Ball Python Yawning?

[alpine]

So I had Andromeda out tonight and I was just spending a little time with her getting her used to regular handling and I noticed that she yawned once. Then about 5 minutes later she yawned again. Her ambient temps are at 80. Hot spot is 92, cool side is 78 on the bottom. I have not noticed any signs of RI so I am just wondering if this is normal because I rarely ever see my other ones (or the one that I had when I was younger) yawn, I only ever saw it after they ate. So I am just curious and want to make sure nothing is up before it gets too serious.

[ewaldrep]

Is she getting ready to shed, I think that snakes do that sometimes when they are coming into shed soon so that may be what is going on if the time is close.

[alpine]

She has that weird iridescent look to her scales so it is possible. I have just never noticed that kind of behavior.

[BWyant]

My dude yawns pretty frequently. Took him to the vet when I first got him, had him a month now. Doctor said he looks healthy as a whatever.

A lot of times, he does it after I've handled him or he's been out and about. I think it has to do with a lack of oxygen maybe.

Yawning is usually a result of lack of oxygen in the body..... Don't ask me why it's contagious though.

Anyway, yawning isn't a problem. Just try to check in the critter's mouth and make sure there's nothing bothering it. Scratches usually. Stuck bedding.

[ewaldrep]

Mine does it once in a while too, she did it again last night when we had her out but it has been about 3 weeks since she shed so it is coming. I read a thread where someone, with more bp experience than I, said that it helps loosen the skin at the head to start the shedding process.

[alpine]

There shouldn't be an issue with stuck shed. She has only been on paper towels her entire life. And that is good to know though. I just want to make sure that there isn't anything going on. I try to be really attentive with all three of them and Salazar is heading towards a shed right now. Getting paler and paler every day so I see his shed being really soon. Thanks for clearing up my fears though. I would hate to have any of them get sick. But when she did it I had her out of the tub for about 20-25 minutes while I was sitting on the computer and she was just moving around and she stopped for a second and then just opened her mouth wide and yawned and then kept moving.

[BWyant]

There shouldn't be an issue with stuck shed. She has only been on paper towels her entire life. And that is good to know though. I just want to make sure that there isn't anything going on. I try to be really attentive with all three of them and Salazar is heading towards a shed right now. Getting paler and paler every day so I see his shed being really soon. Thanks for clearing up my fears though. I would hate to have any of them get sick. But when she did it I had her out of the tub for about 20-25 minutes while I was sitting on the computer and she was just moving around and she stopped for a second and then just opened her mouth wide and yawned and then kept moving.

That's pretty much what my guy does. I've never paid attention to exactly when he does it during shed cycles though. But, if he's out and about for a little while, like you said about 25 minutes, he usually stops for a minute to yawn and then moves right along like a human would do if we sneezed.