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Can snakes hiccup?

B

bekah1spar

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I'm very concerned right now. My '05 ball python is making a very loud squeeking sound and jerking every minute or so. At first I thought it must be the rats at the other end of the room, because that's what it sounded like, but after further observation, it's definitely the snake. The last time, he came out of his hide about halfway, made a sneezy kind of sound, and rubbed his face in the shavings, then went back in the hide.

Everything else is normal- temperature is consistant, it's the same aspen shavings I've used for the last three years, and nothing has been moved (I haven't even opened the cage since I fed him last week.)

Any idea what this is? I've never heard them make any noise at all.
 
He's brobably farting. No joke. Search 'ball python fart'. When my BP did it, it freaked me out. I thought it was regurgitating. There was a little feces spray on the tub and made loud coughing sounds. Her mouth was also wide open.
 
If you've never heard a ball python fart it can definitely freak a person out.
People have nothing on a snake when it comes to tooting the horn :rofl:

Mouth open jerking about looking like a regurge coming and kersplat...It's not a pretty sight, lol.
 
Check the sides of his tub for any signs of dried mucous. It will look almost as if he did some "finger painting" with his own urates, but not so dramatic. It will probably be harder to see than "normal finger painting" (when he sticks his nose in his own "mess" and rubs it all over the side of the tub).

If you're able to do so, you need to open his mouth to make sure there no fluid. Watch for excessive yawning, too. If he has any of these signs, bump up his heat 2-3 degrees and call a vet.

Hopefully the guys above are right and he only farted, but I've never seen one of mine do that with his mouth open. I hope I'm wrong, but it sounds too much like a symptom of an RI.
 
Matt2979 said:
Hopefully the guys above are right and he only farted, but I've never seen one of mine do that with his mouth open. I hope I'm wrong, but it sounds too much like a symptom of an RI.
Click to expand...
Every time I have caught the farting process the snakes mouth is open wide... :)

I agree with what you say about checking for other issues :yesnod: always a good idea to watch the snake afterwards.

I also do not feed my snakes that do this for 2 weeks to let their digestive system settle down and go back to normal.
 
I've only seen it happen once and it left poop spray on the side and top. She didn't have RI though and is healthy and growing quick! I think another snake did it weeks later but I didn't witness it and only found evidence. I would take Matts advice and examine the enclosure and hope for poop.
 
Years ago, I had a normal BP girl living in a tank in my bedroom. She let loose one night while the lights were off but I was still awake. The noise was so alarming I had to get up and investigate. She was fine and happy but the pile of poop in the corner was unreal! :ack2:
 
As John mentioned, they cannot cough or hiccup as they do not have a diaphragm (the muscle below the lungs in people that causes hiccups and makes you cough). However, they can forcefully and rapidly expel air from their lungs, kind of like what a person does when they clear their throat. If your snake is doing this, listen for any wheezing, look for any bubbles or excess fluid in the mouth or nose. Also look for smears of fluid on the sides of the tub. It could be clear or yellow/green. These would be signs of respiratory infection.
 
timebider said:
Years ago, I had a normal BP girl living in a tank in my bedroom. She let loose one night while the lights were off but I was still awake. The noise was so alarming I had to get up and investigate. She was fine and happy but the pile of poop in the corner was unreal! :ack2:
Click to expand...

Same exact situation but mine was a male. I thought a rat got loose in my room! But I had a nice bonus "waterfall" sound immediately afterewards to compliment my snake pooping dreams! Nuthin like listening to a snake drop a load at 330 in the morning!
 
Same with my ball python

​
bekah1spar said:
I'm very concerned right now. My '05 ball python is making a very loud squeeking sound and jerking every minute or so. At first I thought it must be the rats at the other end of the room, because that's what it sounded like, but after further observation, it's definitely the snake. The last time, he came out of his hide about halfway, made a sneezy kind of sound, and rubbed his face in the shavings, then went back in the hide.

Everything else is normal- temperature is consistant, it's the same aspen shavings I've used for the last three years, and nothing has been moved (I haven't even opened the cage since I fed him last week.)

Any idea what this is? I've never heard them make any noise at all.
Click to expand...

:iagree:Didn't think snakes could get the hiccups, Then after a while without feeding (winter) he finally ate a small mouse without hesitation.
Then It started. I wondered if it was because he hadn't eaten in a while, but nope:NoNo: It continued for a while and I'm sure he ws not happy and I was not only worried but frustrated:bandhead0
:thumbsup:So thank you so much for the explination.:?party: I am so relieved!!
 
This is an old thread brought back up....

Beverly if you read the entire thread you would clearly know snakes can not hiccup!!! Check for an RI immediately. Or to see if he defecated
 
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