Talking snake!!!

AnniesMom · 09-24-03, 08:06 PM

I have aquired 2 BCI's and Honey, the 5-6' female is very vocal. Her health appears good, although thin for her length, and she just shed out for the first time since I got her. She makes a whistling sound when I first touch her or when her roommate, Jake 4' male that she has lived with, moves over her in the cage. She also will hiss for no apparent reason, and her body language is not threatening when she does. It almost seems that she just does it at random, lying in the cage or cruising about. This is not a full-on aggresive hissing, or fearful thing, I don't think. Has anyone else heard of this??

Also, she defecated in the cage today, but it was not solid as snake poop usually is. Rather, it was liquid and like egg yoke in texture and colour. There was pieces of white solid in it. Any clues? Could it be a stress issue from the recent move ( 6days ago) to my house?

Thanks

JD@reptiles · 09-24-03, 08:20 PM

if it sounds like a hiss or a wistle, it could be a cold

Zoe · 09-24-03, 08:28 PM

It could be an RI, or she may she be hissing out of aggression. Snake arent vocal for no reason.

Zoe

BOAS_N_PYTHONS · 09-24-03, 09:29 PM

ANNIESMOM:

Call "FOX" or a animal show get a few bucks showing off that talking snake........lol.

It may be health issue though....check with vet.

Cya...

Tony

AnniesMom · 09-24-03, 09:47 PM

IF she starts whistling Dixie, you bet!!!!

enso · 09-24-03, 10:11 PM

"it was liquid and like egg yoke in texture and colour. There was pieces of white solid in it."

This sounds simply like urine and the white solid pieces sound like urates. Any discharge from her nose ever?

AnniesMom · 09-24-03, 11:49 PM

Nope, none since I have had here and the previous owner said that she didn't have any health problems. She was a rescue that he had got from someone that didn't guard her lamp, so she has a few burn scars, old ones, on her. My Mom came and said that she thinks that is was just runny poop, because she was judt fed. Apparently her snake would get loose BM's when she ate a large meal or too many meals too close together. However, she is under-weight ( you can see ribs!) so I will be feeding her F/T guinea pigs as a higher fat/protein content than rats. I figure that she can have 2 more meals of pig over the next 2 weeks before putting her on rat. That she bring her up a little.

I want to thank you all for the help and info! It's cool to be able to talk to others about snakes who appreciate them and are knowledgeable about snakes. For all my growing up around them, I don't know many who enjoy them like I do, other than my Mom of course

Annies Mom, and Honeys' and Jakes'

daver676 · 09-27-03, 08:44 AM

I've heard that since guinea pigs have a higher fat content, that the snake cannot absorb all the fat, so it comes out the other end as diarrhea. If she continues to have the runs, then you'd better watch for any signs of dehydration.

The fact that she is kept with another snake in the same enclosure could be stressing her as well. The hissing could be aggression, or an RI. Watch for discharge or open mouthed breathing.

Good Luck!

Dave

VenomAngel · 09-27-03, 12:05 PM

might be a cold...or she could just have pmt lol lol

Linds · 09-27-03, 01:33 PM

It could possibly be the early start of an RI or is it possible she is going in to a shed? Sometimes prior to a shed they whistle due to the excess of skin in the nostrils. Of course often snakes become more vocal around this time as well. Could possibly be lung worm or even a fungal infection. Some snakes are just plain out more vocal than others, however this is typically only displayed during handling or any other interaction (such as opening a cage, etc), not while cruising around. I would have her checked out by a qualified herp vet.

AnniesMom · 09-27-03, 04:10 PM

Dave: She was kept in an enclosure with 3 other snakes before I brought her here. Now there is only 1 sharing with her. I suspect that she makes noise in response to my dog walking near her cage. She was exposed to other dogs before but through a glass cage, not a wire front.

Linds: I think that you are right about the whistling. She was shedding when I brought her home, and now that she has finished, the whistling has stopped. The hissing is still occasional, though mostly during interaction like you said.

djnzlab · 09-27-03, 06:11 PM

HI,
Ive seen a couple pythons whistle when shed is loose around the nostrils. Many large snakes will huff and puff if distirbed and that loose shed can make a little noise. My Guyana will almost moan when hauled out of the cage my large female will grimice when pulling hard climibing due to her weight. showing a bit of her teeth a gritting smile scares the poo out of a couple people from time to time once she stops moving and has a good grip on my arm or shoulder the teeth are gone. she's only bit rats so far.

doug

Gary D. · 09-28-03, 09:36 AM

I have a large female which does the same. When I rescued her she was on the verge of death with acute RI. Since then she has whistled ever since likely due to scarring. She is also prone to RI's. Another thing to check is your humidity as dried out nasal passages will become enflamed and cause whistling too.

GD