Quote Originally Posted by Evilme5229 View Post
Is RI contagious?
Yes it can be, especially since you housed two snakes in one enclosure. Two snakes can equal double the vet bills as you may well find out. You'll need to be watching your other snake now for signs of an RI there.

Should my bps be separated?
One snake = one enclosure, two snakes = two enclosures. They can be housed together, the real question is should they be. I think you likely know that answer by now though.

You should also always quarantine new snakes away from any existing snakes you own for at least 30 days (lots of people go much longer than that though).

Is the reptile shop guy correct that this is something that they can get over naturally?
No he's not. We have over 20 snakes, some of them rescues. I have never had an RI in our collection, nor mites, nor ticks. This stuff is NOT "natural" or "just part of keeping snakes". That's just the pet store guy's way of not accepting responsibility for this snake's condition.

If you had years of snakekeeping experience that's one thing, but as a new keeper the only responsible advice anyone should really give you is to follow the treatment plan of an experienced herp vet as far as I'm concerned.

Did I make the right decision in letting the reptile shop house my bp to make sure he's healthy?
No, in my opinion, you didn't Shannon. They sold you a snake with an RI (or at least one brewing). They have the nerve to tell you to not treat your snake and argue with your experienced herp vet. Sad to say but my best advice is to contact them and demand a full refund then buy another snake from a much more informed supplier or good breeder. You now have no control over how they are treating this snake, or lack of treatment. You have no control over whether they are quarantining it or much of anything else.

I'd get my money back before any guarantee expires.

Like I said, this is my first time with snakes and any help in getting my babies to be healthy and stay healthly would be apprecaited.

~Shannon
This has been a hard start for you Shannon. Unfortunately unless you are buying from the very few top speciality reptile stores out there, pet stores in general sell very poor quality snakes that are often sick, not eating, have mites or intestinal parasites. That's a sad situation and you aren't the first to end up like this.