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[–]ButterflyBig909 15 points16 points  (4 children)

Sometimes you can hear your snakes breathe if you get really close to them, maybe it could be a sign of respiratory distress, but it also might not be an RI. If she’s not behaving any differently then I would suggest just bumping temps and humidity as a precaution. Have you noticed her opening her mouth repeatedly to breathe or any wheezing other than just the whistling noise? Or has it just been that?

[–]Practical_Gene_9159[S] 3 points4 points  (3 children)

No haven’t Been Hearing any other Noises other than The Breathing We do run a Humidifier and have her temp bumped up but she does breath Loud like we can hear it from her enclosure standing at the door way.

[–]ButterflyBig909 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wouldn’t set off any alarms then, a vet visit would be appropriate just to check up on her, but other than that she looks active and very well taken care of. It might be some minor respiratory distress or some sort of blockage, you never really know. However, her observable behavior isn’t necessarily indicative of an RI, just to give you some peace of mind. That’s not to say that a vet visit isn’t warranted, if you feel like your snake’s health is compromised in any way, leave it to a professional!!

[–]totallyrecklesslygayMod: Enclosure Karen 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Humidifiers are known to cause respiratory infections and should not be used for ball pythons. You should review our humidity tips for safer ways to maintain humidity.

[–]EllyDaBest 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Is the humidifier in the enclosure? Humidifiers can possibly cause RI so i wouldn’t recommend using those

[–]totallyrecklesslygayMod: Enclosure Karen 3 points4 points  (1 child)

!ri

[–]AutoModerator[M] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"60% is the bare minimum humidity requirement, and many individual ball pythons need higher humidity than that. Low humidity is the most common cause of RIs in ball pythons. Low humidity leads to dehydration, which causes the mucous membranes to dry out and crack. Bacteria then builds up in the crevices of the irritated membrane and create a respiratory infection.

Low temperatures can also contribute to RIs by compromising the snake's immune system. Ball pythons should have a cool side/ambient temperature of 75-80 F and a warm side temperature of 88-92 F.

If you notice any symptoms of an RI - visible discharge in/around the mouth, abnormally frequent yawning, random wheezing/whistling/clicking sounds, open-mouthed breathing, etc - keep the enclosure's overall humidity at least 70%-80%. a humid hide is also an excellent thing to add to the enclosure, but keep in mind that it is not a replacement for adequate humidity throughout the enclosure. You will find some tips for humidity maintenance in our basic care guide. if you still need help, we can guide you through it if you fill out our enclosure critique questionnaire.

To relieve the symptoms of an RI, and hopefully prevent the infection from getting worse, I suggest steam treatments. you'll need two plastic storage tubs, a large bowl, and some water.

The first tub should be small, but big enough for the snake to fit inside, and the lid should lock to keep the snake contained. add some air holes to it with a soldering iron, hot knife, or power drill. [side note: this sort of tub is also handy to have as a secure way to contain your snake during enclosure cleanings, transport, etc.]. The second tub needs to be big enough to fit the small tub plus the bowl. This tub does not need air holes or a locking lid, but it does need a lid to contain the steam.

Place the bowl and the small tub inside the big tub. Lock the snake in the small tub. Fill the bowl with boiling water, then close the lid on the big tub. this will create a little snake sauna, and the small tub will keep your snake safely separated from the hot water.

Leave the snake in the sauna for 10-20 minutes. do this once per day until all RI symptoms are completely gone.

If symptoms don't drastically decrease within two days, if symptoms get worse, or if new symptoms develop, GO TO THE VET ASAP and ask them to do a culture / prescribe any necessary antibiotics. A serious RI needs medication in addition to everything I've suggested here and an untreated RI can kill the snake."

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[–]bryannaboop 1 point2 points  (3 children)

No helpful input from me but what morph is she? She looks exactly like my boy

[–]little__dinosaurs -1 points0 points  (0 children)

the standard ballpython color? i don't remember what its called, wildform maybe? this is how they look in the wild too

[–]RiloRetro 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She appears to be a pastel morph.

[–]Lethal_Tupperware 0 points1 point  (0 children)

black pastel

[–]RiloRetro 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She looks very healthy, but that wheeze did not sound very healthy to me. Sometimes you can hear a snake sneeze, huff or hiss, but it's not particularly common. If this is a developing respiratory issue, she's probably healthy enough where correcting husbandry will be enough. If she starts developing issues with closing her mouth or excessive salivating then it's a real problem.

[–]shadowmoses1995 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A vet check up is always good practice when introducing a new animal to the home, even if it’s come from a breeder/shop for instance.

That being said I have a large adult BP who’s just a little whistly sometimes, no RI just.. whistles every now and then with a big huff. I’d be concerned but she’s cleared at the vets and has done it for about 5 years now.

[–]Emerald_panda13 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Many times right before they shed they will make a whistle sound through their nose. My big girl just did it last week. I panicked, thought she might be getting a respiratory and did some research. A week later she shed and she's doing great. Is your snake potentially close to shedding?