I am absolutely devastated right now. I've spent the better part of the day crying sporadically. I came home from work this afternoon to find that my gorgeous white-sided black rat snake had died. He somehow managed to break his neck and crack part of his skull in the lip of his plastic tub. He was still just a tiny noodle, and I think what must have happened is that he finally got strong enough to push up on the lid, so he gave it a big push and didn't anticipate it coming back down on him. He must not have been able to get out. It was really terrible to come home and see him hanging there. He was such an AWESOME snake. Wonderful personality and the best pattern/coloration I've ever seen on a white-sided. I was absolutely in love with him, and he was taken from me so early. He was born in July of this year...

I held him for a while, as silly as it might seem. I was really attached to the little guy. But he's lovingly wrapped up and bagged in the fridge now while I figure out what to do with his body. I don't want to bury him here since I'm not attached to this apartment by any means. I could bury him at my dad's house, but I know there are rules about "disposing of them" properly. I am looking into cremation, but if I go that route I would like to put his tiny little cremains into a glass pendant of some sort. Money is so tight right now, and I'm not finding any cremation jewelry for under $150. Does anyone have any options for me?

Loving kindness and soothing words would be greatly appreciated right now. I have a small collection - only three snakes (it was 4 with the rat snake) so I feel very close to all of them. I treat them all as a loved and cherished pet. I have to admit, I feel like I've lost a puppy or something...