Sad discovery.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

I have to respond on this.

This is how burns are created. Snakes will move the bedding away when moving around. And if the top is 90 but the bottom is over 100 due to the insulating substrate, we have a problem now. You need to know the bottom(hottest spot) your snake can get to. And if the top isnt the same temp then THIN out tbe bedding or change bedding's to achieve your temps.

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I will respectfully disagree - I've always measured the temps on top of the substrate and none of mine have burrowed to get beneath it, nor have I ever had a burn.

Lots of ways to successfully keep our critters! :)

Ah I'm so sorry, losing a loved pet is so sad, best of luck.

Sorry for your loss :(

OK, a few things in this thread I want to respond to.

Measuring temps: I think that ideally you should know what the temp is both above and below the substrate. The snake is most likely to spend most of its time on top of the substrate, so of course you should know the temps there. But, there is also the chance of it burrowing down into the substrate, or just pushing the substrate aside. If your temps under the substrate are too hot, this could result in a burn.

If there is a big difference between the 2 temps, such that the temp on top is too cool yet the temp underneath could burn, and you can't get it so both temps are acceptable, then you need to do something about it. Either use a thinner layer of substrate or switch substrates, or possibly raise the ambient temp which may raise the temp on top of the substrate. This is one of the reasons that I like newspaper as a substrate...it doesn't insulate a whole lot, so I don't have an issue.

Necropsies: A necropsy is a good idea if an animal dies for unknown reasons. Probably most of the time you will find out that it was something non-contagious and non-preventable, and in that case all you will gain is the peace of mind of knowing. But in other cases, you may gain information that will be useful in keeping the rest of your collection healthy.

To get a necropsy done, you should get the animal's body to the vet ASAP. Refrigerate it until then. Do not freeze. I don't know exactly how long you have, but just based on what I see with things like chicken meat in my refrigerator, I would guess that Skiploder's comment of 3-4 days as a maximum is probably accurate.

The cost of a necropsy is going to vary widely, just like all vet services. Since I have never needed one, I have never thought to ask how much one would cost. I'd guess it might be comparable to an office visit, since I think it would represent a roughly comparable amount of the vet's time. Obviously any tissue samples that are sent out for lab work are going to increase the cost.

I'm really sorry for your loss, I hope you feel better soon.

Well I got my refund today. The breeder didn't seem to know what went wrong either. Said something in shipping must have occurred.


Sad to say I don't think I'll ever know how ting died, money is to tight what with the water heater breaking and my mom needing financial help. It ate up the emergency money I normally like to have stashed around. I ended up missing my window on the necropsy. If I had payed for it I wouldn't have had money for ramen and gas to get to and from work this week.

To all of you who wanted to know how this happen believe me I am there with you. It wasn't an easy decision to make. But I need to get to work.

I do think if I ever have another snake that gapes like that again though I'm not hesitating to make a bee line for the vet.


I'll clean out the cage tomorrow, It will be a sad affair. I didn't have the poor little guy very long but he was a snake that I had dreamed of owning.


I nearly took them up on the offer to replace him, but the wound hadn't healed I didn't feel comfortable yet.


My confidence as a snake keeper is riddled with what seems like a 100 bullets. I am doubting myself and every move I make now. My friend told me to get back on the horse. He's seen me doing my research every night, and staying home to make sure temps are just right instead of going out.


But I wonder if I am just to dumb or lucky to get it right. Still maybe he is right. Maybe those empty cages would look could with a couple of corns in them. Or maybe I'll save that money up for Boaphile rack for my BP, so I could add another this summer.


I wanna be a good keeper. I'm praying for wisdom and confidence.


P.S. Don't let my experience sour anyone on Thai Red Mountain snakes or Pro Exotics. Someday I wanna do business with them again. But not until this wound heals. I'll own a coxi again one day, God willing he will be healthy and long lived. And I'll be able to provide for him what I was unable to for ting.

R.I.P Little Dude

You cant blame yourself for this. Everything you have said leads me to believe you were doing everything the right way. It must have been some freak accident. Possibly during the shipping process. There is no way to know. Like another poster said, these things do sometimes just happen. Dont let it discourage you. The truth is, if everything with the husbandry was correct, the snake may have just been compromised in some way. It may not have lived a long healthy life anyway. There is no way to know but you cant always assume that you could have prevented it. I lost a new BP years ago when I brought he and a female home as hatchlings. They showed no signs of being sick. They both ate very well and within 2 weeks the male was dead. I had the female treated for various things as a safeguard. She was found to be dehydrated but that was the only sign of illness. She is now 7 years old but I still wish the male had lived. He was my favorite of 2.

Some animals fail to thrive. Some fail to show true signs of illness. Some are unable to get through mild stresses. Etc etc.. You will get another at some point. Once you have many reptiles if you lose one you cant let it burdon you when you have so many others to take care of. When you see your other pets thriving and happy you will realise its worth it to always keep these animals as pets.

Thanks foschi that lifts my spirits.

I won't let the stop me from doing something thats made me so happy. I guess my friend was right about getting back on the horse after I fall off.

I agree the best way to get over the lost or at least lessen it in pack on you is to aquire an new friend. I know when I had one I had rescued years ago ( par of a pair ) I found the one a home and with in a month the other snake had died out of the blue. it was active at night ate sleep and bitten me the night before and igot up inthe morning it seemed fine came home a couple hours later and it was dead. Mom and I could only gues ( back then befoer i knew much about snakes period ) that it died from being left behind. Now asw I look backI am shocked they had not died a lot sooner than when I gotten them. I was keeping the snakes ( 4 at the time ) in acedar cage on pine shaving and below the temp requirements ( mainly at room temp and my room gets cool during the winter. as low as 45 degrees ).. I had kept them for almost 3 years when I had been asked if I would be willing to give one up to a person I knew son.


I soon aquired 3 more ball python rescue and then slim ( red tail boa) from under a porch hte 3 other snakes were ball pythons. I lost one with in 3 day was in su poor shape and theother I fatten up ( by then I gotten net access and was learnnig more basic(proper care) and am not up to 18 snakes and they mainly bps lol..I am loving every minute of it even the bite are fun now for me ( onlyif I cna get the dang reflex acion under control before i end up ripping some poor bp head off as i yank my hand back.

It's good to see that Pro Exotics is living up to their stellar reputation. I think most of us would have been suprised if they hadn't.