My bp died!

I'll start from the beginning.. early October we got our sweet lil buddy, Dexter, from (I know) PetSmart. He was healthy, friendly and super sweet. We truly loved him, then wanted to get him a friend. Because they were a couple weeks apart from being together we just kept them in the same tank together. They were both healthy, eating normal and striking at their food very quickly. The last time Dexter ate was Halloween night.
I tried weekly after that to feed him and he just wouldn't take it. He always looked interested in his food but would just want to get out of his feeding tank instead. He was still friendly and loving, also pooping normal. Then one evening, knowing he hadn't eaten in about 3.5 weeks, I passed his tank and he was fat as ever so I grabbed him out.
If you were to envision their bodies into 3rds, the first part felt normal and stiff.. the 2nd where he was fat was puffed up like a balloon! Then his tail end was completely limp. We started reading up on what it could be, at first i thought he was blocked up, even though I saw him pooping a lot over time. So, I gave him a warm bath, he would float so I had to really help him. Once I took him out and put him in a towel, I snuggled him. My husband started reading about IBD and started thinking that's what was happening. I cried and cried and told him I was so sorry I didn't know he was sick, I didn't want him to suffer anymore, and 3 seconds later he died in my hands. He returned to his normal size. (He was still a juvenile, about 1.5ft, his thickest was a little over an inch in diameter.)
We sent him to the state lab, they did the physical exam on him, they called and said he looked completely healthy so they were gonna send him off to the big lab in a big city... This is where it gets weird and sorry so long, but where my question begins....
They called me back 2 weeks later (just the other day) and told me his cultures came back all normal. There was absolutely no sign of IBD. Wth killed my buddy??? Their husbandry was a lil more humid because Vega went through a shed but Dexter stayed in the drier part and I specifically asked the vet who did the physical exam if he showed any signs of a RI... nothing.
Vega is alone, I had to take all their 'furniture' out until I got his results back but kept her warm and cozy.. we moved, she just went through a shed. Now she's not wanting to eat. It is the starts of cold weather so it could be a number of things. My bps are and were very social, nothing has changed with Vega's want for love but I'm worried about her because she's not eating and that's how it began with Dexter! Any thoughts? Please someone tell me they had some kinda problem like this! Thank you!!

I dont have an answer for you about dexter, but do not get vega another friend because ball pythons are solitary reptiles, and it has been many weeks already but if you have not I would completely clean her enclosure to prevent any issues spreading to her.. Another tip, you do not have to have a feeding enclosure it just adds more stress.

As for not feeding, what is your enclosure like husbandry wise, and how do you prepare your feeders + what are their seizes?

Sorry for you loss :(

do not ever house two beeps in one enclosure. ever. EVER.

aside from you breaking normal quarantine procedures that are required when owning more than one reptile, beeps do NOT like being around each other. they will constantly compete for the best resources and spots in the enclosure.

i would keep an eye out on your other snake. whatever killed the one might end up killing the other.

Please accept my condolences. It's very hard to impress on people the real importance of quarantine let alone housing ball pythons in the same enclosure. Quarantine is your first line of defense to view any abnormalities, illnesses, or irregularities in new acquisitions. It also is a protection for you, your animal, and existing collection. Once that defense is breeched you are at risk. You already know that the big box stores are notorious for poor healthy practices. Chalk it up to a unfortunate experience sadly and learn from it. Always buy from reputable breeders who are committed to producing healthy, quality animals. They are right here on this forum. Again, sorry for your loss.

When I was 10 years old, I took in a stray puppy because hey that's what any caring little girl would do. What I didn't know was this poor unfortunate little lost soul just happened to have distemper. The horror of going through losing 3 dogs over what I thought was an act of compassion taught me the most valuable lesson about quarantining animals. Of course 10 year old me didn't know at the time how that would impact my life but I have never introduced a new animal to existing pets without isolating them since.

I am so sorry for your loss no matter the situation or the cause. It is heartbreaking to lose a pet and even more so when you do not know what you could have done to possibly save them.

I do hope you learn the lesson of avoiding big chain reptiles at all costs and I also hope this does not sour you on reptile husbandry because these animals are amazing and are worth any effort.

Sorry for your loss hope your other sweet noodle stays nice and healthy

Thank you all for your comments. I do know where I went wrong in some ways but what I'm really wondering is what killed him, because I got him tested and everything... Nothing came up and by his symptoms, i can find nothing relatable. I appreciate everyone's concern on my first go around with a mystery bp death but all I really wanna know is if anyone knows what in the world it could have been. I do want another but not for a long time of finding a good dealer etc etc

Sorry for your loss :tears:

I am sorry for your loss. Now snakes really aren't the kind of animals that should be snuggled and hugged and what have you. You also don't need to feed them in another tank, there is no reason to move them to feed. I would also take your remaining bp to a vet, as you don't know what killed your first one. Ball pythons are not social animals and should not be housed together. Not trying to be harsh I'm just trying to help.