snakes ever just yawn like that?

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Originally Posted by KareBear

I don't notice any slime or mucus in her mouth at all. She has also been more active lately. I think I misunderstood the "stargazing" term. She doesn't sit with her nose pointed up, just with her head held an inch or two higher than her body, but with her head horizontal, not vertical. Does that change anything?
Also, i think she's shedding. Her eyes were blue a few days ago, now they're clear again, but she's still a tiny bit dull on her body.
One new thing that i'm wondering about, is that her skin tonight looks really wrinkly and almost sunken in. Is this a normal part of the shedding process??She does still "yawn" every now and then as well. Do snakes ever just yawn like that?

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Yes she is getting ready to shed.If you spray her enclosure some(not soaked) it will up the humidity and help her do a perfect shed(hopefully lol).Once she has shed listen for the popping noises and they might be gone,if not then a vet app is needed.Keep us posted :D

I just posted a few days ago, about my bp was doing the same thing. I took George to the vet. he has pneumonia, he is on baytril antibiotics. I have to give him shots for the next 2 weeks. Please take your bp to a vet, one that specializes in Exotic pets. These people on this site are awesome, I asked help & they gave me help. Also keep the temps in your bp's home above 92-95.

George was making that little popping nose... and constantly opening his mouth. He had no white slime or anything that was mentioned about URI. But he did have this crust on his upper mouth. He moved around more today. I gave him a bath, he enjoyed that.

Hi,

I would hold off on the vet until the shed is over as it should only be a couple of days now really.

Just my 2c.


dr del

Ok I am seriously stumped.

She is obviously VERY ready to shed (dull, very wrinkly etc) but she still hasn't and she's been like this 3 days now. I have her humidity up to 70%, and I tried a warm bath today.....nothing. There arn't even any loose scales anywhere....
What should i do? I'm really worried about her.
She also opens her mouth alot still...is that because she needs to shed?

Wanted to add that i've also added wet moss under her enclosure, but now she won't go in there. It actually seems like she's avoiding moist places....

im going through the same thing right now. I'm slightly worried too... but not of RI. When I first got my BP he was really nice and loved to be held but since he's gone into shedding, he's become really agitated. I know some of it was when his eyes were cloudy, but he's been "uncloudy" for a day now and he still gets really startled at sudden movements - something he wasn't TOO bothered by before. It has also taken him a long time to do this shed - about a week and a half now. He doesn't have any loose scales yet, but he's very wrinkly in the neck.

are these common occurrences while a BP is shedding? someone please tell me i'm just trippin cuz i hope my ball is going to return back to the happy snake he was after this whole shedding ordeal.

Shizzy
A BP is very susceptable and cranky when in the shedding process. Their skin is fragile, and they most likely will refuse food and not want to be handled until the process is complete. It's not an uncommon thing.

Don't overdo the humidity. Keeping it between 50-70% should work well. You should soak them after they have attempted to shed and there is a lot stuck. When you soak them, you have to work the shed off immediately with a nice terry cloth towel, otherwise the stuck shed will become harder for them to remove by themselves if you just soak and put them back in the enclosure.

Kare
When misting the enclosure, aim at the corners and around the side of the tank or tub. This prevents them from sitting on a wet spot, and will also keep the humidity up without having to soak the substrate.

If your animal is unable to even move to drink, it probably won't do a good job of shedding. Be prepared for that.
If the animal is clearly supposed to be shedding, the scales are crinkly and dry, perhaps take him to the vet regardless.

A healthy BP is alert, acknowledges us when we open their enclosure. The tongue flicks very often. They can hold their head steady, and move fluently to where they are directing themselves.

If your BP has very little or minimal tongue flicking, wheezing, drool he may be very sick, and you need to take him to the vet immediately.

If you are able to, hold his head gentle from behind, and pull down on his the skin under his jaw. When you open his mouth, it should be clean, and a light pink color. There should be NO bubbles or mucous. If this is present, he definitely has an URI, and a treatment for bacteria is necessary.

Ask for a CULTURE from the vet so you two will know right from the get go what strain of bacteria or virus your are dealing with.

It has been recommended here that the injections have better success than the oral doses. Ask the Vet if they will do that as well.

I hope you can get him to the vet as soon as possible.

I did end up taking her to the vet a couple days ago.
he said she has no infection, but that the retained shed is blocking her nostrils, thus the gaping.
I gave her a long warm bath, and now everything is shed but the head, which is extremely stubborn. I'm trying the pillowcase trick as I type this, but she's not moving in there, just chilling out.
Any other suggestions?

Can someone explain what wheezing looks like? I just got my first ball on Saturday and I am a little worried about his breathing. He had a slight clicking, for lack of a better word, when I first got him, but that has since subsided. He isn't showing any other signs of RI that I have read about and ate on Tuesday. I figured I'd wait a day or two and monitor him closely before taking him to the vet.

The best way to check for an RI is to look inside the mouth. Usually this means genltly holding the head and gently rolling the lips open to see of there is any stringy mucus or fluid. Many BP's will start blowing little bubbles out of their mouths when building up fluid/mucos. This is a clear sign of an RI and you need to see the vet and kick up temps to 94-95. RI's can be caused by low temps, very dry or wet conditions and /or stress. Stress is known to reduce their imune systems and lead to illness.

When snakes are in shed their eyes,nostrils and heat pits shed too which makes it very difficult for them to get info and they may become very defensive or aggitated. It's best to not feed then (most refuse) and kick up humidity a bit and just let them be. Many will poop and/or pee when they shed. It's like cleaning their insides and outside at the same time. I usually wait to clean the enclosure until they finish shedding because it's usually a mess afterwards.

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Originally Posted by DannyA

Can someone explain what wheezing looks like? I just got my first ball on Saturday and I am a little worried about his breathing. He had a slight clicking, for lack of a better word, when I first got him, but that has since subsided. He isn't showing any other signs of RI that I have read about and ate on Tuesday. I figured I'd wait a day or two and monitor him closely before taking him to the vet.

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Wheezing can be from dry skin/shed wistling as they breath or flem/mucous sounds interfereing with breathing. It is helpful/important to recognize the difference.

Sheds will vary depending on humidity levels , Mine usually shed 5-7 days after there eyes go return to clear. Misting helps ! I mist every few days during a shed.