How Contagious Is RI?

[godson80]

Im affraid that my baby male might get RI due to the fact that my baby female had it. They were housed togehter for about a month until I notice her syptoms and seperated them immediately. Could or does my male have RI even though he has shown no syptoms? It been about 2 weeks since I took my female in. They are still seperated until she is competley cleared.

[SatanicIntention]

They need to be separated indefinitely, for their well-being. They are solitary animals who have no need for same-species companionship, other than the few months of breeding season.

It is not worth all of the vet bills, the stress, the fasting, and the cross-contamination for your snakes to be housed together.

Yes, it may be cheaper to house them, but it is NOT cheaper in the long-run when you run into problems. You have two enlcosures now, so why not just keep it that way?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Im affraid that my baby male might get RI due to the fact that my baby female had it. They were housed togehter for about a month until I notice her syptoms and seperated them immediately. Could or does my male have RI even though he has shown no syptoms? It been about 2 weeks since I took my female in. They are still seperated until she is competley cleared.

It is contagious and yes your male could have a RI and not show the signs yet.

There is absolutely no benefit to house two Ball Pythons together, however as you already have find out there are risks.

Those risks includes stress, going of feed, spreading of diseases, parasites, mites, premature breeding, you are also at risk for serious injuries and even death.

BP are solitary animals not social creature they do not require companionship, and they do better when house alone.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=23890&highlight=multiple+housing

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[godson80]

thanx for the info, I really appreciate it. do you think I should have my male checked out? I will keep them apart from eachother from now on. These are my first snakes. hopefully not the last

[daniel1983]

Since they are seperated now, I would be less concerned over the RI being contagious and more concerned with their husbandry being contagious.

Since low temperatures can lead to an RI developing, I would make sure that the proper environment is being provided.

[MATT FISHER REPTILES]

just a question?? but isnt RI more like pntumonia(sp) than it is like the common cold. i read somewhere that it is not contagious. but is more spred through bad husbandry. like i said i am not 100% sure. maby someone could shed some light in depth on exactly what ri is and the medical lingo that goes with it, and how it is spred exactly.

[gil6]

RI is contagious. It can be caused by poor husbandry, bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.

[Adam_Wysocki]

just a question?? but isnt RI more like pntumonia(sp) than it is like the common cold. i read somewhere that it is not contagious. but is more spred through bad husbandry. like i said i am not 100% sure. maby someone could shed some light in depth on exactly what ri is and the medical lingo that goes with it, and how it is spred exactly.

Respiratory infections (RI’s) in ball pythons can absolutely spread from snake to snake. The most common cause of RI’s in p. regius is a bacterial infection caused by incorrect temperatures. The specific type of bacteria varies from snake to snake but can be identified via a culture and then specifically treated with an anti-biotic known to work effectively with the specific bacteria.

Any animal found to have a respiratory infection should be immediately quarantined and seen by a vet for a culture and course of anti-biotics.

Hope this helps.

-adam

[tmlowe5704]

Respiratory infections (RI’s) in ball pythons can absolutely spread from snake to snake. The most common cause of RI’s in p. regius is a bacterial infection caused by incorrect temperatures. The specific type of bacteria varies from snake to snake but can be identified via a culture and then specifically treated with an anti-biotic known to work effectively with the specific bacteria.

Any animal found to have a respiratory infection should be immediately quarantined and seen by a vet for a culture and course of anti-biotics.

Hope this helps.

-adam

Learn that much now Matt. I would hate to see those 50 females get sick