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Did he sneeze?

dizeedoo

dizeedoo

"Samson" = Amel Zig Zag
I have a male corn who is a year-and-a-half old. He has been a dream snake. He has a glass viv and the temp is usually around 75. He loves to burrow and spends a lot of time underground so to speak.

He's just come out from about a 3-week rest; he popped out on Thursday, shed and ate. Tonite he was being sociable and I thought I heard him sneeze. I looked around his fake log and he opened his mouth and sneezed again. At least he made a sneezing sound.

There is no mucus or anything. His shed was great. He looks wonderful but I'm a bit worried. Should I be?

I've never heated the tank in all the time I've had him. He has a light in a hood above his screen that gives some warmth and I check the thermometer every day.

Has anyone elses snake sneezed, or made a sneezing sound as part of normal behavior?

I've seen him yawn and pop his jaw back before but this is the first noise he's ever made. Reassurance anyone?
 
Mine has "sneezed" before, if it is frequent I would be concerned.
Are you sure about the temperature? It would be nice if there was a place in the 80's.
What do you use to read the temperature?
 
I've heard my snakes sneeze and it seems to be a common thing for them. Now... if your snake begins to do it on a more regular basis as opposed to the occasional sneeze and you begin to notice discharge around his nostrils then there is definitely a problem (respiratory infection, most likely) and you must take him to a herp vet.

And for the heating issue... it's best for snakes to have a UTH (Under Tank Heater). It's really important that they have "belly heat". This not only makes them MUCH more comfortable but they will digest much better as well. A light bulb just doesn't cut it really... Snakes should be given a "hot spot" and a "cool spot" that they can choose between when in their vivs.
 
Thanks for the replies.

You know I had a UTH but gave it to my daughter for her snake as the temperature has never read below 70, even in summer with the air con going int the house.

I use a probe thermometer the probe is down near but not in the substrate.

I'd gladly head but have worried about hm getting too hot because he spends so much time burrowed down.

I'd love some advice on how to make sure he doesnt get too hot. He loves being underground so much that I have avoided the UTH mainly because of that concern. I'm not very tech savvy and never have used a thermostat.

love to hear your ideas.
Di
 
A thermostat is pretty much "plug and play".
You plug the thermostat into the wall and it becomes your heater switch. You can set that switch to keep it at any temp you want in it's range.
Your probe thermometer is perfect for reading the temp to set the thermostat.
 
Thanks Alan,
I'm checking out UTH's now. Can I ask you what you use? Brand?

Where should I place it. He has a rock/hide that attaches to the side of the tank, should I place it in that region or just at one end of the tank not mattering which end I choose?
Di
 
I actually have two small repti-therm heaters. There are better heaters, these are cheap and easy to find.
Check out the heaters at The Bean Farm Store.
Best to use a hide on both ends, temporarily(or permanently) you can use a box or paper towel roll.
If you put your temp probe under the substrate you can adjust the temp there to mid-80's. Once you get it set up and adjusted you should be able to leave it alone and just check the temp every so often.
 
I got one heater with my snake. I bought another of the same type when I moved her to a big viv 'cause I was cheap. I should say that they work fine in my application, she's been in this viv for about 3 years.
There are a few threads with thermostat choices. I'm not that familiar with the reptile-type thermostats on the market.
 
I really like Ultratherm heat pads from the Bean farm... They're just laminated heat mats that can be reused.
 
Zoomed who make those heaters make a thermostat called the Repti Temp.... about $30

It's funny you mention the paper towel roll... he used to love that, but outgrew it. I have a fake log that he moves through and leans up on but he doesnt even use his rock very often (except when blue). When he was a baby he would sit up on a ledge right under the screen of his first viv but he has grown so fast.

I am wondering about another thing. He eats every 5-7 days. I get frozen mice a brand called arctic mice.... they come 4 per container and at the moment they are branded 'large mice' but they aren't large in my opinion.

Anyway, he's long but thinish around the head so I worry a bit about him getting anything too large.

Do you suggest feeding more than one of the smaller mice at the one feeding or going up in size my concern being his narrow neck.

And, if you do suggest more than one mouse per feeding, do you just leave him with an extra mouse or feed it to him at the same time ? Currently I dangle from tongs by the tail and he strikes.
 
Most snakes sound like you are describing... what is his weight? Food sizes are given depending on the weight of the snake generally. If you truly think your little guy is different then you should post a pic so we can give you an opinion. Maybe he really DOES have an extra-thin neck.

And if you are doing "strike" feeding then I would give it to him one at a time so he can strike each one... but then again maybe if you place another one next to his other meal while he is swallowing it he will just continue on swallowing the next one. It really depends. All snakes are different...
 
This is Samson

n752479470_1322619
 
Okay, what size is his viv (for size reference)? And you should really feed him in a separate container to avoid him ingesting any substrate. (mine all have Sterilite tubs that they eat in, either shoe box or sweater box sized)
 
OK thanks... the viv is 20 gal - not 100% on measurements but I think it's 2 feet wide and about 18" deep.
 
crumbs.... I've always fed him in his tank but have been reading a bit tonite about people moving them to another environment to feed. I feel a bit bad about it now. He's always been so easy to get along with. I will admit tho because he is under ground so much I don't handle him a lot. I might be a little scared at first if handling him to move him for feeding.
 
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