i have a few questions about ball`s - Page 4

Kmef07 · 01-16-09, 07:36 PM

Well the vet is the guy that told me that is what happened I didn't think that the mouse could pass on a disease either but I don't know. I really don't like my vet so I don't think I will be going back to him anytime soon. I think my snake was sick when I took it to the vet and he said everything was fine but oh well it happens I guess it just sucked to loose my snake.

citysnakes · 01-16-09, 07:37 PM

there are parasties that are specific to a certain type of living thing but there are also parasites that can transfer from one to the other.

Chu'Wuti · 01-16-09, 08:32 PM

Quote:

there are parasties that are specific to a certain type of living thing but there are also parasites that can transfer from one to the other.

Well, that's what I was trying to remember. Like the heartworm. Of course. So what parasite would have a mammalian (rodent) host then be able to attack a reptilian host?

mykee · 01-18-09, 03:30 PM

There are no diseases that would kill a snake from a rat to snake transfer. Your vet, like most, is an idiot.

Chu'Wuti · 01-18-09, 10:48 PM

Ahhh. Thanks, Michael. I couldn't find anything when I searched, but I didn't know for sure. It's nice to have confirmation.

St3v3n on my Eating Again thread has a question about interspecies breeding that I cannot answer definitively--maybe you can?

Kmef07 · 01-19-09, 10:21 AM

Ya i have come to the conclusion that my vet is most likely an idiot. i called him over the weekend to ask him what the disease was or watever he said the rat transfered, and he said he would call me back when he looked over the records. i wanted to get his exact reason for why my snake died, and he said that from his tests the rat most likely gave my snake the common cold and it died from that. i knew he was full of it, because when i took my snake in right after it died to try and figure out what happened he didn't do any tests he looked at the snake and said that the rat gave him a disease. so i promptly let him know that i knew he was full of it and would tell everyone i know with reptiles never to go to him because he is a complete quack. I've come to the conclusion that when i took my snake to him for a checkup when i got the snake he lied to me when he said that snake seems healthy when i had told him of the odd behavior the snake was displaying. my snake was star-gazing and had some discoloration on the underbelly. he did give my snake a shot but he pulled the shot out before he injected it and it ended up on my snakes skin rather than in my snake. he assured me that the meds got in......i (like an idiot) believed him and took my snake home and it actually got better it seemed but then went downhill fast.....so ya my doc is a complete moron!!!!!

**Aaron_S** · 01-19-09, 10:48 AM

Well, find a new one, or don't use one at all! Just buy from a really good breeder.

Kmef07 · 01-19-09, 11:57 AM

ya my breeder is a pretty good friend of mine but lives about an hour away and the vet was only 5 mins up the road but from now on i'll make the drive.

siz · 01-19-09, 04:56 PM

Travelling puts a lot of stress on snakes, the best thing would be to have your friend come to you, if possible.

Smilts · 01-19-09, 07:25 PM

Or these problems are really uncommon with really good breeders I learned the hard way recently only go to and get from well known breeders.

Chu'Wuti · 01-19-09, 09:19 PM

After reading all this, I can only think again how lucky I have been! I have a really healthy BP despite having gotten him at a local pet store. Whew!

**Aaron_S** · 01-20-09, 12:47 AM

I've gotten ball pythons from pet stores. I've dealt with farmed baby balls.All crammed into the same tanks. A lot die but there's still plenty that survive and do well with PROPER conditions.

mykee · 01-20-09, 04:10 PM

What Aaron said. I've owned hundreds and hundreds of balls over the last ten years and never had to go to the vet but once and he did NOTHING to help me. If you keep your animals with proper husbandry and use some common sense along the way, you'll never have to visit a vet. EVER.

Chu'Wuti · 01-20-09, 08:20 PM

Think I'll stick with you guys to ensure I maintain a good level of common sense!

**Aaron_S** · 01-21-09, 12:40 PM

Just as a side note, what I meant with ball pythons crammed into the same tanks I didn't mean at my own residence. I meant the pet stores I worked at. We kept more than a couple per tank.