Sorry if this is in the wrong place or has been asked before but I am new to this (posting and snake owning) but I am hoping someone might be able to help me by making some sensible suggestions. I recently decided to fulfill my life long dream of owning a snake and was advised by several more experienced individuals that either a corn snake or royal python would be best. I chose a royal for various reasons and attempted to educate myself as much as possible on how to take care of one. Having read endless care sheets, forums, advice guides and spoken to people with experience I purchased my first snake. I decided that I wanted something young enough to see grow but a bit more established than a hatchling. I ended up with a 10month old female who I was told was tame and use to being handled and always ate except when shedding. I went to get her to discover that she was just starting to shed and was warned that she may not eat that week but not to worry. I brought her home and placed her in a viv (as she had been use to in her previous home) with a ceramic heater and thermostat with hot spot of 91 and cold side of 80 with hides and water at both ends plus a cork bark hide in the middle and some artificial plants. I initially had a couple of days of struggling to keep the humidity up but with lots of spraying the humidity eventually stabilised at 50-60%. I provided fresh water each day and used a beach chip substrate. I tried feeding her after 5days (frozen thawed weaner rat as that's what I was informed she was used to having) but she didn't eat and I didn't worry. The skin had come off her head but didn't appear to be anywhere near ready to come of the rest of her and I did wonder if she was a bot dehydrated but she had plenty of fresh water and the humidity was good and I had read that it can take up to 3wks for a royal to shed and so I wasn't worried. She seemed quiet and didn't move around much but again I understood that this was likely when shedding so didn't question her behaviour, plus the times she was likely to be active dawn and dusk I was in bed. She was easy to handle and didn't seem bothered about being handled and I made sure I didn't over handle her. I tried again to feed her 7days after her previous feed and again she didn't have it but equally was still shedding (although not really making much progress on that front either) so I didn't worry although was starting to think perhaps I needed to soak her as advised in various places. That was Sunday and she seemed fine on Monday but by Tuesday evening she was dead. I have no idea why and I am not expecting others to be able to give me a definitive answer but ideas and suggestions would help. I know since the event from reading on here that the advise would be to have an autopsy but I was so shocked and upset at the time that all I could think to do was bury her. I loved her even after 13 days and feel quiet unexpectedly traumatised by what has happened. I would love another but I am terrified in case the same thing happens because I don't know why it did and I worry that it is something I did wrong but I have no idea what. Any advise, suggestion, help would be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance.