Black Pastels: Wheezing, and Popping, RIs or Genetics?

[hotelvoodoo]

I know, I know... I'm posting an issue. Again. But this is something I've been curious about for months now.

I have two black pastels, one male around 1000 grams and one female around 700 grams. Both have been off of food all season, but have both been previously good eaters. But, both of them are popping and wheezing.

The thing of it is, they have popped and wheezed on and off since we got them. The male gets worse around shed time, and she gets worse after soaking (one of her favorite activities), but more or less they make the noise constantly. Occasionally I will do an RI check at the mouth, and most often there are little to no bubbles. Still, I worry that something is wrong and I usually wind up treating them with F-10 for a week or two. Sometimes they quit popping for a week or so, but sometimes they do that without treatment too. I just don't know. I don't want to keep treating them and stressing them out if they aren't sick. It's been a year for both of them.

The odd part is, it's only my black pastels. And I've read lots about black pastels being genetically predisposed towards facial deformities. I wonder if that might also translate to thinned nasal passages or something, resulting in the popping sounds.

What do you guys think?

[Daybreaker]

I've never heard of black pastels popping more than other morphs, mine doesn't do it.

[dr del]

Hi,

Mine don't make any noise either.

[adamfritzsche]

No wheezing from my pair either. Although they are very vocal. They both love to hiss at me if they even see me. The feistiest snakes I own!