Am I Being Paranoid?

[Minkness]

Soooo, I had my new lady out for aome quick photos, and she handled super well. However I noticed that she seems to be breathing very heavy. I listened for external and intwrnal wheezing and checked for discharge and mouth bubbles. Everything is clear. She just appeaes to be breathinghard.

Any ideas? Or am I just being paranoid?

https://youtu.be/yeZ72iTku2g

[bigsnakegirl785]

She could just be nervous or otherwise excited. Snakes tend to breathe deep and fast like that when they're excited, whether they think food is coming, they could be in danger, a smell has them interested, or some other reason.

From that one video, it looks like normal, non-RI breathing to me, especially if you say her breathing sounded clear.

[Minkness]

Whew!

Thanks BSG! I was hoping that's all it was, but none of my others just breath like that. She is still young and settling in, so I may have just freaked her out or something. Other than that she seemed calm though. Always so weird learning a new personality!

[Albert Clark]

Sounded absolutely normal to me. Sometimes if a ball python remains in lower than optimal humidity ranges they can develop a little noisy respiration. Does not mean they have any RI or such. Just stay on top of your humidity and temps as usual. The shipping process can be stressful on them as well.

[macandchz]

i've seen mac breathe like that when he's being handled by someone he's not sure of or he's not in his same surroundings. i don't think it's anything to worry about.

[Aaron_S]

Yeah you're fine. It's nothing to worry about in the case of an RI.

I notice that on newer snakes in the collection or smaller babies. I've always viewed it as a first sign of stress and the time to put the snake back in the enclosure.

If you were handling the snake for a lengthy period of time it could just be super tired too. They do only have one lung :P

[Minkness]

Lol, thanks guys!

[jpsteele80]

Yeah nothing to worry about, my little blood python does this when i take her out. I don't think she was handled all that much and she is just nervous