Strange Boa Death

[Phillip]

If it was IBD the other boa is definately at risk but in all honesty if it was going to be infected by it the damage was probably already done. When it hit's a collection it tends to spread fast.

There has also been speculation that boids aren't alone in getting it and a similar disease has popped up in colubrids not too long ago. They aren't yet sure if it's the same thing or a colubrid version of a similar disease.

Phil

 

[Beardo]

Actually, Philip.....VERY little is known about IBD and nobody knows how it spreads or if it is even a transmittable diease. A very good friend of mine had a couple of Ball Pythons die due to IBD earlier this year.....and they were housed near his other snakes, which are completely healthy now. So to say that pategirl's other boa is in definite danger is false. Until more is known about the disease, we really shouldn't freak out and run for the Outbreak suits when IBD is mentioned.

 

[Bry]

From the sound of it, I doubt pategirl's boa had IBD. A lot of perfectly healthy boas will stargaze. I don't know why they do it, as they usually seem to do it for no apparent reason. But, I have noticed them doing that under ceiling fans, and occasionally, fixtures on the ceiling. Too many people, particularly newbies, freak out a little too much over the whole IBD thing. If IBD is as contagious as it is said to be, don't you think there would be a whole lot more boids dead as a result of IBD? Given the fact that people frequently handle snakes at shows, pet shops, etc. I have seen a case of IBD, firsthand. Of course, there was stargazing, but it is nothing like what most people expect. To put it simply, it's like the snake is brain-dead. When you picked him up, he just remained coiled up, even when you flipped him over and put him back. He was just completely unresponsive. IBD does not seem to be a disease that kills quickly, the snakes seem to suffer from it for quite a length of time. Pategirl said her boa ate, what, a week or two ago? Name one brain-dead living organism that eats voluntarily. Sounds like there was something else going on with her boa. I think MrT is close, as far as some sort of impaction going on inside the snake. My suggestion would be to refrigerate the boa and have a necropsy done to figure out what was going on in the little guy.

Pategirl, my condolences on your loss. I know how hard it can be to lose a pet.

Bry

 

[Phillip]

While there is not much known about the disease it is well known that it is transmittable and any boids in the near vicinity are indeed at risk. What is false is your mistaken understanding of the subject.

I will give you that it isn't as common as once believed but it does pop up from time to time and is a serious threat to a collection. Just because some exposed individuals dodge the bullet does not make them the norm but rather the exception. Many folks have had entire collections wiped out to this disease and to take it so lightly is foolish.

Phil

 

[Beardo]

Originally posted by Phillip
While there is not much known about the disease it is well known that it is transmittable and any boids in the near vicinity are indeed at risk. What is false is your mistaken understanding of the subject.

I will give you that it isn't as common as once believed but it does pop up from time to time and is a serious threat to a collection. Just because some exposed individuals dodge the bullet does not make them the norm but rather the exception. Many folks have had entire collections wiped out to this disease and to take it so lightly is foolish.

Phil

Please, Philip, cite me some sources where people have "lost whole collections" to IBD.

 

[Phillip]

Something else you have to take into account is that the seemingly healthy snakes in your friends collection could very well be carriers without showing symptoms themselves. The only way to know for sure is to blood test them and assuming they are fine because they act fine is taking a risk.

As to citing instances of collections being lost try reading some back issues of Reptiles magazine on the subject or simply read up on the disease through the web. You will find several instances of such. As to me doing your homework for ya sorry but I am not sifting through a bazillion articles to find specific instances. You'll have to do that on your own.

And there are 2 Ls in Phillip. I would have thought having it spelled out over my avatar would have been enough but I suppose not.

Phil

 

[Beardo]

And there are 2 Ls in Phillip.

Yeah, but theres only one in 'loser'.

 

[Phillip]

A word you are seemingly familiar with.

Phil

 

[Beardo]

I'm talking to you, aren't I? LMAO.....of *course* I'm acquainted with it. ;P

 

[Phillip]

What I meant by familiar was that you must have heard that one a few times during your short life. As in refference to yourself perhaps. I suppose that reading comprehension thing is still a challenge to you.

I'm not however going to clutter up Scotts board by argueing with you so enjoy your attempts to start something on your own. This forum unlike others is a valuable tool and a worthwile place for folks to come and I don't want to sour the thread by acting childish with you. Perhaps some day once you mature a bit you will realize that others sometimes know things that you don't and you may not feel the need to be confrontational when you lack the knowledge to make an arguement for your case.

In this case however you are sadly clueless regardless of what you or any of your teen herp club may believe about the subject. Many boids have died to IBD and it is highly transmittable. Of course not having owned many boids let alone had them long enough to gain any real knowledge on the subject it doesn't surprise me that you would jump to a bogus conclusion based on nothing more than heresay or having read a caresheet somewhere and taking it for the truth.

Bry You are correct in that some perfectly healthy ones stargaze but the only way to know is to test them. Personally I prefer to err on the side of caution rather than assume one is ok when it shows symptoms of not being so.


Phil

 

[Beardo]

I know you are, but what am I? =D

 

[Gary O]

IMO sence there is not much known about it. That aalone should throw a flag. Knowing everything about it would help but not knowing is worse!

 

[AudreyElizabeth]

Never having kept a boid I didn't know about IBD, but both of my corn snakes 'stargazed' at ceiling fans. My largest one would stretch out as far as he could in my hands and 'sway' with the fan as long as I would hold him underneath one. Weird.


PateGirl- Sorry for your loss, and I do think you should have the body checked out by a vet with herp experience; for your peace of mind and the well-being of the rest of your collection.