Possible loss of colony

[wolfy-hound]

Hi,
As some of you have realized, I have a extensive collection of balls. Most I have had close to a year, and I recently had my first successful clutch of eggs hatch out. I was intending to breed this fall/winter also.
Currantly all that is in jeopardy. I have a spider female that was sold to me as 100% healthy but is actually a spinner. Now I bought her in january, tried to work out something with the seller, who basically refused, then disappeared and refused to answer emails.
Early on, I took her to the university of Florida, and they said well it could be IBD, but after blood tests etc, they said well, we don't see signs of it. Gave me antibiotics, and wanted to get more information on the "spinning" stuff, as they had never heard of it.
Yesterday I took her in for what I THOUGHT was a respitory infection. Her mouth was wet, and in fact it turned out to be my first ever case of stomatitus. Mouth rot. They debrided it, did blood tests, fecal samples, xrays etc. They then informed me they found "suspect inclusions" in the blood. It is not definate yet. The spider ball will be euthanized monday to be necropsied. It was a hard decision, as I really adore this particular little snake. I've always called her my most expensive pet, as she obviously would never be breedable. She was quarentined from the collection for 3 months, but as most of the collection was bought at the same time, she pretty much has been in the same room with everyone. In other words MOST of them were in "quarentine" at the same time. She has never shared a cage with any of the other snakes.
BUT, if she has IBD, which I get to find out on monday, then with all likehood, ALL my collection is lost. It might take a bit of time, but they would all probaly already have it, with it being so contagious.
So right now I am asking that you keep my little Hepurn in your thoughts, and hope for me that I won't find that my entire collection is gone. I would never be able to replace them, and would lose not only a sizable investment, but the main focus of my life.
Thanks
WOlfy

[rabernet]

Wolfy,


My thoughts and prayers are with you. From what I have read though, IBD is a very swift killer of pythons - usually within two weeks of infection. So, I would think if the spider came in with IBD, you would have experienced the losses by now.

It's never easy to lose our animals, my thoughts are with you for the best possible outcome considering the circumstances.

[Freakie_frog]

Wolfy,

So sorry to hear that.

[hoo-t]

If by "spinner", you are referring to what I have heard called "star gazing", rolling the head up, around, back, etc, and possibly head shakes, <edit> MANY <end edit> spider balls do this! <edit> MANY <end edit> of them! Some more, some less. Its not well understood, but it is definitely genetic, and apparently neurological. If this is what you are talking about, don't euthanize that animal!!!! I really doubt that it is IBD. I don't know about the "suspect inclusions", but don't euthanize based on the neurological disorder! Also, I have heard and read over and over that the spinning and head shakes do NOT affect feeding or breeding. Please, please, treat this animal for the KNOWN health issues (mouth rot), continue to quarantine it until that issue is resolved, then enjoy the animal for what it is. By the way, I have a spider that I purchased from a VERY reputable breeder, and yes, my spider does it too! It IS said that it usually decreases with age. Please don't kill that snake!!!!!!!!

Steve

I have edited this post to replace the word "ALL" with the word "MANY" to hopefully get this thread back on the original subject matter. Please see my new thread "Spins and Shakes in Spiders" if you wish to respond to my statement. Hopefully, we can save the life of Wolfy's snake!!!!

Steve

[joepythons]

Wolfy,


My thoughts and prayers are with you. From what I have read though, IBD is a very swift killer of pythons - usually within two weeks of infection. So, I would think if the spider came in with IBD, you would have experienced the losses by now.

It's never easy to lose our animals, my thoughts are with you for the best possible outcome considering the circumstances.

Wolfy,you have every positive thought and prayers i can make for you and your collection not being hit by IBD.I also thought the IBD in pythons was a quick killer in pythons and boas were the lengthy carriers.Please keep us posted

[Emilio]

Wolfy I think Robin is right the spinning it was doing isn't necessarily IBD. I've read some thread's here and spinning is mostly something in the Spider gene. I hope everything will be O.K Wolf good luck. One more thing that breeder should be slammed pretty bad on the net , let us know who they are so we won't do business with them.

[rabernet]

If by "spinner", you are referring to what I have heard called "star gazing", rolling the head up, around, back, etc, and possibly head shakes, ALL spider balls do this! ALL of them! Some more, some less. Its not well understood, but it is definitely genetic, and apparently neurological. If this is what you are talking about, don't euthanize that animal!!!! I really doubt that it is IBD. I don't know about the "suspect inclusions", but don't euthanize based on the neurological disorder! Also, I have heard and read over and over that the spinning and head shakes do NOT affect feeding or breeding. Please, please, treat this animal for the KNOWN health issues (mouth rot), continue to quarantine it until that issue is resolved, then enjoy the animal for what it is. By the way, I have a spider that I purchased from a VERY reputable breeder, and yes, my spider does it too! It IS said that it usually decreases with age. Please don't kill that snake!!!!!!!!

Steve

Steve, granted I don't know as much about spiders as others here, but I don't believe that ALL spiders spin. I believe Adam has spiders that don't spin, hopefully he'll see this and give his input on that subject.

[joepythons]

If by "spinner", you are referring to what I have heard called "star gazing", rolling the head up, around, back, etc, and possibly head shakes, ALL spider balls do this! ALL of them! Some more, some less. Its not well understood, but it is definitely genetic, and apparently neurological. If this is what you are talking about, don't euthanize that animal!!!! I really doubt that it is IBD. I don't know about the "suspect inclusions", but don't euthanize based on the neurological disorder! Also, I have heard and read over and over that the spinning and head shakes do NOT affect feeding or breeding. Please, please, treat this animal for the KNOWN health issues (mouth rot), continue to quarantine it until that issue is resolved, then enjoy the animal for what it is. By the way, I have a spider that I purchased from a VERY reputable breeder, and yes, my spider does it too! It IS said that it usually decreases with age. Please don't kill that snake!!!!!!!!

Steve

From my understanding some spiders have the "spinning" problem some dont.I know a few breeders that have spiders that do not have the spinners.Wolfy hoo-t did hit on something though.I wonder how the vet in one visit does tests that say no IBD problem,then "suspected inclusion".

[Adam_Wysocki]

If by "spinner", you are referring to what I have heard called "star gazing", rolling the head up, around, back, etc, and possibly head shakes, ALL spider balls do this! ALL of them!

You've heard wrong ... I have over 30 spiders and they definitely do not ALL do anything of the sort.

-adam

[ANM]

"If by "spinner", you are referring to what I have heard called "star gazing", rolling the head up, around, back, etc, and possibly head shakes, ALL spider balls do this! ALL of them! Some more, some less."

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! I have 2.2 spider's that will breed for me next season and i have never seen them do this.

So to say they ALL HAVE THIS IS WRONG!