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.