Why is my snakes mouth open?

This is generally a sign of a very sick snake. Open-mouth breathing is never normal in snakes. Although the most likely cause is a respiratory condition, it can also be seen with gastrointestinal disease and severe pain. Most respiratory problems are rooted in poor husbandry.
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Why is my snake breathing with his mouth open?

Snakes with respiratory infections may have excess mucus in their mouths, nasal discharge, lethargy, loss of appetite, wheezing, and may make 'gurgling' sounds or open mouth breathe. "Most respiratory infections in snakes are caused by bacteria and may occur in conjunction with mouth rot."
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How do I know if my snakes dying?

The most common signs that may signify a dying snake include:
  1. Breathing problems.
  2. Abnormal posture.
  3. Scale-related issues.
  4. Sudden weight loss.
  5. Lack of appetite.
  6. Unusual discharge.
  7. Weakness.
  8. Dehydration.
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What are signs of stress in a snake?

14 Signs That Show That Your Snake Is Stressed
  • Loss Of Appetite.
  • Weight Loss.
  • Rubbing Their Nose Against Objects In Their Tank.
  • Hissing.
  • Striking.
  • Attempting To Escape. Make Sure To Check The Following To Keep Your Snake From Escaping:
  • Tail Rattling And Vibration.
  • Regurgitation.
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Is my snake yawning?

This act of yawning could be a sign of illness or a sign of disease. Snakes can gape because they aren't getting enough air. Yawning opens the airways, allowing more air into the lungs. Respiratory infections or respiratory diseases can cause a snake to have issues breathing.
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How to open a snakes mouth (two ways!!)



Why is my ball python holding mouth open?

This is generally a sign of a very sick snake. Open-mouth breathing is never normal in snakes. Although the most likely cause is a respiratory condition, it can also be seen with gastrointestinal disease and severe pain. Most respiratory problems are rooted in poor husbandry.
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Why do Reptiles yawn?

After a meal a snake's bottom jaw may be out of alignment and the snake therefore needs to yawn to reposition the lower jaw back into its natural position. As a snake eats a meal it will have to hyper extend the ligaments of the lower jaw.
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How do I destress my snake?

How to Calm Down a Snake
  1. Move Slowly. Quick movements can frighten snakes and send them into fight or flight mode. ...
  2. Good Behavior. Snakes typically react to handling with fear or, if they are calm and relaxed, curiosity. ...
  3. Guide, Don't Restrain. ...
  4. Cutting Your Losses. ...
  5. Provide a Comforting Home.
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How do you know if a snake is uncomfortable?

Striking

Signs of aggression are the most obvious and overt signs that a snake is not comfortable or happy around you. The most common sign of aggression is that of striking out. A mock strike means that your snake looks like it is striking but it does not make contact with either its tail or its teeth.
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Is my snake depressed?

So, unless you're very sure you've seen your snake slither into a corner to shed a tear or two , snakes likely don't get sad or depressed. The closest a snake will come to feeling sadness is being stressed or miffed about regular changes being made to its routine or anything crazy going on right outside its tank.
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What does a sick snake look like?

Healthy snakes have smooth, shiny scales. Lesions, scabs, swelling, and lumps can all be signs of sickness. If you notice your pet has small, brown or red dots, your serpent may have mites.
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How can you tell if a snake is dehydrated?

Help! I Think My Reptile Is Dehydrated!
  1. Dry, wrinkled or puckered skin.
  2. Loss of skin elasticity and flexibility.
  3. Sunken, receded eyes.
  4. Weakness and lethargy.
  5. Sticky or dry membranes.
  6. Flaky skin or trouble shedding.
  7. Constipation or infrequent defecation.
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Do snakes get dehydrated?

Snakes that haven't eaten for a prolonged period of time (weeks to months) will appear dehydrated, with sunken eyes, retained pieces of skin from incomplete shedding and dry, sticky saliva in their mouths.
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How do snakes get pneumonia?

Most cases of pneumonia in snakes are caused by bacterial infections of the lung. The bacteria may be aerobic (living in air) or anaerobic. Generally the bacteria that cause pneumonia are gram negative on cytology stains. Although primary fungal pneumonias are rare, secondary fungal infections are not uncommon.
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Why is my snake rubbing its face?

Exploring New Things In the Enclosure

When your ball python explores its enclosure, it will use its nose and face to feel and explore new things. It's not uncommon for these snakes to do face rub when they feel a little stressed.
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Why is my snake acting weird?

Strange postures can signal a respiratory infection; your snake may be uncomfortable because of fluid in its lungs. Serious health concerns like paramyxovirus, inclusion body disease or neurological diseases can also be indicated by stargazing.
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How can I tell if my ball python is cold?

Remember that ball pythons do not undergo brumation. If it looks like brumation is happening, it's usually a sign that your snake is too cold.
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What happens if you handle a snake too much?

When you handle your snake too much, you risk stressing them too much and, instead of building a bond between you, you will make them scared of you and of being handled by you. Too much stress can also lead to your snake's immune system being compromised, which could lead to health issues later on in their life.
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Can snakes feel love?

Can you bond with a snake? Some snake owners feel as though their snake recognises them and is more eager to be held by them than by other people. However, snakes don't have the intellectual capacity to feel emotions such as affection.
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Why do ball pythons stare?

A snake usually stares at its owner because it wants to be fed. Other reasons include protecting its environment, sensing heat, and lacking trust. In some cases, it can be a sign of stargazing, which is a dangerous condition requiring medical treatment. What is this?
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How do I know if my ball python is sleeping?

A sleeping snake will stay in one position for hours — though this is also the posture a snake can assume while hunting. Or you might notice that the constantly flicking snake tongue isn't engaged in its usual activity, or that they don't react when you open the top of their cage or otherwise move around the area.
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