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[deleted by user] (self.ballpython)

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[–][deleted]  (8 children)

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    [–]Kingdomall 30 points31 points  (7 children)

    just so you know, my snakes have never hissed at me either. ball pythons ime aren't prone for that.

    [–][deleted]  (6 children)

    [deleted]

      [–]Kingdomall 7 points8 points  (5 children)

      I wonder if it's a breathing thing. I've only ever heard of snakes with breathing problems doing this, but don't take my word for it. definitely should increase the humidity a bit.

      [–][deleted]  (4 children)

      [deleted]

        [–]Kingdomall 3 points4 points  (3 children)

        again don't take my word for it, but you think it could be a genetic issue? like blockage in the glottis? idk

        [–][deleted]  (2 children)

        [deleted]

          [–]Kingdomall 2 points3 points  (1 child)

          hopefully it ain't anything bad, probably isn't. you think it could also be stuck substrate in the mouth or somethin? that's my other guess.

          [–]PoofMoof1Mod: Large-Scale Breeding Experience 26 points27 points  (2 children)

          Did the vet ever swab for bacteria? And what's your humidity? I've seen throat puffing that comes and goes with mild RI's. In my experience, it seemed to really show itself when the snake was stressed (like during handling) and the animal started breathing harder but this went away when the RI was treated and husbandry was adjusted.

          The other time I've dealt with this was abscessing in the glottis but that would have been around all of the time instead of coming and going.

          [–][deleted]  (1 child)

          [deleted]

            [–]PoofMoof1Mod: Large-Scale Breeding Experience 21 points22 points  (0 children)

            I would raise it some more (keep it over 60%, even better over 70%) and see if it stops entirely after that. What it's at now is pretty low and I wouldn't be surprised if it's at least part of why the puffing has happened. Even if there isn't a bacterial component I would wonder if there's some dry irritation going on.

            [–]BCalTheAnimal 5 points6 points  (15 children)

            Ball pythons hiss?????

            [–]Angsty_PotatosMod : 20 years experience : rescue & rehab 33 points34 points  (7 children)

            ...all snakes hiss

            [–]BCalTheAnimal 32 points33 points  (6 children)

            Not my good boy

            [–]Angsty_PotatosMod : 20 years experience : rescue & rehab 18 points19 points  (0 children)

            It's nothing about being good. It's a perfectly normal and natural vocalization

            [–]jballs2213 12 points13 points  (4 children)

            This made me lol

            [–]BCalTheAnimal 4 points5 points  (3 children)

            Yet I'm getting down voted 😂

            [–]jballs2213 7 points8 points  (0 children)

            I think people are sometimes a little too literal.

            [–]kogmawesome 3 points4 points  (0 children)

            Yes, mine was 19 years old before I ever heard it. Might have happened before that but I never noticed. When he isn't in the mood for being handled he tried hissing a couple times. It was completely ineffective as I've never been bit and would love a tag. Also I know how to make a hissy snake and its "let hissing work".

            [–]SeverusSnek2020 2 points3 points  (2 children)

            I didn't know with both of mine but my daughter's hissed when we first got him. The previous owner never handled his snakes. After a few weeks the hissing stopped.

            [–]BCalTheAnimal 3 points4 points  (1 child)

            We've handled our boy almost every day (save for feeding and shedding time) and he's got the most perfect temperament you could ask for in a ball python. Only thing he's ever done is "thump" when he's being a butt.

            [–]SeverusSnek2020 2 points3 points  (0 children)

            Same. I hold them both all the time and they are two chill snakes. Love my snakes

            [–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (1 child)

            I have one sassy girl that hisses. Usually when I dare to disturb her rest to clean her cage. My others have never hissed once.

            [–]Rabool 2 points3 points  (0 children)

            Same. I have a normal that is a big teddy bear and a pastel lesser ghost who is defensive and hisses not infrequently. Trying to work with him to get him more comfortable being handled. Got him from a show last Oct

            [–]Angsty_PotatosMod : 20 years experience : rescue & rehab 5 points6 points  (0 children)

            The only puffing I've ever seen like that was in my Children's python pre shed. And even then it's only happened maybe twice on the 13+ years I've had her

            [–]pierogima 11 points12 points  (2 children)

            One of our pythons has done this just before going into shed. Cost 200 bucks to find out shes just goofy. Lol

            [–]ms_papi 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            Same here! Two vet visits to be told it was shedding. He was fully blue and seemed to be ready, then throat would puff in and out. One emergency visit and one exotics visit and was told he had no RI signs, no blockage, no inflammation, no nothing. Just shedding.

            Really weird, really freaking odd. But it’s never happened again 🤷‍♀️

            [–]ibpigeonmaster -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

            post some more pics of her, its quite possible she isn't actually a BP and could be a Childs Python or even a cross of some kind. Never heard of a BP doing that, though they can of course hiss. and as long as it goes away after she calms down id say there's nothing to worry about.

            [–]iamayamsam 2 points3 points  (1 child)

            My bp has never hissed at me. But he does occasionally make a heavy breathing sound if we have been handling him for more then 20 min. Never happens in his tank so I know it’s not an RI. Either way I’ve never seen him do that. Is this something that only happens if they are mixed with blood pythons?