Sick Boa advice needed

tigermoon89 · 05-11-12, 09:46 PM

Hi,

My cousin wants me to adopt a sick boa from him. He adopted it from a pet store about a month and a half ago, the snake is blind. The boa has not eaten. My cousin also told me that the boa has trouble regulating its body temp. His snake sits in the cool side in the water dish for a couple of weeks then will stay in the warm side for a couple of weeks.

Does anyone know what may be going on with this poor guy?

(I told him I can't adopt it until he takes the snake to the vet) Would anyone with any similar experience please share and let me know what tests are needed and a possible run down of cost.

Thank you!

tigermoon89 · 05-12-12, 12:56 PM

Unfortunately, my cousin called today to let me know that this guy didn't make it. He also discovered that he had mites. The infestation became very noticeable over the past couple of days.

marvelfreak · 05-12-12, 03:53 PM

Hello and welcome to our zoo.

First off can you tell us what kind of set up he has it in? Is the cage glass, plastic or wood?
What does he use to heat the cage, number of hides, temperatures for the hot and cool side? This is all info that will help us help you. If you could get some pictures that could really help us maybe figure out what's wrong. Pictures of the set up and snakes. Is it eating and does it have normal poo or is it runny? Any and all info you can get will help.

tigermoon89 · 05-13-12, 09:35 AM

Hi,

Unfortunately my cousin had been housing the 2 boas together in a 20gal tank (part of the reason he wanted me to adopt the sick one). He uses repti bark bedding. The temp on the warm side is between 85-95F, cool side 70-75F. He keeps the water dish on the cool side.

He uses and undertank heater placed on the side of the glass for warmth. I'm not sure about the number of hides, I can ask.

The healthy one eats really well. The sick one hadn't eaten in a month and a half.

Both boas had been about 2 feet long. I can see if he'd be able to send me a photo.

(I know that housing snakes in such small environment together can cause stress and cause them to stop eating- believe me, I'm very irritated with my cousin for not researching properly before purchasing and adopting).

Thank you for your help and insight!

DeesBalls · 05-13-12, 10:22 AM

if they were housed together, then chances are the other snake is sick too, if the sick one had mites, chances are the healthy one will now have mites too...

pics always help us out too.

mykee · 05-13-12, 12:37 PM

Ahhh, the joys of communal housing.

marvelfreak · 05-13-12, 03:39 PM

I forgot to ask how do you know the snakes blind? It sound like a vet visited for both is in order. Snake should only be hows together when breeding and males should never be housed together.

Fredricks · 05-13-12, 07:05 PM

Your cousin should really focus on keeping the healthy snake that way. I don't know the details of how your cousin got the snake, but unfortunately it passed.
He should take his snake to the vet to check for mites, and anything else. You guys should also clean the terrarium, and check it for mites or any other harmful things

Sorry for the loss

tigermoon89 · 05-13-12, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

if they were housed together, then chances are the other snake is sick too, if the sick one had mites, chances are the healthy one will now have mites too...

pics always help us out too.

I told my cousin the same thing but unfortunately he's doesn't sound to willing to follow my instructions on proper mite treatment. He cleaned out and changed all the bedding. But he put fresh bedding back in and only wants to treat with a mite spray. He also insists that the healthy boa is mite free.

My cousin lives about 2 hours away from me. He only contacted me when he noticed that things got really bad with his sick boa. He was told that the snake was blind by the pet store he got it from. He purchased and adopted from Chicago Reptiles.

I'm sure he will take his remaining boa to the vet if he feels that he needs to.

USMCgunner11 · 05-13-12, 11:52 PM

If your cousin is so hell bent on being stubborn and only wants to treat with more spray, try and have him at least get something that will actually work. Everyone has their own methods, mine is Provent-a-mite. The generic stuff they sell is most pet stores never really worked for me. This stuff works great if used properly.

tigermoon89 · 05-14-12, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCgunner11

If your cousin is so hell bent on being stubborn and only wants to treat with more spray, try and have him at least get something that will actually work. Everyone has their own methods, mine is Provent-a-mite. The generic stuff they sell is most pet stores never really worked for me. This stuff works great if used properly.

Thanks, I will let him know