My Ball Python Died

If you used a dial, it could be that he overheated, or wasn't warm enough. So few people realize how inaccurate those are, after all, they do sell them at pet stores. It's a pity that stores sell items that are so important to proper husbandry and so inaccurate as to be useless at time.

The clicking would indicate a possible RI(respitory infection), which could explain him trying to get to the heat, and being agitated.

I doubt it would be IBD, as it usually does not take long at all to begin showing up. It also involves more than just a neck stretch and a single regurge(throwing up the rodent), most of the time.

Without a necropsy(an animal autopsy) you wouldn't know exactly why your pet died. Was the tank near a window? Was there a draft?

I'm very sorry your pet died. I hope you can find out why so you can set up differently for your next, if you choose to get another.

Sounds like improper temps were the problem. make sure you get the proper tools if your wanting to try again. Sorry for your loss.

I highly doubt this was a case of IBD

The problem with dial thermometers is they measure air temps, the surface temps can be way higher.
I had a similar setup, and once I purchased an infrared temp gun I was annoyed and surprised how much the temps varied. 92' f, air temp gunned in at 115'f inside her warm side hide. Her cool side (where she stayed) gunned in at 93'f, and air temp was 78'f.
Fixed now, with happy snakes.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

If you used a dial, it could be that he overheated, or wasn't warm enough. So few people realize how inaccurate those are, after all, they do sell them at pet stores. It's a pity that stores sell items that are so important to proper husbandry and so inaccurate as to be useless at time.

The clicking would indicate a possible RI(respitory infection), which could explain him trying to get to the heat, and being agitated.

I doubt it would be IBD, as it usually does not take long at all to begin showing up. It also involves more than just a neck stretch and a single regurge(throwing up the rodent), most of the time.

Without a necropsy(an animal autopsy) you wouldn't know exactly why your pet died. Was the tank near a window? Was there a draft?

I'm very sorry your pet died. I hope you can find out why so you can set up differently for your next, if you choose to get another.

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The neck stretch was pretty routine the last week or so. I will be getting a different temp gauge. :( I feel terrible about what happened. I'm currently working on improving the set-up and making sure i have all the kinks worked out before I venture out to get another. Is there any brand or anything specific I should look at for the gauge...anything to avoid, aside from the dial version obviously? My previous setup I used the coconut substrate, had one of the styrofoam rockwalls across the back and some plastic plants with the vine that I created one hide from as well as a log for his other. I read somewhere that the log probably isn't the best to use, so I am going to try something else, and go to a paper substrate. Any other ideas, tips, etc would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrum...0134781&sr=8-1

http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

I use aspen which is better for me than the coco fiber (I tried it) I had trouble with temps with the cocofiber. Aspen is also less messy, but newspaper or paper towels work well too.

http://tempgun.com/