So, I am not real sure where to ask this.

[stormwulf133]

I have a sand boa, yes I know this is the ball python section, just stay with me. I have had her for about a year. I bought a small mouse to feed to her. She did not eat it, because she is the pickiest snake in the world, and her owner was stupid and didn't look to see if she was in shed when he picked up all his live mice.

I put the mouse in a little cage, with food and water. My intent was to keep it until Moo, the picky sand boa, was out of shed and feed it off. Unfortunately for some reason, I became attached to this food, even though I am not attached to any of the other mice I purchased as breeders.

Now, my question being, this mouse has been in with a boa. Boas can carry IBD. I like this mouse and do not want to feed it off. Can this mouse, transmit the disease to my ball python collection, if I introduce this mouse to my breeding population of mice?

Am I being too paranoid? How long should I QT the mouse? If anyone thinks this is too much of a risk, I will just feed it off, because, while I like this little mouse. I like my multiple snake collection a whole lot more.

[python.princess]

Good question! I wish I could help!

[LadyOhh]

As I understand it, IBD is a reptilian virus and cannot be transmitted to Mammals.

I can't find a source to refer back to, however.

[stormwulf133]

I understand that they cannot catch it, but what I was wondering was, could it carry the in tact virus on its fur, feet etc, anything that touched where the boa had been? Not that I know the boa is infected but I tend to treat all my boas as if they are infected.

[shadi11]

my question is, Is your collection housed in the same room or is your boa housed seperately from the rest of your collection. IE in another room of your house or another floor of your house.
From what i understand about ibd is it would be airborn or can be spread with handling. So if this is the case yes, I would say the mouse can spread it if that is your concern.

[stormwulf133]

Collection is in the same room, we only have one room to live in. Its huge. So yes, i Know the chances of htem having ibd are slim.

[stormwulf133]

No one else has any input on this?

[Slim]

If your snakes are all in the same room, then the mouse infecting your BP's with IBD is a moot issue. It would have already spread if it was going to.

[stormwulf133]

I don't suppose anyone else has any feed back on this. I still have the little mouse, I am scared to use her as a breeder..

[JamieLynn]

As far as introducing a new mouse to your already established colony, you would be best to QT the mouse for 2-3 weeks, because some mice carry illnesses that could wipe out all of your breeding stock.
Just keep the mouse alone for a while, but be careful when putting it in with the others, as some mice (even females) can become territorial, and may kill the new one, best thing would be taking young mice who you plan on starting a colony with and placing them all on neutral ground (a clean tub/cage) when your QT time is up.
Also as long as she is not too old she would be a fine breeder (could just test her out with a male in a few weeks)
I hope this helps.