My baby Ball Python Kaa died today......

[sicilian1928]

I dont know what happened to end in the death of Kaa. The husbandry was just about perfect, temps on the warm side 88-92, temps on the cold side 80-85. hide spots on both sides, humidity levels were 50-60% at all times, he had water. After I fed him a hopper, Kaa just seemed like he was not ok. He displayed symptoms of IBD but couldnt be the coa because the only snakes he was around are mite free. I found him with a large lump in his stomach that was blue when I got home from school. Can a mouse be so big that it can kill a baby bp? it was hardly bigger than his body, but who knows.. RIP

[ShortStack]

I don't know what happened, but sorry to hear about him

[Donald M]

sry 4 ur lost friend

[shadow120]

sorry he died. as far as ibd just becuse there are no mites dosent mean he could not get it. its not fully known how ibd is transmitted. i dont think the mouse would be big to kill him. the blue lump sounds like internal bleeding but idk

[sicilian1928]

Thanks guys. I am very confused on what was the cause of death. I am going to research it until i find an answer. Maybe call a few reptile vets and ask.

[SlitherinSisters]

I think the only way you would know what if you took him to the vet for a "snake autopsy" it starts with an N, but I can never remember what it's called. I believe you have to put the snake in the freezer right away or the vet can do anything. Someone else would have to chime in.

If the rodent wasn't enormous from the mouse then he couldn't have been killed by it. They can eat something a bit larger than themselves. If the mouse was f/t it could have been a bad mouse-left out at the store or thawed while being shipped. If your snake didn't eat for a long time the shock of eating can poise a potential hazard if they are really weak. It's just like any animal, and I believe humans, if they are starved for awhile and you let them eat a big meal their bodies may not be able to handle it and shut down from the shock. I don't know what your situation is, but that's what I know.

[coldblooded]

If you haven't disposed of the corpse or put it in the freezer, you may want to consider getting a vet to do a necropsy.

My condolences

*Edit* About putting it in the freezer -- it can destroy 'evidence' of what killed the animal, so it's usually recommended not to freeze the corpse, as far as I know

[ed4281]

I think the only way you would know what if you took him to the vet for a "snake autopsy" it starts with an N, but I can never remember what it's called. I believe you have to put the snake in the freezer right away or the vet can do anything. Someone else would have to chime in.

If the rodent wasn't enormous from the mouse then he couldn't have been killed by it. They can eat something a bit larger than themselves. If the mouse was f/t it could have been a bad mouse-left out at the store or thawed while being shipped. If your snake didn't eat for a long time the shock of eating can poise a potential hazard if they are really weak. It's just like any animal, and I believe humans, if they are starved for awhile and you let them eat a big meal their bodies may not be able to handle it and shut down from the shock. I don't know what your situation is, but that's what I know.

Your close Stephanie, it's called a necropsy and you don't want to freeze the body because it ruins any tissue samples that the vet may want to send out. Most reptiles have the blue spot on their abdomens when they die. I think it has to do with the gall bladder but I'm not a hundred percent sure. I agree though the only way to know for sure is to have a necropsy done. I am very sorry for you loss.

[blackcrystal22]

If you want to take it in for a necropsy, don't freeze it!

Put it in the fridge!

Stephanie, the term necropsy is generally used for non human postmortem examination. They usually only use the term autopsies on humans.

OP, I'm sorry this happened to you. Sometimes, some animals just do not do as well and don't make it. This sounds like a death you could not control, it's not your fault.

[blackcrystal22]

Your close Stephanie, it's called a necropsy and you don't want to freeze the body because it ruins any tissue samples that the vet may want to send out. Most reptiles have the blue spot on their abdomens when they die. I think it has to do with the gall bladder but I'm not a hundred percent sure. I agree though the only way to know for sure is to have a necropsy done. I am very sorry for you loss.

The ventral belly of the snake will often have a blue spot after death because the liver swells and presses against the skin; it's pretty normal and doesn't usually indicate any cause of death. Livers are often bluish in color.