Extremely Sad News

[AMBiEN22]

Hello fellow Ball Python Enthusiasts,

I'll start off with the bad news... Yesterday 07/04/2012, my male spider "Sly" which i picked up from Craigslist has passed away. Over the last two months he was fighting what me and the vet. assumed was a RI (Respiratory infection). A long story short, i knew something was wrong with Sly the first night that i had him. I had observed a slight wheeze and a large exhale of air (similar to the sound a snake makes when it defecates). I boosted the temperature within his tub to help combat the respiratory infection naturally. It appeared to have gone away but after an unpredictable rainy season in the spring humidity seemed to spike and had made it worse. This is when i went an paid the vet a visit, which he then prescribed baytril. After his baytril (One shot every 48 hours directly into the muscle, of baytril; 0.65 ml per dose, 22.7 mg/ml) treatment he looked and sounded 100% better and never went off feed during his entirety with me (One small F/T rat bi-weekly). He also defecated and urinated as usual. My husbandry was perfect and medical room clean. Everyday water, and paper towels were cleaned as well as the enclosure itself. The reason why i explain all of this is because i am shocked how sudden he had passed away. I checked on the snakes the morning of the 4th of July and twelve hours later he was gone. His body exhibited paleness (browns were faded), as well as slight rigamortis in some parts of the body, and random pink splotches on the body. As i stated before none of these symptoms were exhibited that same morning.

Now i am worried about my other snake that i have had for almost two years now. My female pastel "Lilly", currently i exhibited slight thickening of mucus and signs of small bubbles in the back of the throat. No discharge from the esophagus (wind pipe), no liquid in the vents, no clicking or popping, and little to no discoloration of the mouth. Its scary how fast whatever Sly had took over and i am not sure if anyone has any ideas what could of happen. My only thoughts are that he had a RI that was far worse then i had originally thought. I am going to continue to closely monitor Lilly and make sure things do not take a turn for the worst, and also plan to take her to the vet. asap to clear the air.

Since Sly's passing the rack system has been cleaned with F10 SC, and tubs have been cleaned with F10 as well. I've recently purchased deli cups which i will now be using as a substitute for bowls that tend to get messy when the snakes defecate and urinate.

I know this is an extremely long post but i just wanted to share this with the community and hope for some feedback on the situation as well as your thoughts and opinions.

Thanks.

[Coleslaw007]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Did you quarantine him away from your other snakes? It's very important to do so with new snakes, especially if you suspect they could be sick.
I really hope Lilly gets better. I would definitely make that vet visit ASAP.

[AMBiEN22]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Did you quarantine him away from your other snakes? It's very important to do so with new snakes, especially if you suspect they could be sick.
I really hope Lilly gets better. I would definitely make that vet visit ASAP.

He was in quarantine for a while, approximately a month and a half. After observing no mites and the absence of the previous symptoms (At the time i thought was a RI but also thought it was stress) i observed before i introduced him to my collection. A few weeks later, after the humidity spike, the symptoms were back and he was put back on quarantine as well as a trip to the vet and was perscribed baytril as i mentioned above for precautionary measures. So this is why i am concerned.

Hopefully some time this weekend and or early in the week i can swing her by the vet for a visit.

Thanks for your reply and Sly will surely be missed

[h00blah]

Sounds very weird... At least it sounds like it was comfortable when he passed.. Feeding, defecating, hiding probably.. sorry for your loss

[AMBiEN22]

Sounds very weird... At least it sounds like it was comfortable when he passed.. Feeding, defecating, hiding probably.. sorry for your loss

Thanks, i hope it was painless. There was no signs of struggle or pain within his enclosure (paper towels as i left them, water bowl not moved, ect...), when i opened the tub the first thing i noticed was his paleness and a million thoughts started to go through my head. I then waved my hand over the tub slowly and got no reaction. That is when i knew something was wrong and tried to move him to get a reaction. Like i said, i was shocked and still am how fast he passed.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Quarantine = 12 months. 1 and 1/2 months is insufficient. A minimal, cursory quarantine would be 3 months (and I would never do that, myself, after reading all I have read).

Put any suspect animal into quarantine--don't wait to see if further symptoms develop. If you lose another, immediately have a necropsy done.

[AMBiEN22]

Quarantine = 12 months. 1 and 1/2 months is insufficient. A minimal, cursory quarantine would be 3 months (and I would never do that, myself, after reading all I have read).

Put any suspect animal into quarantine--don't wait to see if further symptoms develop. If you lose another, immediately have a necropsy done.

I've heard a lot of different durations of Quarantine (after the fact), I think six months would be a decent amount of time if not longer as you said. Currently i have only one snake now and don't have plans to buy another until i make sure everything is okay with my current snake. I pray that she is fine. Also i will probably never buy from a Craigslist ad again. NERD and another very Reputable breeder live approx. 30 minutes away from me so i won't be making the same mistake again. My first snake came from a reputable breeder and she has been problem free since i have gotten here (Lilly). You can see her tracking below as well.

Thanks for your response.

[angllady2]

One question I have for you, did the vet do a throat swab to find out for sure what the male had ?

Time and time again, I've seen people come here with symptoms of an RI, and a vet prescribes Baytril, but it doesn't get better. Or it does for a little while then comes back. I have seen this minimal procedure recommended over and over again, and I have decided that in most cases if it warrants a vet visit, it warrants this test. Baytril doesn't always help, and in some case might make things worse.

I feel it is in the best interest of yourself and your snake to take her to the vet and ask for a throat culture to be done. Then you will know what she has and how to treat it.

I am sorry for your loss, it is never easy to loose one, even if you haven't had it long.

Gale

[DellaF]

So sorry for your loss. I hope your other snake will be ok.

[elbee]

I am very sorry for your loss. I will be praying for your Lilly.