He is gone...

Idk what to say, i haven't been on the forums in a long time but i just need to vent this. My first snake just died, he stopped eating for about 2 months, ive been working my best to correct his living conditions and check on him as much as possible but sadly i may have neglected to do enough. I didn't notice until much longer later that he has bit marks all over his body and i did my best to clean him and put antibiotic on him. I feel like the worst owner ever, event though my other snakes are doing absolutely amazing... Idk what happened and i just want to cry. what do i do now...someone help...please

I'm so sorry for your loss.

How do you have your snakes set up? Temperatures, heat sources, and methods of measuring temperatures/humidity.

Did it appear to be mites?

built a melamine rack for them, heating strips attached to a thermostat, they r in tubs with aspen, temp and humidity gauges in each...

What type of temp/humidity gauges the dial type from pet stores?

What type of thermostat and how much of the bottom of the tubs are covered by heat tape? (1/2, 1/3, more, less)

What are the temperature readings?

How thick is the layer of aspen?

gauges are digital, I honestly don't remember where i picked them up, but they read temp and humidity, thermostat is a ranco with about 1/3 of the bottom covered, temp is 82* , humidity is 32%, aspen is about 3/4 inch all around

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Originally Posted by DJ_Bizarre

I didn't notice until much longer later that he has bit marks all over his body and i did my best to clean him and put antibiotic on him.

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How long are you leaving live prey unattended in the enclosure before removing it? Mice and rats can easily kill a snake that isn't interested in eating.

Are your digital gauges measuring the hot spot as well, or just the ambient temp?

heating tape is set to 92*

i usually do not leave pray for longer than about 30-40 minutes, and up until recently, none of them have had a problem killing and eating in less than that

Ok, your set up sounds good, personally I don't leave live rodents unattended but I know that some people do.

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Originally Posted by DJ_Bizarre

heating tape is set to 92*

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"Set to"? Are you referring to the thermostat or a thermometer that is reading the actual temp? A thermostat setting does not necessarily mean that the inside of the tub is the same temperature, which is why you need the thermostat probe between the tub and heat tape, and a thermometer probe on the inside floor of the tub (or a reliable temp gun to read that spot). You then set the thermostat based on the thermometer reading.

all i know is i feel absolutely terrible, even when the power went out during the winter i took them all to a friends house with a heating pad to keep them warm...i really want to give him a proper burial, what do u guys think...

I think that you have taken better care of your pets than you give yourself credit for. Sometimes you just get one that doesn't make it or gets sick.

I have always buried my pets I feel that they deserve it.

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Originally Posted by DJ_Bizarre

i really want to give him a proper burial, what do u guys think...

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I bury all of my pets. Even my fish. If you don't live somewhere (like an apartment complex) that you can't bury it in a traditional fashion, I suggest burying in a large plant pot. I've done this with snakes and hamsters before - and do it for all of my fish. That way you can take it with you if you need to move.

I am so sorry for your loss, losing your first one always hurts so badly. I also agree that you took better care than you are giving yourself credit for. Rest assured knowing that nothing else can go awry with this snake, and that it is on the lovely Rainbow Bridge to Valhalla.

Never leave rodents unattended with your snakes 30-40 minutes. I put mine in and if my snakes dont wrap them right away I assume they are not hungry and I take the rodent out and move along to the next snake. That sucks about your snake. Generally if a snake is interested they will go right after their prey. All my live eaters wrap their rodents within seconds of introduction to their tubs, then I watch to make sure nobody is getting bitten, then when I'm sure the rodent is dead I leave them be to eat. This all takes about 3 minutes total.

I also would NEVER leave live rodents unattended. Better safe than sorry imo. Also humidity seems low. Try to shoot for 40-60 normal, bump to 70 when in shed. Bury your baby, and find your peace.

Thanks everyone, its just sad cuz im guessing how well I take care of them now,.im at work and I just want to cry, the last time I got to hold him was when he was weak last weekend and im just devastated

That's sad, i hear where your coming from. Iv never fed live prey and hope I never have to, always F/T for my animals.

I'm so sorry for your loss. :tears: In future, never leave your snake unattended with live prey. I ended up with a couple of hungry rats that thought my snake might make a good snack. Had I not been there, it could have ended in some nasty bites. Instead, I just picked the little sucker up and off my snake. They also can get bitten when constricting. I have had to nape a rat more than once when my snake grabbed it wrong. I've also used a box to field bites. F/T is much safer. But a couple of my kids just won't take it. :/

I'm glad to hear your other kids are doing well, but again, my condolences. :tears:

Unfortunately it does happen. I would just make sure your husbandry is all correct so it doesn't happen again. Was it a pretty young snake? Some people like to step in and assist feed a snake that isn't eating. If you have a snake in perfect husbandry that isn't eating and losing a lot of weight you might have to do that. Snakes will starve themselves to death and sometimes you may need to step in. I have had many discussions about this with a friend of mine about whether or not it's something that should be done. It is really stressful on the snake, and can kill the snake, but it may also jump start their feeding response. I would only do this to a snake that is so thin it's deflated. I had a six month old female I was considering assist feeding, but my friend kept telling me to wait it out a bit longer, she did start eating on her own.