New Ball Python... Hissing, stuck nasal scale, or worse?

[Bottomfeeder]

So the Ball Python I got on Saturday is opaque, and has been since I got him. Occasionally I hear him make a slight "psssssss" sound, usually when I'm holding him, but sometimes I just hear it from his cage. A few times I put my ear to his face and listened to his breathing for a few minutes and I heard nothing. He doesn't gape, he has no discharge on his tongue or in his mouth. I went so far as to push his lips back with my finger to check for discharge, and it was wet (obviously) but wasn't drippy or foamy. (My first Snake died of a respiratory infection from inhaling Betadine used to treat his scale rot, and he drooled a LOT). The place I got him from, Parrots of the World in Long Island, is considered a great place and has a great track record with exotics; in fact all their animals are guarenteed for a year. I'm just very paranoid about new animals, as always

I asked around, both from friends and a Reptile forum, and the answers ranged from "he's hissing" to "he has a scale stuck near his nostril" to "Ball Pythons just wheeze occasionally". Other than the small amount of sounds he makes, he seems fine... what do you guys think?

 

[Miguel]

From your description, I think that he is fine and you overstressed.

Next time you want to open snakes mouth do not huse your fingers. Use an old, desinfected credit card and pry his mouth open with that.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

I have no idea what's up with him. I just heard a wheeze from his cage. After I did the whole mouth checkup thing, I put him back in the cage and he happened to land in a very awkward position, head up on the hide, tail in the water dish, body between the hide and the glass. I went to check on him just now, he was in the EXACT ssame position. He's just not acting right. I might end up bringing him back and ordering a baby from BAH

 

[Miguel]

you should try to see how the snake develops.

it is your snake, after all. Give it some time.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

The only time I'd be able to bring him back is Sunday. I actually am starting to hear sighing sounds coming from the tank...

 

[Rawrzer]

I actually wouldn't be alarmed about the breathing. does it sound like when a person has abit of a stuffy nose and when they breath in it seems to whistle a bit? if so then my balls been doing this for more than a year now and hes happy and healthy

 

[i pee in the sea]

I would bring him back, just to be sure.

It's just the kind of person I am.

I've had to return reptiles before, unfortunately it was a PITA..
horrible f#$&ing customer service by The Urban Reptile.
They have a good rep, but remember ANYONE may produce unhealthy animals get rid of it
cheap and lie to you several times about things... It's human nature.

I tried to ride it out and see how the animal did, I also ended up wasting a lot of money trying to make things better... Never happened.

Go return it, better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

I actually wouldn't be alarmed about the breathing. does it sound like when a person has abit of a stuffy nose and when they breath in it seems to whistle a bit? if so then my balls been doing this for more than a year now and hes happy and healthy

It is, but it also has a wet sound to it.

I would bring him back, just to be sure.

It's just the kind of person I am.

I've had to return reptiles before, unfortunately it was a PITA..
horrible f#$&ing customer service by The Urban Reptile.
They have a good rep, but remember ANYONE may produce unhealthy animals get rid of it
cheap and lie to you several times about things... It's human nature.

I tried to ride it out and see how the animal did, I also ended up wasting a lot of money trying to make things better... Never happened.

Go return it, better to be safe than sorry.

I might end up doing that, but I'll definetaly tell them there's something up because they could deal with whatever is bugging the Snake. I don't wanna wash my hands of this crap, I just want him in the hands of someone more qualified. I sent the store an email. It seems like it'd be easier to deal with a baby Ball anyways, as opposed to a big guy who's probably been around longer than I have and been at that store for years.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

UPDATE: My dad saw him gaping, AKA open mouthed breathing

POW is a big place and the owner is a big name in the pet industry, so I'm gonna take the Snake back and explain the situation so he can get the Snake help.

 

[i pee in the sea]

Often times the right person is all it takes to get our herps better.

But it doesn't make sense for you to purchase a sick animal, it doesn't make sense at all.

Good luck, I have a normal BP and I love him.
Looking to get a Mojave morph soon..