10 year old BP having difficulty breathing - Possible RI?

[Namea]

10 year old BP having difficulty breathing - Possible RI?
Hello everyone. I am new to this forum but definitely not new to snakes. I've raised, bred, and cared for them since I was a child with the guidance of my father. Currently I am in college with the ambition of becoming a vet who specializes in reptile care.

Anyway, enough about me.

My Ball Python, Nico, is 10 years old. For the past two days he has been making extremely loud squealing sounds when he breathes. It is with every breath and he is frequently opening his mouth to breath. His tongue forks are not stuck together and there is no discharge coming from his nose or mouth. He is however often craning his neck upwards which I know to be a sign of mucous build up.

Could this be a start of a potential RI? That would not be good. I currently live in Idaho and as far as I know there are no vets that are qualified to deal with snakes here.

His care regimine is as follows:
His tank is kept strictly between 82 and 90 degrees farenheit with a humidity of 55%. At night I bring the tempurature down to 77.
Every friday I feed him a rat and he has been eating quite well this year. His normal yearly hibernation was much shorter than it ever has been as well to my surprise.
He has a hide box, a log, and a water dish large enough for him to curl up and soak in. (Which he does on very warm days)
His tank is four feet long by two feet wide and two feet tall. (Forgive me for not knowing the exact gallon size)

It is kept heated by an insulated heat rock. I know many recommend against them and claim they can cause burns. This is false if you purchase the right kind. They are expensive but extremely well insulated and do not get hot enough on the surface to burn him. He has been using this rock for over 8 years with no issues from it at all. My other snakes have also had rocks of the same brand and I've never had any problems.

His substrate is wood chips, I do not recall the exact wood except that it is most definitely not cedar.

I handle him on a daily basis except when he is shedding or has just eaten.

Medical History
Nico has never had any severe medical problems. His first year with us caused some alarm as we were taken aback by his refusal to eat for three months in the winter. However, upon realizing that it was simply his normal hibernation we were satisfied. Over the years he has continued to not eat for those three months until this year when he only hibernated for two. I moved in October so I suspect that the new climate is simply more to his liking.

He has never developed any of the common BP ailments.

Current Condition
Squealing noises when he breathes.
Laboured breathing
Holding his neck up to clear mucous.
Opening his mouth to breathe.
Still active
No discharge from nose or mouth.
Forks of his tongue separated.
Mouth and nostrils appear to be the correct "healthy" shades.

I would be glad of any assistance that can be offered. In all my years with him and other snakes I have never seen these symptoms and I am extremely worried. He is a part of my family and after having had him since I was very young I would like to do anything in my power to make sure he is healthy and happy.

[stephanbakir]

Could be an RI, sometimes a squealing nose can be caused by a piece of shed flapping, but with the rest of the symptoms it sounds like an RI.

[Namea]

Unfortunately his last shed was at least a month back so I don't believe a piece of skin is the issue. I do really wish it was though.

The odd squealing noises have persisted for the last three days.

[Namea]

Once upon a time there was a little girl. Her father worked extensively with snakes and taught her a love and respect of them that most children don't have. When she was 11 years old he decided that it was time for her to get her very first snake.

That trip to the pet store was an exciting one and after viewing and holding many different snakes, she saw one, the loner in a tank full of others curled up together. He was less than a foot and a half long and slightly over a year old. The breeder on hand told the man and his daughter that this particular snake hadn't been eating. He said he thought that it was a lost cause.

The little girl reached out and picked up the snake when he was offered to her. She held him and he immediately moved from his nervous balled-up position to stretch along her shoulder. It was love. That was the one.

Now lost causes were somewhat of a specialty for the father. He paid for the snake against the breeder's advice and they took him home. His name was Nico. After he became acclimated it was time to get this hungry little fellow to eat. Somehow the snake did there in their home what he would not do anywhere else - he ate. The little girl rejoiced and decided from that day on, Nico was hers and hers alone.

After 10 years with no health problems Nico developed issues breathing. A respiratory infection was the suspected culprit. The little girl, now a 22 year old woman living on her own, took him to the Vet who after X-rays said that he saw nothing wrong but to come back in a week if the snake's health hadn't improved. A week passed with no improvement so she took him back. Antibiotics seemed to be working fine. He'd been breathing easier and had been off of them for two days. All looked well.

Tonight we found him dead in his cage. The beloved member of our family Nico seems to have passed after so many years with us.

Rest in Peace my friend. You will never be forgotten.

[Dehlida]

Increase humidity for the next snake. Probably had a big effect on it- and I'm shocked no one mentioned it sooner.

[Lankyrob]

You have my deepest sympathy, never easy to lose a pet.

[SnakeyJay]

Sorry for your loss, but nico got ten years of good life that he wouldnt have got without you taking him home.

[Gungirl]

So sorry for your loss..

[stephanbakir]

Sorry for the loss.

[brylecc1989]

Very sorry about Nico.

[Will0W783]

I'm very sorry about your loss. It sounds like you had good care regimens, but I might add that I do not particularly care for belly heat of any kind with snakes. In the wild, snakes bask and excessive belly heat (heat coming from under the snake) can cause digestive issues and impaction long-term. I find radiant heat panels to be the best overall heating element for all my reptiles. They do not throw light, they are very economical to run, can be screwed right onto the ceiling of a cage or set on top of a screen lid and do not burn the snake.

[ladyjustice33]

Wow....so sorry about Nico, it soo hard to lose a friend. Loving and taking care of them is the easy part, losing them is always the hardest. You have my sympathy and even though you'll never be able to replace Nico, maybe you will feel like bringing home a new friend soon.

[citysnakes]

I am sorry to hear about Nico.

Originally Posted by Namea

He has been using this rock for over 8 years with no issues from it at all.

I think that maybe this situation is an issue caused, at least in part, by the heat rock.

I would suggest finding a new method of heating for your remaining and future animals.

All the best and good luck.

[ladyjustice33]

btw.....love your site Julian. Lots of information. Now if only someone would create a website like that for CRB's, I'd be thrilled!!!