My new baby snake...?!?

Hi, I'm new here and I made this account expressly to ask this question:

I got a baby ball python not so long ago and up to now, I have been extremely happy with him. He was very docile and sweet, and everything the pet store owner said he would be.

I woke up this morning and found him dead, biting his body. His belly was green and extended and it looked like he had some sort of serious intestinal trouble. I think he was biting himself when he died because he was in pain.

So my question is why did he die and what should I do about it?

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Originally Posted by shinygirl_93

Hi, I'm new here and I made this account expressly to ask this question:

I got a baby ball python not so long ago and up to now, I have been extremely happy with him. He was very docile and sweet, and everything the pet store owner said he would be.

I woke up this morning and found him dead, biting his body. His belly was green and extended and it looked like he had some sort of serious intestinal trouble. I think he was biting himself when he died because he was in pain.

So my question is why did he die and what should I do about it?

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I know this is gross, but did you take pictures? It could really help determine what it was.
Take him to the vet to be cremated or even ask them what the vet thinks it was, and he may be able to tell you.

Sorry for your loss. :[

Petstores are really no good with snakes. :colbert:

thats horrible.
i cant tell you why.
but you should be able to take him to a vet, and have an "autopsy"
i dont think its called that but bassically the same thing...

and maybe find the cause of death...

there are too many factors to just tell you...

I'm so sorry for your loss!

Did you see any signs leading up to this?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shinygirl_93

Hi, I'm new here and I made this account expressly to ask this question:

I got a baby ball python not so long ago and up to now, I have been extremely happy with him. He was very docile and sweet, and everything the pet store owner said he would be.

I woke up this morning and found him dead, biting his body. His belly was green and extended and it looked like he had some sort of serious intestinal trouble. I think he was biting himself when he died because he was in pain.

So my question is why did he die and what should I do about it?

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Was he captive hatched (farmed) or captive bred? How long did the store have him before you purchased him? What were they feeding him and what were you feeding him... that is if he ate for you (if he did how many times?)... and how long did you have him for?

It may help too if you give some details of your enclosure/husbandry... such as...

-temps
-how you were measuring them
-how you were regulating them
-heat source...

Sorry about your loss. :(

Bruce

PS: I hope that if you have other snakes that this little guy was under strict quarantine?

Welcome to the site. I hate that it is on the terms that it is on though. Very sorry for your loss. I have never had this happen, so probably won't be too much help.

I have seen a rat that has eaten rat poison, and its belly was green and bloated. Is it possible that your snake ate a rat that ate rat poison? It’s probably a dumb question, but could be a possibility.

I would take him to the vet and get a necropsy done to find out what it was. I also suggest that if you get another one, buy from a reputable breeder. Most balls from pet stores are captive hatched, and have mites. They also sometimes have parasites. If you buy from a breeder, then you know they are captive bred, and healthy.

Again, very sorry for your loss.