Re: Some general IBD questions!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Foschi Exotic Serpents
I agree with not buying boa's from just anyone. Especially expos from breeders who allow people to handle their boa's. My only boa now has been with me for 2 years and I have no plans to get more for quite some time but if I do, it would be from someone whose practices I trust. She was a baby when I got her, as was the male I ended up selling not long ago. They were both kept in a separate room from the BPs and my boa now is still kept apart from the BPs.
While I do think the entire thing is overplayed too much these days, it's better to be careful than sorry later.
I can't say for certain if it was IBD but a close friend purchased a boa from a small breeder at a local expo about 4 years ago. The snake mysteriously died after a few months even though it was eating well and seemed healthy. This is what made me nervous about it and I did mote research on the subject.
Until it becomes easy to diagnose and/or treat, which may never happen, the best way to avoid it is to only buy from certain breeders. Those who do not attend shows, or if they do, do not allow their snakes to be handled without ample hand sanitizer prior to purchase. And those who do not bring new stock into the same part of the building their existing stock is located.
I've certainly never let the idea of IBD deter me from wanting or getting boa's. You just need to be careful when getting them.
Good point about shows. Snakes could catch IBD, or any other disease, from someone handling them at a show. I personally have never bought an animal from a show, and very rarely attend them. I buy all of my stock from reputable breeders over the Internet. I have never, and probably will never sell at shows.
Honestly, I have only ever heard about a few cases of IBD. I believe it is often associated with most neurological symptom in snakes. There are many things that can cause neurological symptoms that are not IBD. A few are heat, pesticides, other diseases, and genetics.
