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

[ Hide Replies ]

• Possible Inclusion Body Disease? - miasmix, Sun Sep 24 18:50:48 2006
• RE: Possible Inclusion Body Disease? - metachrosis, Sun Sep 24 19:14:09 2006
• RE: Possible Inclusion Body Disease? - boogman, Sun Sep 24 20:19:36 2006
• get a necropsy . . . - slithering_serpents, Sun Sep 24 22:10:13 2006