Carpet question- Mouth

[edf]

Hello all,

I have bought a carpet python a while ago, and I kinda have a silly question.

First, let me tell you all that I am an over worrier! 

Here is the deal.  I am started to handle my carpet now that I have had him way over a month and he's eating pretty good and got settled in.  Basic back info- I bought him frpm someone who was sick of taking care of him.  The snake was in good shape, wasn't neglected but I feared it could lead to being neglected, so I bought it after research and everything.  Turns out, I am really enjoying the carpet python!

Here is what is getting me scared- and i will admit its most likely just me being over worried.  When I take him out, I hear him breathing, tho I do think it is him hissing due to me starting to handle him more. Prev owner stopped handling him, so he is not too used to being handled- tho he is not aggressive at all, just hisses minorly- never seen any strike position or the snake really getting aggitated, but I start out with quick handling sessions when working with newer snakes- I dont like to rush.

SO, I decide to open the snakes mouth just to check.  Well, their inside of their mouths look so much different than bp's...LOL.  SO I am not sure what a healthy inside of a carpet pythons mouth should look like.  Mine was a light purple color, but I saw it get really dark back by its throat- is that normal?  I didnt see a crapload of mucus/saliva, and nothing looked swollen. Now, it was harder to get a veiw of the snakes mouth I will admit, and since I noticed how different the snakes mouth looked in comparision to the snakes I am used to working with, I didnt want to keep trying to open the snakes mouth if I would not be able to determine anything.  ( Snake was not happy about having its mouth opened, but still handled it rather well, but I dont see the point in stressing the snake when I wasn't sure what a healthy mouth for this type of snake looks like)

I am not seeing open mouth breathing or mucus coming out of the snakes mouth or any other signs of an RI.  This very well could have just been the snake hissing with each breath, but hey, I warned you guys I am a worry wart!

Anyone happen to have a photo of the inside of a carpet pythons mouth that I can see? Or a link to one that you know of?  For the coloration of the mouth, is it normal for the color to be darker in the back of the snakes' throat?  When I look at my bp's mouths if i think something is going on, I look for discoloration, and well, the carpets mouth was different color altogehter...LOL

Cage states- warm, 90, cool 77. I did bump up the heat a smidge, now reading 92.  I can use a heat lamp on the cool side if you recomend bumping that up a smidge.  I have seen the snake laying on either side of the cage.

I am fairly confident its just the snake hissing, I am not hearing any cracking or popping, but I am just not used to hearing hissing alot, so it just maybe that. But I figured it was best to see if I can find a photo of the inside of a carpets mouth and just post here for any info about it. I am rather confident with my snake care, its just I don't have good experience with carpets since this is my first one.  But I am striving to learn more.  I do think that a book is in order ( any recomendations?)

Thankyou all for any input you may have! I greatly appreciate your time.
Janet

[nesser]

From what I know about those guy's is that they love high level's of hummidity. Like maybe the hummidity is a bit down.

[edf]

Ok, I will bump the humidity up and give that a shot.

thanx!

[edf]

So I go to mist its tank- see a long shed sock!  LOL....

  Dang, some snakes are just hard to tell if they are in shed!!! I wouldnt have handled him if I knew that....

But its a full shed, so humidity can't be that bad. But I will prolly put a damp moss dish on the other sdie of the tub as well.

Now I have 2 nice sheds from this guy- can't wait to see his new skin!!!

[Gloryhound]

I wouldn't worry too much about the hissing.  Our big Blood Python girl hisses for about the first 5 minutes of handling then she settles down and cozily wraps around you how ever she can.  At first 6+ feet of snake at over 32 lbs hissing at me was a little scary, but now I don't think much about it other than that is just her way of telling me about her day!  LOL

[Donnie_K]

actually edf, sounds like everything's pretty good with this animal. how long is she?

[edf]

Thanx for the responses guys.

She or He ( dont know the gender) is aroujnd 6 ft- havent measured her officially, but its longer than I am tall ( 5' Guy I bought it from said 6 1/2.

I just get concerned because its a new species of snake I work with.  I have heard peoel say burms are vocal, and I guess they mean they hiss or you can hear them breathing.  The hissing part doesnt bother me, its just I am not used to the snake hissing alot- with my bp's, i get a hiss or two, and miss hiss if she is grumpy, will always be inflating and letting out hisses, but the carpet was just with every breath, and so I was just fearing maybe its not a hiss and signs of an ri.
  Normally, I do get some hissing, but I think because he was due to shed, he was just not in the mood to be handled, and since I was handling him, he wasnt happy. 

Glory- yeah, I think the snake will calm down nicely once I hold it for longer periods. I am doing short ones at the moment.  We still got to get to know each other better.  But I am happy with its progress, gone are my days of thinking I may need a snake hook to help pick him up...lol. 

I do need to get some shots of him.  His yellow looks a lot nicer now.



thanx for double chekcing me and easing my over-worried mind

[juddb]

In regards to the question about the color inside the mouth of the animal, im not really sure about the rest of the morelia genus, but chondro's have a dark purple color going on towards the back of the mouth ( i see this ALOT!), i wouldnt be suprised if the spilota were the same.  However, i remember looking into the mouth of a bredli and it appeared pink and white, but almost black towards the back (throat).  I hope this makes sense, and helps

[edf]

thanx for the input- feel a little beter about some snakes do have darker spots by their throat.  The guy i bought it from always was pushing how cool the purple tongue was.

But, sadly, i know what an actual RI sounds like and looks like now.  So, I don't see my carpet as being sick.

thanx for the input and advice!

[nesser]

So is you're carpet a jungle or normal phase???