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Is it normal for rat snakes to occasionally emit short hissing sounds?

R

reptire

New member
It's an audible burst of air from the nostrils of my yellow rat snake, done seemingly randomly, about 2-3 times in 24 hours. It lasts no longer than a second.
 
One of my corn snakes does this at any point right before or during the shedding process. It sounds like a 'huff' noise.
 
I was going to suggest what hypnoctopus did, perhaps shedding related. How long have you had your snake? The reason I ask, is are you sure it's not a respiratory infection or similar? How do you know it's a few times in 24 hours? Meaning, most people don't have the luxury of sitting non stop with our snakes. Factor 5-8 hours of sleep, and work and/or school, and you in theory have now potentially decreased that "snake time" by 50-75%. This could mean this sound is more frequent than 2-3 time in 24 hours.

If it is a new snake, perhaps it is a guarded response to its new environment.

-braingarble
 
I got him around the first days of May this year, so about one and a half months ago tops. I have the luxury these days because I attend a university and it's exam period right now. :) But yeah, sleeping takes away some time.
I doubt it's a respiratory infection because apart from this, he seems perfectly fine. Although it could be shedding related because he has a retained eyecap... I'm currently waiting whether it will come off with the next shed, given that I can't rub it off with wet swabs (although admittedly, I did it very gently - I don't want to risk hurting him).
 
I have a corn snake that is always whistling. It freaks me out. He doesn't have any sort of RI or stuck shed, he's just always been that way.
 
Does your snake burrow much?

I have a corn that come breeding season likes to burrow like mad, and he ends up with dust in his nares, which gives him a whistle or wheeze. It goes away after he stops burrowing and a few sheds. I switched substrate this year to help, but he still manages to pack it in.
 
Mine "talks" to himself like Alicat's does, it's kind of strange. He makes little whistle and snuffly noises, but has had no sign of a respiratory infection (I'm paranoid so I check him often)
 
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