I am a new owner of a 1 1/2 year old ball python. He is about 3' 2" long and 2" on his widest part. I've had him since August of this year. The closest vet that will accept him is about an hour away. I have a few health questions. I have noticed he has been "yawning" a lot lately. He has also had his head postioned vertically for long periods of time throughout the day. Could these be a sign of a respiratory infection? I feed him a small rat once every three weeks. Is that too long of a wait for him? A few of his scales on his underside have appeared to be chipped. He has a couple of scales on his head that look kind of like a scab. It's nothing huge; I believe that it might just be old shed. Is that right? His temperatures are 85-90 on the hot side and 75-80 on the cool side. His humidity jumps anywhere from 40 to 50 on average. I've been using Aspen bedding. Do you recommend something different or something that holds humidity better? I have three different hides in his enclosure and he hardly goes in any of them! His eating response is great, but today when I fed him he bit himself on accident. I didn't see a wound of any kind. Why did he do that? I just want the best for my little guy.