Tiny squeaks?

limey · 08-03-12, 01:08 AM

Took Tammy out for a bit of play and handling today. She wasn't out 10 mins and she made a little squeaky noise, it was so quiet I barely heard it.

Then again when I went to put her back in her home she did another quiet little squeak.

I listened carefully, and the squeaks were not constant - she did maybe 3 or 4 in total over the course of a minute, there's no mucus, and as far as I'm aware she's in good health.

So is this normal? What does this mean?

Rogue628 · 08-03-12, 01:24 AM

Did you notice if it was on an exhale? Has shed shed lately or going into shed?

limey · 08-03-12, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue628

Did you notice if it was on an exhale? Has shed shed lately or going into shed?

She hasn't shed since I got her last week, but I did notice a dry patch around the nose area today. Humidity is about 80% in the tank, and has been since I got her. Temps are normal.

Lankyrob · 08-03-12, 07:31 AM

I would keep a close eye on things, if you notice any mucous at all then get it to a vet. It could be a quirk that some snakes have coming up to shed wheere they make weird noises when exhaling under stress (like being handled).

mykee · 08-03-12, 08:19 AM

Your humidity is too high, with humidity that high all the time, you're opening the snake up to a host of nasty stuff.
As for the sounds you hear, it could very well be the first signs of a respiratory infection. What are your temps at?

Wildside · 08-03-12, 08:22 AM

I've never seen so many threads about squeaking Ball Pythons in my life

mykee · 08-03-12, 09:33 AM

No kidding, I feel that this is for one of two reasons:
1. Overly neurotic keepers
2. All the Wikipedia experts out there who keep their animals in sub-par conditions because they read somehwere that it was correct.

limey · 08-03-12, 11:16 AM

Temps have been roughly 72 on cold side, 86 on hot side.

Nose looked a little dry yesterday and she had a bluish iridescence to her. Belly was slightly on the pink side in areas.

It could be that she's going into shed.

I will keep a close eye on things, and once the shed is complete will try to find a way to lower humidity...

Humidity is about 70% here year round, so you guys got any ideas for lowering humidity in a naturally humid place?

**millertime89** · 08-03-12, 11:22 AM

How's the enclosure set up? Heat lamps/CHEs can easily correct the humdity problem in the enclosure when set up correctly.

Wildside · 08-03-12, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limey

Temps have been roughly 72 on cold side, 86 on hot side.

Nose looked a little dry yesterday and she had a bluish iridescence to her. Belly was slightly on the pink side in areas.

It could be that she's going into shed.

I will keep a close eye on things, and once the shed is complete will try to find a way to lower humidity...

Humidity is about 70% here year round, so you guys got any ideas for lowering humidity in a naturally humid place?

What are you using for substrate?

limey · 08-03-12, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildside

What are you using for substrate?

Aspen bedding.

In solution to the humidity problem, I've just now:

Soldered a small hole in the roof.
Removed any moss that I'd put in there.
Moved the water bowl to the cold side.
Replaced the 50w red bulb with the 75w.
Bumped the UTH to 90 on the hot side.

I can see the hygro going down to 65%.

Now if she indeed is going to shed, I'll throw the moss back in.

My gut instinct is telling me that it's not an RI. But that's just my gut.

Wildside · 08-03-12, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limey

Aspen bedding.

In solution to the humidity problem, I've just now:

Soldered a small hole in the roof.
Removed any moss that I'd put in there.
Moved the water bowl to the cold side.
Replaced the 50w red bulb with the 75w.
Bumped the UTH to 90 on the hot side.

I can see the hygro going down to 65%.

Now if she indeed is going to shed, I'll throw the moss back in.

My gut instinct is telling me that it's not an RI. But that's just my gut.

Sounds like a good attempt but instead of just throwing the moss back in but it in a butter bowl or something, that way you've got a humid hide and won't be affecting the overall humidity so much.

mykee · 08-03-12, 01:01 PM

I'll add that your cold side is way too cold. Up that 10 degrees. The conditions your ball is in now is ripe for an RI.
Also, increase your hot spot at least another 5 degrees, as much as 10.

limey · 08-03-12, 01:57 PM

Okay,

Fingers crossed I caught these issues in time. Thanks for your help guys.

With the changes I made, the stats are now:

Hot side: 88-90
Cold Side: 74 (working on finding a better position for the clamp lamp)
Ambient temp: 75-80 (really hard to get it any higher, the temp in the house is 60, outside temp is 52, will be minus 10 in winter )
Humidity: 70%

This is an improvement, but I realise it's not ideal.

Any further pointers are always welcome.

limey · 08-03-12, 02:06 PM

I thought RI's were predominantly caused from a lack of humidity? High humidity causes blisters and scale rot?