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  1. #1
    BPnet Veteran Ginevive's Avatar
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    Old age? (for keepers of older snakes)

    I had been wondering.. has anyone ever had a BP die of old age? I know that they have long lifespans.. and the widespread keeping of them as pets/breeders is relatively young and really still in its infancy.. but if anyone can elaborate, please do.
    -Jen. Back in the hobby after a hiatus!
    Ball pythons:
    0.1 normal; 1.1 albino. 1.0 pied; 0.1 het pied; 1.0 banana.

  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran Royalherper's Avatar
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    Re: Old age? (for keepers of older snakes)

    I bought my oldest pair in 1994. I just ran across the receipt two days ago. I paid $85 dollars each ( from a pet store). I still see them for sale at stores for $80.

    So, they are approaching middle age. Still kicking out eggs
    * Jason *

    lots of Bps

  3. #3
    BPnet Veteran slartibartfast's Avatar
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    Re: Old age? (for keepers of older snakes)

    I'm wondering what death from "old age" consists of in snakes. In mammals, some system eventually fails them. What happens to snakes?

    Do they get arthritis? Kidney failure? How do you know when it's time to euthanize? I've been thinking about this for a while now...and hopefully it will be at least another 15 or 20 years before I have to worry about it personally.

    So much of what I do at work involves geriatric care these days...and I know what that looks like in cats and dogs, but have no idea about snakes.
    ~Jess
    Balls: 2.10 normal, 1.0 pastel, 2.2 het albino, 1.0 50% het pied, 1.2 poss. axanthic, 1.0 pinstripe, 1.0 black pastel,
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  4. #4
    BPnet Veteran Adam_Wysocki's Avatar
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    Re: Old age? (for keepers of older snakes)

    I've lost a bunch of snakes to old age over the years ... my first ball pythons was an adult female that I got when I was 8 years old ... she died a couple years ago. This summer, I lost an female hypo that I imported as an old adult in 1998 to old age.

    It happens.

    -adam
    Click Below to Fight The National Python & Boa Ban




    "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
    - Anna Sewell, author of Black Beauty


  5. #5
    BPnet Veteran slartibartfast's Avatar
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    Re: Old age? (for keepers of older snakes)

    Quote Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki
    I've lost a bunch of snakes to old age over the years ... my first ball pythons was an adult female that I got when I was 8 years old ... she died a couple years ago. This summer, I lost an female hypo that I imported as an old adult in 1998 to old age.

    It happens.

    -adam
    But what does it look like?
    ~Jess
    Balls: 2.10 normal, 1.0 pastel, 2.2 het albino, 1.0 50% het pied, 1.2 poss. axanthic, 1.0 pinstripe, 1.0 black pastel,
    Misc. snakes: 1.1 blood python, 1.0 Tarahumara Mountain kingsnake, 0.1 RTB
    0.0.1 Red-eyed casque-headed skink
    1.2 dogs (Lab, Catahoula, Papillon-X), 6.1 cats, 1.0 foster dog
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  6. #6
    BPnet Veteran Adam_Wysocki's Avatar
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    Re: Old age? (for keepers of older snakes)

    Quote Originally Posted by slartibartfast
    But what does it look like?
    Like a dead snake?

    Hope this helps.

    -adam
    Click Below to Fight The National Python & Boa Ban




    "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
    - Anna Sewell, author of Black Beauty


  7. #7
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    Re: Old age? (for keepers of older snakes)

    they mean how do they start to tear apart. What organ fails them?
    Samuel*
    "retics are my favorite snakes because they demand respect and you need to develop a relationship with them. They are not just a snake in a tub that you clean and feed and could juggle if you wanted to"
    Carlos. F


  8. #8
    BPnet Veteran slartibartfast's Avatar
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    Re: Old age? (for keepers of older snakes)

    Pffft. You know what I mean.

    Do they just spontaneously drop dead? Do they go off feed? Lose weight? How do you distinguish between "old age" and some other malady? At what age does one opt not to have a necropsy done?
    ~Jess
    Balls: 2.10 normal, 1.0 pastel, 2.2 het albino, 1.0 50% het pied, 1.2 poss. axanthic, 1.0 pinstripe, 1.0 black pastel,
    Misc. snakes: 1.1 blood python, 1.0 Tarahumara Mountain kingsnake, 0.1 RTB
    0.0.1 Red-eyed casque-headed skink
    1.2 dogs (Lab, Catahoula, Papillon-X), 6.1 cats, 1.0 foster dog
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  9. #9
    BPnet Veteran Ginevive's Avatar
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    Re: Old age? (for keepers of older snakes)

    I was wondering the same thing
    Ginger, my old girl, was already adult-sized when we bought her in 2002. I figure her to be pre-1999 but can't be sure..
    -Jen. Back in the hobby after a hiatus!
    Ball pythons:
    0.1 normal; 1.1 albino. 1.0 pied; 0.1 het pied; 1.0 banana.

  10. #10
    BPnet Veteran bearhart's Avatar
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    Re: Old age? (for keepers of older snakes)

    I have read that they stay active (relatively speaking I guess) and alert even into advanced age.

    Even though I've heard recorded ages up to almost 50 years I've been told that a typical lifespan is 20 to 25 years. Is this accurate?
    1.0 Normal BP - "Snakey"
    1.0 Jungle carpet python - "Chewbacca" aka "Chewie"
    0.1 Olive python - "Cleopatra" aka "Cleo"
    0.0.1 Corn - "Husker"
    1.0 Veiled Chameleon - "Kermit"

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