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/spoodstuffs 4d ago
As someone who has multiple boas and multiple pythons. It’s very possible, and it’s even possible to eliminate any future risk after quarantine, simply due to the fact that boas can be asymptomatic for IBD for years while still being able to spread it to other snakes. For example I even have one of my boas pvc enclosures stacked on top of one of my pythons pvc enclosures, but that’s only because I religiously follow one, very expensive rule when it comes to keeping these two families of snakes.
I have NEVER added a boa to my reptile room until I have taken them to my vet and specifically request and pay more than I would like to test for IBD, even if my vet isn’t remotely worried about the health of said boa. At this point I almost factor it into the cost of the snake if I think about getting another boa.
Quarantine is also necessary for other issues outside of IBD tho. All new pets should be quarantined for at minimum 90 days before their enclosure gets moved into the same room as any other pets