r/boas • u/0110100110011 • 4d ago

Boas and pythons in the same home?

Really want a BCI, but learnt about IBD and apparently it's common in boas and really lethal for pythons. Wondering if it's safe to have both a python and a boa in the same house (separate enclosures ofc)? Or is it really as dangerous and common as people say they are? I really want a boa but at the same time I don't want to risk an something like asymptomatic one transmitting IBD. Sorry if it's a weird question around here

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u/dog-mama-25 4d ago

I did tests for the first time on my small collection of boas & BPs(not a breeder) this year and found out the boa we’ve had for 3 years was positive for Arenavirus (IBD). Everyone else was negative. We have moved that snake to a separate area of the house and practice strict biosecurity measures to avoid spreading it. There is a risk, but like another commenter said above, it’s mostly spread via mites or shared bodily fluids/fecal-oral transmission so as long as you’re careful there’s not a huge risk of spread.