Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Two of my 2004 Red Tail Colombian Boas have ? IBD ? They are fine in their cage but when I pick them up they flop around & go into spasms. They can get back on their bellies when I turn them over and they are eating like pigs and getting bigger. They seem totally fine until I try to move them. They are in isolation and they are the only ones out of 24 that got it.
Is it IBD ? Any ideas ? Any treatment ? Contagious ? Any hope for them ?
Thanks
TB

Well, first of all I feel people tend to jump the gun when it comes to IBD....Yes, it's a very bad thing however the symptoms of IBD could be many other things. I have never had first hand experience "knocking on wood" with IBD. But what you describe seems to be normal to me. I a few boas that like to "star gaze" that are perfectly healthy which is a symptom of IBD. Some boas just act different from others. If you feel you have a problem contact a good reptile vet.

James W. Arnold

I have never heard of IBD. What is it? What are the symptoms?

Inclusion body disease. The symptoms are vast, the prognosis is grave, and determining the presence of IBD is generally done accurately during necropsy. For some detailed info, just do a general search and you should find enough information to boggle your mind and instill total irrational fear in yourself. This is definitely a serious problem, but all too often people will associate minimal symptoms as IBD as you will find, almost anything can translate into a symptom of this deadly virus. Take care.

Paul

IBD- Some signs are mental dullness, lying on back or side, star gazing, off feed, weight loss, mild head tremers, seizures and disequilibrium.
If you suspect your boas have IBD, a good reptile vet may be of some help. But there is no cure for IBD.

I had the same problem with a yearling. Every time I picked her up she seemed unbalanced. I just started handling her all the time and she stop freaking out. Marshall