I lost two large retics to this -whatever it is. First was a retic I raised up, one day he was just limp, dead- yet alive. No tongue movement, I could dialate his eyes with a pen light. Finally, two days later, dead.
Next, I waited five weeks. I cloroxed the cage. I buy a grown tiger. A couple weeks later, same thing. I was thinking IBD. But all the major retic breeders say they have never seen a case of it.
I had a necropsy done on the tiger and a follow up pathology on the kidney. Kidney was fine. Necropsy showed ' some undiagnosed' bacterial infection.
This was all four months ago.
I got a few really special prized very large retics. They now have a lower respiratory infection so they are on Fortaz injections ( a major task to inject a 17 foot snake !).
This respiratory thing started this past week.
Now.... a sebae I have had a long time is going limp and losing muscle coordination. She was fine this morning. As with both dead retics they too, were fine the morning of their first signs.
I have a top notch herp vet who is one of the rare ones that is also certified to deal with whales and sea mammals.
I have spent more money for snakes vets in the last four months than I have in 35 years prior.
All affected snakes shed properly, were eating properly and elminating. The retics ate the week they died. I actually considered a tainted food supply.
Finally, the dying snakes 'exit performance' is that they showed ultra-bright coloration, brighter colors than when they were well.
Also, the dead snakes DID NOT ever get rigor, even several days later. Luminescent colors. They looked fake, plastic-like.
any ideas???
