Ball Python Respiratory Infection

Ball pythons are very susceptible to respiratory infections and are very likely to suffer from them. Normally, their respiration is quite quiet, but when they breathe loudly, they may be suffering from a respiratory infection. As a result of bacteria, fungi, or viruses being trapped in the lungs of ball pythons, they are able to develop inflammation and have difficulty breathing. This is the most common form of infection in ball pythons.

In case of respiration infection, the ball python's nose is blocked by the mucus, which causes it to be unable to breathe and causes it to make wheezing noises.

It is important to note that respiratory infections can cause severe illnesses, make the ball python's immune system weak, and if left untreated, can cause the ball python to die. Thus, pet owners need to keep a close eye on their ball pythons to watch out for signs of respiratory infection and to treat them accordingly. For pet owners, we will provide all the information about respiratory infections they need to read through this carefully and completely in this article.

What are the symptoms of respiratory infection in a Ball Python?

In order to treat their ball python early, pet owners need to be aware of the symptoms of respiratory infection in a ball python. Below we provide a list of respiratory infection symptoms in a ball python for pet owners.

Lack of appetite,
Weight loss,
When breathing, there is loud wheezing and gurgling,
Heavy breathing,
Lethargy,
Mouth open breathing,
Neck, throat, or lower jaw swelling,
Nasal and oral discharge,
Lack of activity,
A ball python's nose is covered in excessive mucus.

What are the causes of respiratory infection in Ball Pythons?

It is well known that ball pythons are prone to respiratory infections as a result of several factors such as stress and others, and below we will discuss further the causes of respiratory infection in ball pythons.

If the enclosure's temperature and humidity levels are incorrect- If you keep your ball python in a habitat that has too low temperatures, such as below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, or if you give it too little heat, it may result in the emergence of a respiratory infection on the python.

Also, if the humidity level in your ball python's enclosure is too high, it will significantly increase the chances of your ball python developing respiratory infections. Due to the fact that ball pythons are cold-blooded animals, they require plenty of heat to maintain their body temperature in their enclosures.

If their enclosures have poor husbandry- Ball pythons will suffer respiratory infections if they live in a poor habitat with unhealthy hygiene which can result in the formation of mood, mites, as well as bacteria in the habitat of the ball python, which then leads to respiratory infection in that ball python.

When your ball python is suffering from stress- The ball python might suffer from a respiratory infection if it is under stress due to overcrowding of the tank, being handled too often, or being in a noisy environment. Stress is impacting the immune system of the ball python, which in turn is leading to respiratory infection.

In addition, there are a few other causes of respiratory infections in ball pythons, which have been listed below.

It occurs when they do not eat regularly.
When you keep more than one snake in the same enclosure.
If their tank has fewer ventilation holes.
It is possible that they may suffer from respiratory infections if they are not provided with nutrition-rich food.

How do you treat a Ball Python respiratory infection?

It is well known that ball python respiratory infections are extremely harmful if left untreated for long periods of time. If left untreated, they can result in serious illness, even death, and that is why it is very important to treat ball python respiratory infections as soon as possible. Pet owners need to bring their ball python to the vet as soon as possible for treatment.

During the course of the treatment process, the ball python veterinarian determines the source of infection by taking some X-rays, doing a blood test, analyzing the nasal or oral discharge, and then treating them accordingly. If the infection is caused by bacteria, then your vet will prescribe antibiotics that can be given to your ball orally, whereas if it is caused by parasites or mites, then the veterinarian will prescribe special medications; if your ball is in serious illness, then ball python will be hospitalized.

What can I do to prevent respiratory infections in my Ball Python?

Pet owners often wonder what they can do to protect their ball pythons from this dangerous respiratory infection. In order to protect your ball python from this respiratory infection, pet owners should follow the below steps in order to prevent their ball pythons from getting infected.

You should clean the enclosure of a ball python every day and you should always have a dish of water available for it.
The humidity level in a ball python enclosure should be between 50 and 60%
Make sure the ball python tank is not overcrowded.
In the enclosure of a ball python, hides should be present.
In order to keep your ball python healthy, you should always feed him a healthy diet.
Ensure that the health of your ball python is maintained by regular checkups, and make sure you take them to the vet once a year for a full body examination.
Make sure the substrate that your ball python is using is clean and safe.
It is not recommended that you handle them regularly.