My red-tailed boa passed away this morning after a week of odd symptoms that the vet was unsure of. I was hoping someone on here might recognize something and let me know what happened here. I had the boa just over a month, and he was only a few months old. I will list the symptoms, and then his husbandry info below. Please help.



Symptoms:

- Swollen around neck, head and mouth

- Mouth unable to close (no visible fungus (rot) inside of mouth)

- Jerky, awkward movements

- Stretching his neck up and back a little, staring upward

- Despite being mid-shed, no skin came off (no shedding)

- Dehydrated

- In the last day or so, unable to really move or right himself if flipped over

- Couldn't move through water when soaking, got tangled or turned

- Gaping, mouth open for long periods of time

- Crust/oozing around vent



I took him to the Vet ER where they did a chest x-ray and found no signs of pneumonia or respiratory infection. I am waiting until Monday (tomorrow) for the results of the blood CBC test.







Husbandry:

- He lived in 20 Long aquarium (he was only 18 inches)

- Fir bedding (large pieces)

- Temp 78 - 95 (basking side)

- Fresh water daily

- Fuzzies, one ever four days or so

- Humidity around 60% (was fighting the lack of humidity in my apartment and starting to win)

- Hides on either side of tank (which he never used)

- He soaked frequently

- Ceramic heat emitter for basking area





Also, I want to mention that he did have mites when we got him home from the pet store. We treated them by emptying the tank and scrubbing/disinfecting everything and soaking him daily for a few days. They seemed to disappear completely.







Any insight would be truly helpful. This was my first boa, and I am devastated. I'd done a lot of reading and tried to maintain everything to the best I could. The vet doesn't seem to be overly helpful.



Thank you in advance.

-Stephanie

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