Re: Help ASAP with one of the new babies.

So my only clutch of 2012 hatched on Monday and they all came out of their eggs except one. This snake has stayed in its eggs all week and I wasn't quite sure why, until today. I just got home from work and thought I would check on this final snake and to my great disappointment this snake is severely kinked. So I am asking for some help ASAP, I am not sure what to do, it is still alive and is not
Able to move. Their is a kink near the base of its head and thru out its body. I would post picks but it's not too nice to look at. What should I do, I feel it probably will not make it but I'm unsure in this due to the fact I have not had this happen yet in my breedings. What should I do. Please help.

Although I have not ever had this happen, it sounds as though this little one will not make it. The kinks as you described have most likely paralyzed it. I would get more OPs but I believe I have heard people saying that freezing them makes them basically go to sleep (don't quote me on that though). Either that or have it euthanized. This is if you come to the conclusion that it is only suffering while alive. Sorry to hear this and good luck!

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Originally Posted by PghBall

Although I have not ever had this happen, it sounds as though this little one will not make it. The kinks as you described have most likely paralyzed it. I would get more OPs but I believe I have heard people saying that freezing them makes them basically go to sleep (don't quote me on that though). Either that or have it euthanized. This is if you come to the conclusion that it is only suffering while alive. Sorry to hear this and good luck!

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Thanks for the reply. I feel the same way, I don't want to see it suffer. Just want to see what others thought before I would put it down.

we still want pics

I am very sorry to hear of your situation. We all feel for you and the little one.

I have seen several threads where it is mentioned about putting a snake in the freezer to euthanize them. I do not wish to get into a philisophical debate about the following. But as one who hunts, I am always concerned with a quick and humane kill. Take the shot that will provide the shortest time span from impact to expiration to minimize suffering. If cannot get that, then I simply pass on the shot rather than injure. There is always another day to try again.

IMHO, the freezer idea seems like a drawn out process. I don't wish to sound barbaric, but wouldn't it simply be more humane and much quicker to sever the head of with a shovel or similar implement in one motion? I realize that may be hard for some to do, but isn't our responsibility as the ones who bring them into this world, to provide the quickest relief from suffering, once it is determined that existence is not a viable option?

Again, I do not wish to appear insensitive and I realize that the task, no matter the method, comes with sorrow and trepidation.

I heard a story from a vet that said freezing is extremely inhumane. They basically crystalize from the inside out and it is very painful. I would use a gas chamber if you have one, of look up how to make one. Basically pump CO2 to replace the air and they fall asleep.

Others may have better ideas, but this is the only way I can think of. Just please dont freeze them.

Please do not freeze.

Mammals, when suffering cold, will often get sleepy and fall asleep before they expire. Snakes are cold-blooded, and therefore do not lose consciousness prior to death like we do. Because they are cold blooded, they experience the cold even moreso. Feel themselves freezing, but unable to move. There have been numerous threads on the topic, and several of them have quoted studies before about freezing reptiles. It was determined that it is certainly one of the least humane ways to do it.

I have to agree that a sharp blow to the head, enough to destroy the skull/brain, or severe the spinal cord is one of the quickest way to do it.

When anybody breeds, unfortunately, it is our responsibility to ensure that we do not let these animals suffer.

I do not wish that on anybody. I myself have had to cull a few of the Lovebird chicks we hatched due to limb deformity that was beyond repair or adjustment. Similar in this case to severe kinks.

I'm sorry to hear your little one is like this. Take solice that your other hatchlings are doing well and realize it's par for the course sometimes.

pictures...we could all learn from this baby.

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There are a few threads here on euthanasia. You can search for them. Unfortunately, because of their physiology, snakes should not be frozen and are very difficult to use CO2 on.

The general consensus seems to be an injection from a vet, or if you have the stomach, decapitation.

Gale

So sorry to keep you all waiting for a responce back. I have been collecting info and consulting 2 breeders near me for additional info as well as your responces. I will say that things must happen for a reason because as I was quickly tring to gain as much info. as I could in an extremely fast time frame. I didn't have to make the decision to put this snake down, the powers above my control took over and made the decision for me. It has expired on it's own. I feel very bad and also relieved at the same time. The feeling of producing these wonderful animals is extremely rewarding and in this case also very sad. I know that this snake could not have made it at all. After further evaluation of the little snake it had alot of kinks the whole way down the body of the snake and a very bad one near the base of its skull. Which tells me there is no way this snake could have taken it's first meal, even if it made it that long. I feel, Along with my 2 breeders in my area that this snake was probably paralized and would not have made it at all. It does suck ,but I am glad that it is not suffering anymore. I thank everyone that has helped me, with the fast responces. I will be posting the rest of my clutch on my previous thread that I started earlier on in the week. I guess this is a learning experiance and guess I should treat it as such it is sad that I could not have saved this one. Thanks again.:(

I would post pics, I have seen severely kinked snakes and own one as a pet and they can do alright as PETS. To the other subject, I would imagine that using a CO2 chamber would be the most humane, they just go to sleep and never wake up again, very painless.

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Originally Posted by angllady2

There are a few threads here on euthanasia. You can search for them. Unfortunately, because of their physiology, snakes should not be frozen and are very difficult to use CO2 on.

The general consensus seems to be an injection from a vet, or if you have the stomach, decapitation.

Gale

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So sorry to keep you all waiting for a responce back. I have been collecting info and consulting 2 breeders near me for additional info as well as your responces. I will say that things must happen for a reason because as I was quickly tring to gain as much info. as I could in an extremely fast time frame. I didn't have to make the decision to put this snake down, the powers above my control took over and made the decision for me. It has expired on it's own. I feel very bad and also relieved at the same time. The feeling of producing these wonderful animals is extremely rewarding and in this case also very sad. I know that this snake could not have made it at all. After further evaluation of the little snake it had alot of kinks the whole way down the body of the snake and a very bad one near the base of its skull. Which tells me there is no way this snake could have taken it's first meal, even if it made it that long. I feel, Along with my 2 breeders in my area that this snake was probably paralized and would not have made it at all. It does suck ,but I am glad that it is not suffering anymore. I thank everyone that has helped me, with the fast responces. I will be posting the rest of my clutch on my previous thread that I started earlier on in the week. I guess this is a learning experiance and guess I should treat it as such it is sad that I could not have saved this one. Thanks again.

I would like to see pictures. I know a lot of us could learn from this as well. Sorry to hear about the little one. My first clutch of four eggs I only have one baby from :(

Hi,

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Originally Posted by Domepiece

I would post pics, I have seen severely kinked snakes and own one as a pet and they can do alright as PETS. To the other subject, I would imagine that using a CO2 chamber would be the most humane, they just go to sleep and never wake up again, very painless.

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Fine for mammals but reptiles can hold their breath for far to long for this to be an easy thing for people to do at home.


dr del

Thanks guys for the responces again. I wanted to say that although informative, I feel that I probably should not post pictures of this event. This is just my personal opinion. I know alot of you would like to see based on a educational level but, really I feel what is done is done and a photo at least in my opinion wouldn't really help anything. Sorry. Just don't think it would help. Their is alot of photos on the net to see what it looks like. It is just a indented area in the body of the snake. And like I said before in this situation the position of it would have not allowed the snake to eat. Very unfortunate but guess this is what goes with breeding snakes.:(

Same happened to me this year - one baby was severly kinked and not fully developed, and it died on it's own I guess, because when I opened the egg it was already dead :(.