Can a snake die from stress?

I took my snake to the vet last week for a checkup, I am taking her again this week, paranoid she's going to be so stressed she will die.. I have poked and prodded her all week checking for signs of illness as well. And if you're wondering, yes I have anxiety.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Don't worry, they won't die just from that! It'll probably take months or a whole year of going outside every other day for hours for them to actually die from stress.

Thank you that makes me feel a lot better


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You need to relax.

Being an over protective parent is not good for you or your snake and it is possible to do more harm than good while doing so.

Get your setup to the point you trust it, sit back, relax, and enjoy your snake.

You need to do whatever it takes to make yourself calm and relaxed as a snake owner. That may be getting the best tstat and cage, or maybe reading everything you can about snakes. I say snakes because the more you know about them as a whole the more you will learn about your Ball. At least I feel that way as with every different snake I have added to the family I have learned many things and I believe they have all been beneficial to my keeping hobby.


Also,
Do not use that same heating method when you transport to the vet this time.

What should I use for heat then?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've learned as much as I can about ball pythons in a whole, it's just the whole sickness thing with them is tricky


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am going to take her in to the vet anyways just to check her at least so I can chill out and know how to treat this if it ever happens again hopefully not


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I will update you guys if you'd like


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Whats the temps looking like when you are going?


I usually just keep my vehicle in a good zone for them but I live in Texas so its never super cold. 70-75 is what I usually keep it. I keep them in a tub with a towel to hide in and help insulate them.

Unless it is really cold outside, you don't need any heating for the tub other than just turning the heater in the car on a little. And if it is cold outside, just warm the car up before you take the tub from your house out to the car.

I live north Canada it's a tad chilly lol!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A snake can absolutely die from stress

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Medduussa

I have poked and prodded her all week checking for signs of illness as well. .

---

Don't do this. :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dr del

Don't do this. :P

---

Not literally, I mean I've probably taken her out once a day and looked at her for 2 minutes. Not poking her lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dr del

Don't do this. :P

---

Stress opens up a whole basket of potential issues. It can be the catalyst for a weakened immune system which can invite disease, or a shutdown in feeding. Stress coupled with improper husbandry is a bad combination.

Most issues, unless glaringly severe can be handled "in house" by providing a perfect setup.

Vet visits, unless absolutely necessary add to stress and drain your pocket$. If there is a big issue, by all means go see a vet, but the constant poking and prodding is compounding any issues you may have. Don't relieve your stress by causing the snake more stress.

I may have missed the key issue/problem here but I read back and didn't see it.

Royal pythons are secretive, and solitary. Having one and expecting to be entertained by an active, outgoing snake will be disappointing.

You have to let them do what they have evolved to do. They are pre-programmed for self preservation and they accomplish that by being hidden and secretive, especially when young. They don't want to be checked on constantly.

I've learned as much as I can about ball pythons in a whole, it's just the whole sickness thing with them is tricky

Again, I seemed to have missed the "sickness" part here but if you have truly learned all you can, you need to take a breath, relax and go back and see what makes them comfortable. Don't let your anxiety transfer to the snake. There is a way to love something to death. Don't let worries that aren't real creep into your head.

A hidden royal is a happy royal/ball.

I apologize if I missed the actual issue, but from what I've read here "stress" was the topic?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gio

Stress opens up a whole basket of potential issues. It can be the catalyst for a weakened immune system which can invite disease, or a shutdown in feeding. Stress coupled with improper husbandry is a bad combination.

Most issues, unless glaringly severe can be handled "in house" by providing a perfect setup.

Vet visits, unless absolutely necessary add to stress and drain your pocket$. If there is a big issue, by all means go see a vet, but the constant poking and prodding is compounding any issues you may have. Don't relieve your stress by causing the snake more stress.

I may have missed the key issue/problem here but I read back and didn't see it.

Royal pythons are secretive, and solitary. Having one and expecting to be entertained by an active, outgoing snake will be disappointing.

You have to let them do what they have evolved to do. They are pre-programmed for self preservation and they accomplish that by being hidden and secretive, especially when young. They don't want to be checked on constantly.

I've learned as much as I can about ball pythons in a whole, it's just the whole sickness thing with them is tricky

Again, I seemed to have missed the "sickness" part here but if you have truly learned all you can, you need to take a breath, relax and go back and see what makes them comfortable. Don't let your anxiety transfer to the snake. There is a way to love something to death. Don't let worries that aren't real creep into your head.

A hidden royal is a happy royal/ball.

I apologize if I missed the actual issue, but from what I've read here "stress" was the topic?

