another newb question yawning blowing bubbles

this morning my girlfriend seen him yawn and i witnessed it tonight a few times he submerges his head in the water rubs against the water dish and then yawns and repeats, when he submerges his head in the water sometimes blows bubbles is this something to be alarmed about, i have read yawning can be a sign of RI> but haven't found anything on the bubble blowing and don't notice any mucus
here are some pics

head submerged
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/pict0023.jpg

yawning
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/pict0027.jpg

head looking up (sign of RI?) doesn't do it long tho
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/pict0025.jpg

This is most likely a respiritory infection... take him to a qualified vet and get him some medication as soon as you can.

By the way, I think that mouse is a little too large for him.

Did he just eat? :weirdface I noticed the mouse...If he already ate a mouse prior to going for his water (Maybe to help wash it down) he could be just realigning his jaw preparing for mouse #2. Pictures are a bit fuzzy so can't tell much from them... Any wheezing type sounds when he breathes? Ive never dealt with RI, but Im sure members with experience in that area will be able to help ;)

By the way...:welcome:

Well I think you are ok, displacing air in water causes bubbles but you are looking for bubbles to form around the mouth out of water this is due to the mucous in and around the mouth. It would be like the snake is blowing Mucous bubbles. Yawing is normal behavior but you are looking for the mouth to be slightly open. Think of it like you not being able to breath through your nose when you are sick so you breath through your mouth thus you need to have your mouth open slightly. I think if you feel like it might have RI then maybe you should take him to the vet but I am not sure what you describe convinces me of RI but I am not their in your shoes so.

Chuck

Between the snake's size, dehydrated state (look at the skin folds in the photo), frequent yawning, and rubbing the mouth... I'd go ahead and take him to an experienced vet for possible treatment.

You know I should qualify what I have said by saying I have never had to deal with RI in any of my animals, but sitting thinking about the behavior I guess it could be a respiratory infection. Sorry I should have put that out there before I gave my 2 cents.

Hey no problem... just stating my opinion of what I would do personally. The OP could get to the vet and find out there was no problem... or maybe it was some other problem... either way they will hopefully have a better idea of what is going on. :)

no he hasn't eaten in three weeks as per my other thread and thats the size mouse the store was feeding when i bought him i wil get something smaller going to try a live mouse to see if he will eat haven't noticed any weezing or mucus

Will you take him to a Vet?

yes there not open today but i'll call first thing tomorrow,
one of the other snakes from the store was just returned for not eating and looking poorly and they told me i could bring mine back and exchange it but don't really want to, I'd rather get him help and know he's doing good then to drop him off at the store and who knows what they would do,

First off, get him to a vet to get checked out.

Next on the list, get him out of that huge enclosure and put him in a 6qt shoebox tub. Like this:
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0008-3.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0009-2.jpg

The size of baby that occupies this size tub:
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0010-3.jpg

You need to move him, get a digital thermometer, flexwatt(or an UTH) and a thermostat to get his environment correct. THEN you need to leave him completely alone for at least a week, preferably more. ONLY change water.

After that week to 2 weeks is up, wait until dark, keep the room dark, and pre-scent the room with a live hopper mouse in a separate container next to the snake's tub. DO NOT REMOVE THE SNAKE FOR FEEDING. Do not touch the snake at all. Pre-scent for a good 30 minutes, so the snake knows what is going to happen.

Then open the tub, drop the mouse in next to the water bowl, close the tub and LEAVE the room. Leave the snake alone for 20-30 minutes. If he doesn't eat, remove the mouse and leave him alone for another week. NO handling. Wait until the next feeding day to try to feed him again.

Again, the snake cannot be left in that enclosure or he will never eat.

ummm - by blowing bubble do you mean he is blowing bubbles in the water or do you mean he's blowing mucus bubbles?

The pictures you posted are both of him in the water so I'm a little confused about why you would jump immediately to RI?

Perhaps he just enjoying a dip in the pool? He could be dehydrated, have some dry skin or something petstore mite(?) irritating his face.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

First off, get him to a vet to get checked out.

Next on the list, get him out of that huge enclosure and put him in a 6qt shoebox tub. Like this:
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0008-3.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0009-2.jpg

The size of baby that occupies this size tub:
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...PICT0010-3.jpg

You need to move him, get a digital thermometer, flexwatt(or an UTH) and a thermostat to get his environment correct. THEN you need to leave him completely alone for at least a week, preferably more. ONLY change water.

After that week to 2 weeks is up, wait until dark, keep the room dark, and pre-scent the room with a live hopper mouse in a separate container next to the snake's tub. DO NOT REMOVE THE SNAKE FOR FEEDING. Do not touch the snake at all. Pre-scent for a good 30 minutes, so the snake knows what is going to happen.

Then open the tub, drop the mouse in next to the water bowl, close the tub and LEAVE the room. Leave the snake alone for 20-30 minutes. If he doesn't eat, remove the mouse and leave him alone for another week. NO handling. Wait until the next feeding day to try to feed him again.

Again, the snake cannot be left in that enclosure or he will never eat.

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I vote for this to be a sticky :gj::D:bow:

i will take him to the vet tomorrow
as for blowing bubbles no mucus just puts head under water and exhales creating bubbles as for the tub i have a 31 qt i kept him in while he had mites will that work or is something smaller desired? I also notice in the picture there is only one hide and the water dish is that all i need people keep saying 2 hides one on the warm side one on the cool side?
He doesn't seem all that stressed in the big tank he does move around it a few times a day from side to side at first he was hiding on the cool side under the drift wood but now he's out and about so i figured he had to adjust to it before he started moving around, but i am new to this and i am taking in all the advice i get so thanks to everyone for helping get me pointed in the right direction

just saw it said 6qt so i'm quessing 31qt is way to big i'll pick one up in the morning before/after the vet visit

went to the vet today, no illness, but he is underwejght at 62 grams doc tube feed him because he's not eating and so skinny and gave some iron and vitamin B along with deworming and said he should begin eating on thursday if not take him back in she also said he was full of gas cuz she was trying to get him to poop and showed me the bubble of gas

It is really important that you get this little guy into the tiny 6qt tub that Becky showed. Have you had the chance to do this yet?
Your vet seems like a knowledgeable one and so your snake is lucky!

the vet also said he possibly has anemia from having the mites and he was very pale