HELP! Darwin Python Hissing/huffing and constricting into a ball!

[KaotikJezta]

Just went to feed my Darwin python Smij and he appeared to hiss at me. No big deal, he does that on occasion. Offered his food and he refused. Got him out to check him over and he seemed to be constricting involuntarily and the huffing noise got more intense. He has no mucus or anything. He does like to soak a lot and I am worried he spent the night in his water and got too cold. Any advise appreciated and before anyone tells me to go to a vet, it is Easter Sunday, will be taking him to the vet on Tuesday if I can get him in. I have bumped the heat up and placed a folded sheet around his tub. He is my favourite snake and has never ever refused a feed. Doesn't appear to be coming into a shed.

 

[l3atman]

im sure a lot of people will have a lot better suggestions then i do about this, but to me hissing could simply mean something is aggravating him/her, for example if you touch a blue tongue on the tail and it hisses at you because it doesn't like being touched there...
i dont think it would have got to cold from sitting in the water, as snakes are excellent at regulating their body temperature, however excessive time in the water bowl could indicate that the snake has mites or something else that may be irritating it, so it may be worth having a good close look in the water bowl for dead mites, that would appear as little black dots on the bottom of the water bowl...
if it is something like mites aggravating the snake, that could explain why it was hissing when you touched it as it was uncomfortable and maybe why it refused the feed...
as for the constricting i noticed when one of my snakes wasn't well that it would constrict harder then usual, not exactly sure why maybe they feel dizzy and grip extra tight so they don't fall
...
it will be interesting to see what other people think, hope i helped a little, i wouldn't be to worried just yet, i would just keep him/her warm until tuesday and carefully monitor its condition until you take it to the vet

 

[CaptainRatbag]

All that came to my mind was he might be having trouble seeing if he is preparing to shed. But if you dont think he is, I am not sure. Check the temps and humidity as you are doing. Fresh water of course.

Just keep an eye on him... hope he will be ok for you

 

[KaotikJezta]

He doesn't have mites, he has been a fan of 'swimming' since he was a hatchy. Definitely not shedding, he is not milky and his colour is not dull. It is not the first time he has spent ages in the water, in fact I think I will be putting his water a bit closer to the heat for the colder months as he doesn't like getting out once he's in. He was happy enough to come to me when out but then he constricted like crazy, he was doing this prior to me getting him out too, I didn't worry at first as I thought he was just hiding his head from me, he does that when he's not in the mood to come out. He was hissing the when he constricted, when not constricted he was quieter. I put him back and he went in his hide still hissing loudly. Anyway, I left the food with him and I will check on him a bit later and see how he seems.

 

[Roughie]

My little female Darwin does the same thing at times. And the Darwins do like a little bit of humidity which is the reason why they sit in their water. Keep a close eye on the temp, maybe turn it up a notch. I just left her alone when she didn't eat for last 4 weeks and she was fine, she has started eating again now. One thing I do is I don't handle my snakes 48 hours around feeding (unless I really have to) times and keep their heat on to aid digestion, I've only ever fed my animals at night when they are most active. You could try giving her a few days to relax. Good luck, hope all works out.

 

[junglelove]

doesnt really sound like anything major, he would have got out of the water if he was colling down too much. id check the heat b4 u bump up the temps remember they cant cool them selves down if they over heat!
when u say involuntary constricting, what was he doing? twitching, fitting?

 

[KaotikJezta]

My little female Darwin does the same thing at times. And the Darwins do like a little bit of humidity which is the reason why they sit in their water. Keep a close eye on the temp, maybe turn it up a notch. I just left her alone when she didn't eat for last 4 weeks and she was fine, she has started eating again now. One thing I do is I don't handle my snakes 48 hours around feeding (unless I really have to) times and keep their heat on to aid digestion, I've only ever fed my animals at night when they are most active. You could try giving her a few days to relax. Good luck, hope all works out.

Haven't handled him for a few days, he's a yearling so heat is still on 24/7 and I always feed at night. I wouldn't worry about the feeding if not for all the other factors. Usually if one of mine doesn't eat someone else gets it and they wait till next time.

doesnt really sound like anything major, he would have got out of the water if he was colling down too much. id check the heat b4 u bump up the temps remember they cant cool them selves down if they over heat!
when u say involuntary constricting, what was he doing? twitching, fitting?

No, sort of rolling himself in a ball, and then rolling all around my hand and wrist. Heat is not bumped up to high, its sitting on about 35 as opposed to 33.

 

[junglelove]

No, sort of rolling himself in a ball, and then rolling all around my hand and wrist.


ok so that part sounds like he may be in pain

 

[KaotikJezta]

Ok, whatever it was he has snapped out of it and has eaten the feed I left in there with him. Will be keeping a close eye on him but hopefully all is now well. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

 

[moosenoose]

Hissing has always been a sign of "not happy" IMHO :lol: My snakes, even the friendliest ones get "hissy" when I've pushed their buttons. Usually during vet visits with everyone ducking for cover :lol:

 

[CaptainRatbag]

If I were in the spa and some big ugly (hehehehe) thing dragged me out to look at me.... I would hiss and puff myself :lol:

Seriously, he was prolly just having a bad hair day :lol: He prolly hissed to get you to leave him alone.... then you went and picked him up anyway..... then you were prolly stressing, looking him over which he picked up on and got stressed too? I reckon just chill out a bit more. If he looks fine, but hisses when you go to feed him or pick him up, leave him be for a while....