Mystery Sickness for over a year

[BluntSpoon]

Hi all, i've never used this site and admit to never really reading it either untill recently, I've made this account especially to ask about this because I'm running out of ideas.

I have three ball pythons who got sick at the same time. They are wheezing and not eating.

I know I know it 'sounds like a RI to me, take it to the vet' but I've been taking the snakes to the vet for a whole year with no improvement but also not getting any worse. When looking in the snake's mouth we saw no evidence of a RI and whether or not they are being treated in injections or not they stay the same level of sickness.

The ONLY two symptoms are wheezing and no appetite, would anyone know of a virus or condition that may be worth looking into. I had the snake sent in for multiple cultures and tests and everything came back negative. the conditions of the snakes were checked and the vets are happy with those too.

One of my snakes are from Germany so the vet and I suspect something could have come from there?

[craigafrechette]

Is the vet you're seeing a reptile vet? If the vet primarily see cats and dogs they may not be very well qualified with reptiles.

Also, did you quarantine new animals when they arrived?

Can you tell us about your setups? Temps? Humidity? Etc...

The more you tell us the better we can help

[BluntSpoon]

1. yes my vet is a reptile vet. I have seen 4 different exotic specialists over the year with not much help.

2. The snake was kept as far away as possible from the other snakes yes and seemed perfectly healthy for a few months though there was a wheeze every now and again but inspection from a vet said a birth defect in the nose must be the cause since other than that the snake was in perfect health.

The vivs: Viv exotic medium (wood) with LED strip and Ceramic heat bulb. Temps range from 33 during the day to about 24 at night.
Humidity is a little hard to control but I try to keep above 50 and below 60. since the snakes are in my bedroom. Loads of decor, fake plants and orchid bark bedding, 3D foam backgrounds too. Cold hide and hot hide too. the cold hide is about 27 degrees.

I have tried f10 nebulisation and a number of different injections. virus cultures and bloods. No results.

I'm thinking if setting up a BioActive would possible help but i'm lost at this point.

[WolfMum13]

IBD disease, not saying that is it. But look into it. Pythons and boids disease, can transfer, and can be slow on setting, with symptoms resembling RI, have they done any stargazing or corkscrews? Can be hard to diagnose without an experienced vet.

[Aaron_S]

1. yes my vet is a reptile vet. I have seen 4 different exotic specialists over the year with not much help.

2. The snake was kept as far away as possible from the other snakes yes and seemed perfectly healthy for a few months though there was a wheeze every now and again but inspection from a vet said a birth defect in the nose must be the cause since other than that the snake was in perfect health.

The vivs: Viv exotic medium (wood) with LED strip and Ceramic heat bulb. Temps range from 33 during the day to about 24 at night.
Humidity is a little hard to control but I try to keep above 50 and below 60. since the snakes are in my bedroom. Loads of decor, fake plants and orchid bark bedding, 3D foam backgrounds too. Cold hide and hot hide too. the cold hide is about 27 degrees.

I have tried f10 nebulisation and a number of different injections. virus cultures and bloods. No results.

I'm thinking if setting up a BioActive would possible help but i'm lost at this point.

If everything is spot on and there's no culture/blood or test coming back positive, then maybe it's not sick at all?

If it's not eating I would change the viv or at least ensue it's got more snug hides and make sure it's secure. Ball pythons are finicky that way.

[craigafrechette]

1. yes my vet is a reptile vet. I have seen 4 different exotic specialists over the year with not much help.

2. The snake was kept as far away as possible from the other snakes yes and seemed perfectly healthy for a few months though there was a wheeze every now and again but inspection from a vet said a birth defect in the nose must be the cause since other than that the snake was in perfect health.

The vivs: Viv exotic medium (wood) with LED strip and Ceramic heat bulb. Temps range from 33 during the day to about 24 at night.
Humidity is a little hard to control but I try to keep above 50 and below 60. since the snakes are in my bedroom. Loads of decor, fake plants and orchid bark bedding, 3D foam backgrounds too. Cold hide and hot hide too. the cold hide is about 27 degrees.

I have tried f10 nebulisation and a number of different injections. virus cultures and bloods. No results.

I'm thinking if setting up a BioActive would possible help but i'm lost at this point.

By as far away as possible, do you mean in a completely separate room?

Were you using the same tongs, handling without washing up and changing clothes, or anything like that?

And it's kinda confusing the way it was worded...are your snakes all in separate enclosures?

[BluntSpoon]

If everything is spot on and there's no culture/blood or test coming back positive, then maybe it's not sick at all?

If it's not eating I would change the viv or at least ensue it's got more snug hides and make sure it's secure. Ball pythons are finicky that way.

They all started wheexing at the same time and stopped eating at the same time. I struggle to think any of them are healthy tbh.



By as far away as possible, do you mean in a completely separate room?

Were you using the same tongs, handling without washing up and changing clothes, or anything like that?

And it's kinda confusing the way it was worded...are your snakes all in separate enclosures?

They are kept on opposite sides of the room which is the best I can do since i only have the one.

I do use the same feeding tongs but only for mice handling, there is no contact with the tong usually and if there is I wipe it with a clinell wipe. I also use hand sanitizer between handling the snakes.

The three ball pythons are all in seperate enclosures.

[BluntSpoon]

IBD disease, not saying that is it. But look into it. Pythons and boids disease, can transfer, and can be slow on setting, with symptoms resembling RI, have they done any stargazing or corkscrews? Can be hard to diagnose without an experienced vet.

I'm going to pop back into the vet and ask about it, thanks

[Andy_G]

I'm going to pop back into the vet and ask about it, thanks

Pythons succumb very quickly to IBD. Not likely, but no harm in asking. I unfortunately have nothing else to add.

[craigafrechette]

They all started wheexing at the same time and stopped eating at the same time. I struggle to think any of them are healthy tbh.





They are kept on opposite sides of the room which is the best I can do since i only have the one.

I do use the same feeding tongs but only for mice handling, there is no contact with the tong usually and if there is I wipe it with a clinell wipe. I also use hand sanitizer between handling the snakes.

The three ball pythons are all in seperate enclosures.


Ok, unfortunately that's not proper quarantine. They shouldn't be kept in the same room, shouldn't share tongs, and just washing your hands isn't enough.

For proper quarantine they need to be in separate rooms, no equipment can be shared and full clothes changes an thorough washing should all take place.

I won't continue to beat a dead horse, but the lack of proper quarantine could be the culprit.

Unfortunately, I can't help further with actual diagnosis or anything.

This may be a valuable lesson moving forward and could also be a great learning tool for new keepers.

I truly wish you and your animals all the best.