BP whistling but seems healthy

[EldritchPreacher]

Just as the titles says my Ball Python seems healthy. She eats weekly and seems as happy as can be but for most of the time I’ve had her through three sheds she has always whistled especially when breathing heavily. She doesn’t have mucus around her mouth or nose, no loose skin or blockage I can see on her nostril, she seems completely fine. I’ve heard there are some morphs that can cause normal whistling with no hard to the Bp. Any advice?

[Mr. Misha]

How long has the whistling been going on? The reason I ask is because my normal has been whistling since she was a sub-adult. At first I thought she was sick but she kept eating and I didn't notice any shed or mucus. She's been whistling for 8 years now.

Definitely keep tabs on her to make sure that it's not an IR but if it has been going on for quite a while (more than 6 months) it may be a permanent thing.

[EldritchPreacher]

How long has the whistling been going on? The reason I ask is because my normal has been whistling since she was a sub-adult. At first I thought she was sick but she kept eating and I didn't notice any shed or mucus. She's been whistling for 8 years now.

Definitely keep tabs on her to make sure that it's not an IR but if it has been going on for quite a while (more than 6 months) it may be a permanent thing.

A little under a year now, she readily eats each week, and only whistles when she breaths hard so it’s not constant.

[Mr. Misha]

A little under a year now, she readily eats each week, and only whistles when she breaths hard so it’s not constant.

I'm guessing either a birth defect of a previous injury. If she's eating and thriving, I don't think there's anything to worry about.

[bcr229]

What morph is she? Both black pastel and cinnamon morphs have a defect called "duck billing" in the super form that is tied to the morph. In single gene critters this can show up as a whistle. I have several black pastel combos that do it, but usually just when under stress or when being handled, not when they're at rest.

[EldritchPreacher]

What morph is she? Both black pastel and cinnamon morphs have a defect called "duck billing" in the super form that is tied to the morph. In single gene critters this can show up as a whistle. I have several black pastel combos that do it, but usually just when under stress or when being handled, not when they're at rest.

She seems more like a cinnamon as her color is and markings are similar to that but markings are both. She only whistles when handling, eating, or over exerting herself exploring.

[dakski]

She seems more like a cinnamon as her color is and markings are similar to that but markings are both. She only whistles when handling, eating, or over exerting herself exploring.

How big is she/how much does she weigh?

Bigger snakes make noises when they breath that can be confused with a possible respiratory issue.

My female Boa is getting bigger and bigger and is now about 2KG+. When she exerts herself, and if I didn't know better, I would be worried. However, she has no breathing issues and is just a big girl who takes big breathes. When she climbs up my body and her head is near my neck, I hear it a lot louder too.

I had a young snake (Carpet Python - Yafe) who fed ex lost in shipment and had a terrible RI within 24 hours of getting him.

Nasal discharge, mucus in his mouth, whistling and popping, etc. and not on exertion. He also wouldn't eat until the RI was cured.

It sounds to me like she's probably fine, especially if the symptoms are not getting worse.