---

Okay, well the whole issue is about a week ago she's had this odd pink belly. Not like she has it when in shed. It's only on the lower half of her belly. I panicked it's septicemia. Being panicky I checked on her daily to see if it's been getting worse. It hasn't. But I'm still concerned about why. I've had her since she was hatched. I've taken the best care I possibly can for her, she has everything she needs including a good thermostat. She's like my daughter and I just panic that I'm overreacting over this. I hope I'm just over reacting and nothing is wrong. I'm debating on cancelling the appointment I made for her today because I keep thinking she's going to die from this stress. I read too much online constantly about diseases. But this is what her belly looks like http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...9c3196cc6a.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

She's 2 and a half years old


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gio

Stress opens up a whole basket of potential issues. It can be the catalyst for a weakened immune system which can invite disease, or a shutdown in feeding. Stress coupled with improper husbandry is a bad combination.

Most issues, unless glaringly severe can be handled "in house" by providing a perfect setup.

Vet visits, unless absolutely necessary add to stress and drain your pocket$. If there is a big issue, by all means go see a vet, but the constant poking and prodding is compounding any issues you may have. Don't relieve your stress by causing the snake more stress.

I may have missed the key issue/problem here but I read back and didn't see it.

Royal pythons are secretive, and solitary. Having one and expecting to be entertained by an active, outgoing snake will be disappointing.

You have to let them do what they have evolved to do. They are pre-programmed for self preservation and they accomplish that by being hidden and secretive, especially when young. They don't want to be checked on constantly.

I've learned as much as I can about ball pythons in a whole, it's just the whole sickness thing with them is tricky

Again, I seemed to have missed the "sickness" part here but if you have truly learned all you can, you need to take a breath, relax and go back and see what makes them comfortable. Don't let your anxiety transfer to the snake. There is a way to love something to death. Don't let worries that aren't real creep into your head.

A hidden royal is a happy royal/ball.

I apologize if I missed the actual issue, but from what I've read here "stress" was the topic?

---

The OP has a few threads going currently and in one of them it was revealed the snake was transported using a makeshift heat source which I believe gave the snake a slight burn.

OP, you don't do those that are here to help any good by leaving out facts that could be important. Nobody here is going to be able to look at your pics and see an infection of the blood. We can see burns though. But without giving all the information we don't have all the information available to help you out the best we can. When asking for help you need to give every bit of info you have.

Also if it is a slight burn it will be there a while. Snakes heal slow. Bad burns can take a really long time to start looking better but with each shed they will, little by little.

To give you an idea my GTP came from a guy that fed live. Why? He didn't know what he was doing. Anyways one of these feedings the snake got bit on top of his head and it left a pea size scar. I got the snake in 2012 and only just recently can you no longer see the spot and the scales are looking normal again. Like I said, each shed he looks a little bit better.

I cancelled my appointment. I've calmed down a lot and thought rationally about it. If it was really a blood infection I think it would have progressed to other parts of her body by now. And be more pigmented. It's still just slightly pink. She acts normal, she comes out at night and explores then retreats back into her hides during the day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I read about it as much as I could and apparently the disease spreads at an alarming rate, and is very red etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My son's royal had similar pink at one time. As KMG stated, leaving out ANY info is detrimental when looking for answers. In our case a simple change of substrate was the answer. She was too wet on cypress so I simply switched back to aspen.

Having said that, I am not sure your situation is at all the same.

I understand your love for the pet. That is really neat to an extent, however one reason I sometimes don't think royals are a great first snake, at least for some, is the fact they are VERY programmed by evolution to be solitary and secretive.

When discussing stress, you have to remember that and let your snake have plenty of space and undisturbed time. Too much love is a bad thing sometimes.


I have no doubt the issues will heal up so rest easy.

As long as the snake eats, poops and sheds, you are doing it right.

I didn't end up taking her to the vet today, just sent my vet pictures. She said it looks like a minor burn from when I took her last week and the heating pad underneath her when I was transporting her was too hot


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I never take her out this much :/ usually I do once a week for 20 min or so. But being worried has made me be excessive about it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Medduussa

I didn't end up taking her to the vet today, just sent my vet pictures. She said it looks like a minor burn from when I took her last week and the heating pad underneath her when I was transporting her was too hot


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

What do I win!?!:O

It was a contest.....right!?!?!?!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

What do I win!?!:O

It was a contest.....right!?!?!?!

---

Yes you were right lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Medduussa

Yes you were right lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

If I get to pick my prize I would like a pet moose, a bull please. That shouldn't be too much trouble. :D

I'll ride on my pet moose from Canada here and give him to you, careful though. He only takes his coffee with maple syrup


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk