Ball python possibly dying

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Originally Posted by Missy King

I don't think you should be having snakes if you can't keep it in it's cage, and keep it's cage in the house where it won't freeze to death or burn it's belly or get spider bitten or whatever happened. Sad waste of snake.

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I don't it would freeze I've kept my bearded dragon in my garage for over 4 months now and haven't had any problems with him.

Bearded dragons actually need to have temperatures as low as 65 at night. 65 degrees would kill a ball python. Especially if you are using a UTH (heat pad that doesn't effect air temperatures) you are going to have problems. Once again if you can't have a snake in the house you shouldn't have one. Please do not kill another snake because you think that you know better than people who successfully keep multiple snakes.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Sounds more like cold shock syndrome to me. Ball pythons are very sensitive to cold, and develop neurological symptoms.

If they make it through a couple of weeks after warmup, they're usually ok, but may have some long term impairments. Sudden death isn't uncommon with cold shock syndrome, though.

http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/...fCold_BCHS.pdf

The spider was probably incidental. As for the red spots on the belly--who knows. A burn, or injury of some kind, perhaps.

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This is something I try to educate people about too. We have seen it happen more with improper shipping during cold weather but your situation seems to fit as well.

There is nothing anyone can say or do to prevent you from keeping a snake in your garage so let me just give you some helpful advice instead..

The only way you're going to be able to successfully keep one long term in your garage and guarantee it's health is by using some ingenuity and $$.

You'll need to make or have someone build you a cage out of wood, plastic, or melamine with only the front having a door of thick glass or plexiglas.

Use flexwatt as your UTH and a ceramic heat emitter as supplemental ambient heat. Flexwatt underneath and the CHE in a fixture on top. You can have a circle cut in top with screen for the lamp fixture. The UTH on a thermostat of course.

I'd make the entire thing no larger than a 30gal aquarium. Maybe slightly deeper front to back since aquariums are very narrow.

The trick is the proper heat, on a thermostat (this goes for any reptile no matter what it's kept in or where) in the proper enclosure. You need to make adjustments to ensure the snake can not escape and the temps stay constant during warmer and cooler weather.

The weather has been crazy lately. Just because the surface the snake is laying on is 92 degrees does not mean the snake is ok. The air around it could be too cold if it's 50 degrees outside. This will make the snake sick.

I suspect you'll have issues with your dragon in the future too. Yes they can withstand lower night time temps but not as low as it has been getting in many areas over there. I wonder what you're using to keep him warm at night in cases of lower than room temp temperatures. Is your dragon set up with a basking bulb that puts out both UVA and UVB rays? Is the basking spot temp at roughly 110 degrees measured? Do you turn this lamp on every morning and then off every night?

If you answered no to any of these questions then your dragons set up is wrong and he will not do well.

I'm inclined to agree with the people saying you shouldn't get another snake. Sure I've had a few escapes in my time with snakes but they had nowhere to hide but in my blankets due to me snake escape proofing my room.. If you can't keep the snake inside, don't get one especially if it has to stay in a garage as temps fluctuate dramatically in most garages. We have a finished heated and cooled garage and its cold out there. What were you using to keep it in its enclosure?

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Ball pythons simply don't have any tolerance for low temperatures, I would never recommend keeping one in a place where the air temperatures get below 70F.
To be honest, I think parents who would allow that are also being very irresponsible. (Parents need to be responsible for the pets their children own).
If you're over 18, it sounds like it's time to either get your own place, or realize that you aren't presently living in a situation where you can safely keep reptiles.

I am so sorry for your loss i know you must be heart broken. My thoughts are with you.

I understand the desire to have something you want really badly, but learn from your mistakes, listen to the others. If you can't provide a proper home then don't get another one until you can. The best way to show your pet love is to put their needs above your own desires.

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Originally Posted by enchantress62

i understand the desire to have something you want really badly, but learn from your mistakes, listen to the others. If you can't provide a proper home then don't get another one until you can. The best way to show your pet love is to put their needs above your own desires.

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x 1,000,001...

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

This is something I try to educate people about too. We have seen it happen more with improper shipping during cold weather but your situation seems to fit as well.

There is nothing anyone can say or do to prevent you from keeping a snake in your garage so let me just give you some helpful advice instead..

The only way you're going to be able to successfully keep one long term in your garage and guarantee it's health is by using some ingenuity and $$.

You'll need to make or have someone build you a cage out of wood, plastic, or melamine with only the front having a door of thick glass or plexiglas.

Use flexwatt as your UTH and a ceramic heat emitter as supplemental ambient heat. Flexwatt underneath and the CHE in a fixture on top. You can have a circle cut in top with screen for the lamp fixture. The UTH on a thermostat of course.

I'd make the entire thing no larger than a 30gal aquarium. Maybe slightly deeper front to back since aquariums are very narrow.

The trick is the proper heat, on a thermostat (this goes for any reptile no matter what it's kept in or where) in the proper enclosure. You need to make adjustments to ensure the snake can not escape and the temps stay constant during warmer and cooler weather.

The weather has been crazy lately. Just because the surface the snake is laying on is 92 degrees does not mean the snake is ok. The air around it could be too cold if it's 50 degrees outside. This will make the snake sick.

I suspect you'll have issues with your dragon in the future too. Yes they can withstand lower night time temps but not as low as it has been getting in many areas over there. I wonder what you're using to keep him warm at night in cases of lower than room temp temperatures. Is your dragon set up with a basking bulb that puts out both UVA and UVB rays? Is the basking spot temp at roughly 110 degrees measured? Do you turn this lamp on every morning and then off every night?

If you answered no to any of these questions then your dragons set up is wrong and he will not do well.

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No the bearded dragon tank is setup with two heat lamps one 150w and the other is 75w those stay on 24hrs. I have the uv ceramic light which I keep on at night and cut the 75w heat lamp off.

How much do you think it will cost to get everything for the tank for the new ball python setup, not including any lighting equipment or anything?

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Ball pythons simply don't have any tolerance for low temperatures, I would never recommend keeping one in a place where the air temperatures get below 70F.
To be honest, I think parents who would allow that are also being very irresponsible. (Parents need to be responsible for the pets their children own).
If you're over 18, it sounds like it's time to either get your own place, or realize that you aren't presently living in a situation where you can safely keep reptiles.

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My parents didn't really think of it that way, they never even looked into me getting a ball python. They don't know anything about keeping them in appropriate temperatures.