Happy report on mary jane

[Arachnaeoccult]

As she is my first snake I've been concerned with her health during the winter. february is already starting up warm and they've made it through. i've checked for odd signs and picked up on some shed signs and the whistling noise that comes from shedding to make sure she doesn't have an IR. 9(the loosened blued patch of skin on her nose also) the old skin is off and a fresh healthy new one has come up. she seems content as usual. i did feed her when her eyes were beginning to go from grey/blueing to black again. her shed came off over night and she seemed mellow all the way through. she sniffs around and has lots of curiosity.

The baby corn snake has also been steadily growing after only 3 feeds

[macandchz]

dear arachnaeoccult, what whistling noise are you talking about that comes from shedding?I've been through a couple sheds with macandchz and never noticed any kind of noise. almost wish he'd get aggressive once because i've never even heard him hiss.

[dross9615]

I'm right there with you Mac. Never heard of this whistling sound either. Not sure what you are talking about but I definitely have never experienced anything like it

[Andy_G]

It is completely normal and extremely common for snakes to have a inconstant and mild whistle as well as a slightly distended throat while in the middle of, or coming very close to, a shed cycle. That distention, whether it happens due to partial blockage of the airways caused by RI or while in shed or due to stuck shed on or in the nose, is due to having to breathe through the mouth rather than the nose. The whistling happens simply because the old skin is loosening and partially occluding(blocking) the airway through the nostrils. This clears up once the shed is complete, provided none of the old skin was retained for whatever reason in the nasal area. Sometimes the whistling and throat distention can occur due to substrate being in there as well.

RI noises sound VERY different from this and are much more constant, gurgle/raspy/gasping like in sound and nature, and usually quite pronounced. I know what you two were thinking. :)

[dross9615]

It is completely normal and extremely common for snakes to have a inconstant and mild whistle as well as a slightly distended throat while in the middle of, or coming very close to, a shed cycle. That distention, whether it happens due to partial blockage of the airways caused by RI or while in shed or due to stuck shed on or in the nose, is due to having to breathe through the mouth rather than the nose. The whistling happens simply because the old skin is loosening and partially occluding(blocking) the airway through the nostrils. This clears up once the shed is complete, provided none of the old skin was retained for whatever reason in the nasal area. Sometimes the whistling and throat distention can occur due to substrate being in there as well.

RI noises sound VERY different from this and are much more constant, gurgle/raspy/gasping like in sound and nature, and usually quite pronounced. I know what you two were thinking. :)

Oh thanks Andy I guess I should just pay attention more I've never noticed this with my boa