unbeleivable coincedence

[challenger]

As a previous post states I lost a baby female last night to an inknown illness. I look at the paper today which is rare cause it is a rag and low and behold an ad reads:
Snake-Surinam Red Tail Boa-High Pink female 2 yrs old-w-cage & supplies $300.00.

There are NEVER snakes in this paper-very happy me. I am going to look at her at 3:00 PM. Wish me luck. If things go well and I get her should I leave her in her cage until she adjusts to her new home-seems prudent. How long a settling in period would I be smart with before I put her in a new/larger cage?

The situation is interesting in that the wife, who is due soon, put the ad in the paper because her MD said it isn't good to have a baby and a snake in the same house. Is this true and if so why? I am a proponent of keeping people seperated from animals anyway-no inside pets for example. but is there a medical reason (salmonella??) It is way too small to, God forbid, attack the child I would think. Please learn me something new every day.
I'm still waiting for a call back from a herp vet about my other neo male and am getting anxiouse to get him looked at.

[Schwartz]

I Would Say A 2 Week Settling Period, And The Doctor Said That Because Sometimes Snakes Are Drawn To The Sound Of A Baby Crying Much Like A Cat Is, If You Have Cats Doctors Will Often Recommend You Get Rid Of Them As Well.

[buck2003]

Sorry to hear about your loss, Yet glad to hear you may of found new joy!. I have my snakes in a room apart from the living quarters so to speak, but only cause I dont want the kids banging on the glass and stressing my snakes out! I see no reason why you cant have snakes and childeren providing your responsible enough to ensure both parties safty. As for the moving cages, each time I buy a new snake I bring them home in a snake sack and put em straight into there new homes, (usualy larger) I then leave them 7 days or so to settle, during that time they'll eat if they want to and chill before I start handeling them. Might be a good idea though to wait to see what your other snake died of before putting a new snake in that viv just to be on the safe side! Buck

[challenger]

Well I just got back from veiwing the snake. It is gorgeouse although seems smaller than it should be for it's age. It isn't starved but I would say it was fed logically over the past 2 yrs.-w-F/T medium Rats every two weeks. It has a double line pattern on it's head where the two I have now have a single line down the middle this has two sort of down the top-w-the center-w-regular color. The tail is awesome and the underside of the tail is also. I have not handled anything but my neo rtbs and this one is a treat. I will get it tonight as the wife needs to "say goodby" to it before I take it. It has a real nice cage, a giant peice of driftwood and a bunch of accessories. Again an unbeleivable blessing IMO. I was so bummed this AM seeing my poor dead neo and I look at the paper just out of the blue and see this add. Now I feel guilty for being too lucky-ooops that wore off.

	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[JuliusSqueezer]

Schwartz? Please explain how something with no ears is drawn to the sound of a baby Snakes do have internal and very primative ears but they do not register sound the way we hear it, only vibrations and only if they have their chin rested firmly on the vibrating surface. I don't think there is any logic in a snake being drawn to the sound of a baby. Salmonella or constriction would be the only dangers that some overcautious doctor might be referring to. Prevention is simple. Don't let the snake in the crib. Wash your hands good after handling the snake and before picking up any baby. Salmonella is a natural digestive bacteria that many animals naturally possess including humans and snakes. It can only make us sick through direct contact from feces to our mouth and even only then if we have a lowered immuno system. Anyone under the age of 21 could possibly get it just from not having yet fully developed immunity. Past 21, you would have to have aids, a bad flu or someother immuno break down. Salmonella is also much more prevalent and usually only dangerous coming from very young or very sick reptiles. So, don't let your baby handle snakes. Wash your hands when you do and all will be well. I saw a photo a couple years ago of a baby sitting amid the coils of a large freeroaming burm with the snake's tail in his mouth. This is bad Don't do goofy crap like that and there will be no health concerns to worry about.

Challenger, While BCC do eventually obtain a much larger size than BCI on average, it takes them longer to get there. They grow and mature at a much slower rate so the present size may be normal. Whatever you do, do NOT try and beef it up with extra food. They do not handle overfeeding well at all and are much more prone to regurge than anything you have proobably ever dealt with.

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor Red Tail Boa Constrictor (Boa constictor constrictor). Refers to "true" red tail boas such as the Guyana and Suriname locales.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[Reptscue]

Challenger,
I would personally suggest that you wait on your purchase of a new snake. You seem to have a sick snake in the house already, and without any veterinary help.

This is a quote from your other post:

Originally Posted by challenger

I have been searching for a herp vet w/o luck but have a lead on one I am checking on today...Now the third one is showing similar sign of sluggishness and doesn't take food. I hope he comes around because I spent good $ and had plans on breeding them in the future.

It would be a shame if you bought the new snake and it only got sick from your existing snake.

Just my 2 cents...

[rmestre]

If you give me your location I would be happy to locate a vet for you.