My python Died

I have a Ball Python( I had ), I was taking care of for my 8 year old son who does not live with me. i feel awlful. i found him dead today, i fed him, held him and made sure everything was right. I got him from a local chain pet store, he was about 1 year old. any ideas what may have gone wrong? Did I do something? :( spiritbear857

well we need basic info about your set up.

What was he kept in?
What were the temps?
What was the humidity?
What did you feed him?
How often did you feed him?

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Originally Posted by spiritbear857

I have a Ball Python( I had ), I was taking care of for my 8 year old son who does not live with me. i feel awlful. i found him dead today, i fed him, held him and made sure everything was right. I got him from a local chain pet store, he was about 1 year old. any ideas what may have gone wrong? Did I do something? :( spiritbear857

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Were his temps controlled on a t-stat so he wouldnt freeze or get cooked? Did he make any sounds of whistling or gurgling? Any more info you can give will help but a necropsy from a vet would tell you exactly what happened. Sorry for your loss.

So sorry for your loss! As Nate said...we'd need more specifics on how you had him set up to try and puzzle out why he died. Which we'll be happy to do, so you'll be more confident in getting another in the future someday, should you choose to do so.


If you followed all the pet store's directions for setting him up...it's highly likely and very unfortunate...that something may yet have been seriously lacking in his environment. Pet stores are typically woefully educated when it comes to caring for snakes.

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Originally Posted by JLC

Pet stores are typically woefully educated when it comes to caring for snakes.

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I couldn't agree more...i've spent hundreds of dollars fixing problems that the pet store created for me. It has been a wonderful learning experience however. I will say that this site has taught me the most of any i've been to. I really do appreciate all you geniuses spending the time to teach us noobs what it takes to get involved with this hobby. One day I hope to be right there beside you.

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

well we need basic info about your set up.

What was he kept in? a glass tank with a hood
What were the temps? between 78 and 82
What was the humidity?
What did you feed him? Pinkies
How often did you feed him?

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every two days

recent he started to spend alot of time in his water bowl, does thet help

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Originally Posted by spiritbear857

every two days

recent he started to spend alot of time in his water bowl, does thet help

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Did you have a thermometer in the tank?

Read the above posts and describe the setup. We will be able to help you more with that information.

I had a therm in the tank and kept the temp between 78 and 82

I had a glass tank, I have a thero in the tank, along with a water bowl and a climbing tree. a heat pad at one end under the tank and a heat lamp. Also a Florcesent tube light(Day light)

I hand held him every other day, he was feed on an every otherday schedule, his cage was cleaned once a week. he seemed ok yesterday when I had him out. but the last two days he wasn't eating. he shed about two months ago. about 1 month ago he started to spend alot of time in his water bowl too.

Well, considering that ball pythons need a basking spot of at last 92-94 degrees, there are a bunch of things that can go wrong with their health when they are too cold.