Pet BP passed away - Cause of Death?

I don't think his death had much to do with the mice. Regurtitation (sorry for the bad spelling) may be more of a sign of what was already making your snake sick. Reptiles hide their illnesses so well they can fool even veterinarians. Eating is not a good indicator of illness. My very sick rescue bearded dragon was eating and pooping fine. But she was suffering from months of a yellow fungus infection and eggs inside of her were crushed and all over the abdomen cavity.

You had invested time, money and love to a pet for 8 years. That is longer than most marriages lol. That is a commitment many will not accept. Feeling guilty and doubting yourself will linger and it is normal. As time goes on, please remember that 8 years of any relationship is worth grieving over and you must have done something right if your snake lived for that long. Sometimes, animals including people are born with things that barely works or fails earlier than others, and it is mother nature's way of keeping life and death balanced, despite man's best efforts to prevent so.

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Originally Posted by btshipp

Thank you Dakski, sounds like you and I are very similar. Maurice would only eat live food, we tried F/T over 10 times and even recently, he never wanted anything to do with it. But I always hated having to watch the mice or rats die...it's a requirement though with live prey in order to avoid injuries to your pet.

It appears as though you've had a rougher run than myself, my sincere condolences for all of that and it sounds like it's made you a stronger person. I am completely BLOWN AWAY by the support offered on this forum. I wouldn't have found it anywhere else and it's SO SO SO appreciated.

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No judgment! I understand BP's who only eat live have to eat too! I know it happens in nature, I just cannot do it myself. I feel the same ways about hunting. If you hunt for food and/or population control, I understand it's a necessary evil on some level. I could never shoot a defenseless animal. Just me. I don't even fish! I feel bad for the fish!

I have also heard horror stories about live feedings gone wrong (especially with big rats) and have no idea what to do if my BP, Shayna, decided to refuse a meal!

I am not a rodent fan. I had a total jerk of a gerbil as a kid. Those bites hurt more than BCI bites!

I got Shayna, my BP, when she was about 200G, and the breeder had been feeding her F/T for a few meals with no issues. I waited to make sure she would reliably eat F/T before I bought her. Aside from her yearly 5 month winter fasts, she eats well and happily on F/T.

My corn snake and BCI have killer feed responses and would eat anything, anywhere, anytime! So F/T is all they have ever known and I think they could care less; it's more about FEED ME!!!! than whether it's alive and moving or not!

Anyway, do not worry about me.

I agree, this site is awesome. I even started a thread about it. https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...44#post2598044

The people here do understand. They try to empathize as much as possible and many, unfortunately, can sympathize, with what you are going through.

I am sorry brother. Again, hang in, and we will be here to help you through and when you are ready to move on too!

Sorry for your loss.

Sent from my N9560 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Cheesenugget

I don't think his death had much to do with the mice. Regurtitation (sorry for the bad spelling) may be more of a sign of what was already making your snake sick. Reptiles hide their illnesses so well they can fool even veterinarians. Eating is not a good indicator of illness. My very sick rescue bearded dragon was eating and pooping fine. But she was suffering from months of a yellow fungus infection and eggs inside of her were crushed and all over the abdomen cavity.

You had invested time, money and love to a pet for 8 years. That is longer than most marriages lol. That is a commitment many will not accept. Feeling guilty and doubting yourself will linger and it is normal. As time goes on, please remember that 8 years of any relationship is worth grieving over and you must have done something right if your snake lived for that long. Sometimes, animals including people are born with things that barely works or fails earlier than others, and it is mother nature's way of keeping life and death balanced, despite man's best efforts to prevent so.

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Well said, Cheesenugget! And sorry for your loss; heartbreaking.

8 years is longer than my marriage!

That's a good thing though. That was one loss I was happy to take!

Not trying to steal the thread, but having been divorced, had kidney disease since I was 23, and been a kidney transplant recipient for almost 6 years now, I know how to cherish everything and look on the bright side.

Sometimes things have a way of working out.

I wouldn't be living with Katie, who is my soulmate, if not for the divorce, and timing of the divorce. I might have died last night when I had an allergic reaction to antibiotics and my face swelled up and Katie (a doctor of PT) made me go to the ER (I am stubborn and don't complain anymore unless I am in agony - not good - I am learning). Of course my BP whistles once, or one of my dogs limps for 2 seconds, and it's a vet visit!

I think everything that happens makes us who we are. I like who I am, for the most part (still a work in progress), and I wouldn't be who I am today without all the joy, pain, laughs, and sorrow, I have experienced.

Everything in life makes us the people we are. Decisions on how to handle/cope with these things (good and bad) define us.

There is no sweet without the sour.

Anyway, I am glad you got 8 years of joy with your buddy. Try to cherish those memories and know you did the best you could for him. Some things are out of our control. Be strong. Keep mourning knowing his memory will live on in you and there is light at the end of the tunnel; time does tend to heal these wounds.

All the best,

David