anyone else lose a male while breeding?

I feel really bad today. I checked on my snakes this morning and found my male lesser het pied dead in the tub that I just put him into last night. He had some bruising around his cloaca but other then that he looked fine. I've been cycling him though a group of females and he's been breeding great all year so far, I've even had him in with this particular female in the past and they were fine together. The only thing I can think of is that the female killed him sometime last night. Has anyone else ever had a female kill a male? Does this happen? If so, why? I also lost my male banana earlier in the year in a very similar way and I'm just really feeling at a loss right now.

Sorry for your loss. I lost a female this year for no apparent reason. I really have no idea though. Are you sure it's bruising though? When snakes die they get that blue green spot down on their belly usually

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Originally Posted by chilliscale

Are you sure it's bruising though? When snakes die they get that blue green spot down on their belly usually

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To be honest I didn't look that close, it was already starting to smell and I was late for work so I just carried it outside. I'll check more closely tonight.

So sorry for your loss. This isn't common but it does happen, I'm thankful that I haven't had to experience this, but the same thing happened to Garrick Demeyer and his paradox Albino Pied male.

i'm so sorry to hear that. let's hope that he got some of the females and his genes will pass on to some clutches so he will still be around.

all my best.

Very sorry to hear of your loss! That must have been a terrible discovery. I know how upset I'd be to find one of mine dead.

Its rough when you loose an animal for unknown reasons especially when everything seems to be done correctly. Dont beat yourself up about it, as others have said it does happen and is the potential downside of breeding.

I would carefully watch the females that you lost males to in the future to see if its a particular snake or another factor. Keeping meticulous records and time will hopefully help solve or eliminate the problem. I am also curious to see what others have experienced in breeding related losses of both males and females.

Sorry for your loss mark.

:( So sorry to hear this. Not something anyone wants to experience.

Really sorry to hear it. I know I've heard other breeders talk about over-breeding a male and such but I'm not sure whether it's stress or what.

Sometimes things just happen and we can't always prevent it, even when we do everything right.