Very Concerned - Abnormal Behavior

[Erebus]

I'm not entirely sure where to start, so I'll start with a little bit of background.

My Ball Python is about a year old, and has never had any sort of health issues. So far he has been a very consistant eater, no mites, no respitory infections, no problems shedding, no dehydration, nothing. Up to this point I have been very happy that I have such a well behaved and healthy ball python. I keep him in a 20gal Terrarium in my room, I give him fresh water everyday and check the temperatures in his tank throughout the day to make sure its not too hot or cold. Everything has been going fine until about 3 am last night...

I woke up completely startled to what sound like labored exhaling or choking from the tank. It was the oddest sound I think I've ever heard. I went over to the cage and my Ball Python was contorted in such a way that did not look natural at all, with his head up and mouth open like he just got done devouring a mouse. Another labored exhale/choking sound or two, he straightened out and continued on his rampage around the tank like nothing happened. Suffice to say not only was I startled out of sleep but concerned about my snake, so I stayed up for a while longer watching him to make sure there was no abnormal behavior. He looks well and healthy today...

Wtf?

[reptidude1]

he might have been clearing his throught but i doubt that, it might be a sign of ri- does he have any mucus buy his mouth, wheezing, and does he yawn often? Whats the humidity in his tank?

[cinderbird]

what substrate are you using in his tank? It almost sounds like he got something in his mouth and was trying to get it out.

[Erebus]

Theres no evidence of a respitory infection, no mucus, wheezing or anything of the such - I did a bit of research on this site to make sure. I've been having trouble keeping humidity in the tank (40-60%) so I've been using coconut husk bedding (which I've been told is good for holding the humidity but is mold resistant.)

[reptidude1]

what substrate are you using in his tank? It almost sounds like he got something in his mouth and was trying to get it out.

that would make more sense them what i was sayin, thats probably it...

[reptidude1]

i would just use news paper or paper towls... its holds good and some of that bedding might have got stuck in his throught

[Erebus]

That was my preconceived notion too, has anyone else has any trouble with coconut husk along these lines? I will definetly consider changing his bedding. Thanks very much for all the prompt replies.

[reptidude1]

ive never used that bedding, but as long as he is fine now and you take him off the bedding he should be fine.

[cinderbird]

if you can, just hold him gently and use a safe object and open his mouth (wooden dowel, Popsicle stick, something hard that cant get caught in the teeth) and look inside to make sure his mouth is free of any debris.

you can keep him on the fancy substrate if you want, or you can switch him.

[WingedWolfPsion]

If there's no further signs of trouble...well, we cough when we inhale a particle of something, maybe that's what happened to him.