My Python Died!!!

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im so sad.

i have (had) 2 pythons, i "rescued" them from my nephew who took pretty bad care of them. looks like i suck too.

One is a pretty big guy, Col. Kurtz is 3 1/2 feet, the other one who just died was much smaller, Mr. Squeezy was just a cute little guy maybe 18". They were really happy together. first i just had Kurtz, then my nephew gave me the little one, they were honestly happier together...they snuggled and everything. I didn't feed them that often, once a month or so...sometime more...sometime less. They both ate live rodents (yeah i know, i know) with no problems. Both great eaters until recently. In september I fed them a whole bunch of mice...I think big guy had 6 little guy maybe 4. The next day i found a bunch were regurgitated...yuk, awful! I assumed it was big guy who regurgitated. we went on vacation for a few weeks. then last weekend i fed them again, only 2 or 3 mice each. Later that day 2 were regurgitated...i didnt see who did it but again i assumed it was the big guy. Then this morning i found little guy dead!! I'm so sad. I guess it was him who had been doing the regurgitation all along...this means he hadnt eaten in months. (but he caught and ate the mice faster then the big guy!) I should have fed them seperately so i could track who did what (what i used to do until i got lazy and just fed them together) . I should have noticed that Squeezy wasn't getting any bigger. I should have paid more attention to them. Now squeezys dead and Kurtz is all alone.

I'm 33 year old man and I've been on the verge of crying all day beacuse of a my little dead snake.

-Andrew-

I am very sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine one of my guys dying. :(

Sorry for you loss. Did you do any research prior to "rescuing" them? Were you temperature and humidity appropriopriate?

Another example of why ball pythons should not be housed together:

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Later that day 2 were regurgitated...i didnt see who did it but again i assumed it was the big guy. Then this morning i found little guy dead!! I'm so sad. I guess it was him who had been doing the regurgitation all along...this means he hadnt eaten in months.

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And another:

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I should have fed them seperately so i could track who did what (what i used to do until i got lazy and just fed them together) .

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I should have paid more attention to them. Now squeezys dead

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Are you suprised that the smaller one died?

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and Kurtz is all alone.

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That's fine. He's probably happier now that he's alone. Snakes are solitary creatures that do not enjoy the company of other snakes.

My advice is to go do some serious research about taking care of the remaining snake. The fact that you are here is a huge stride in doing so and you will find a lot of helpful people and resources on this site.

thank you...I feel awful...like a bad parent.

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Originally Posted by ANDREW_PYTHON

:( :( :( :( :( :( :(

im so sad.

i have (had) 2 pythons, i "rescued" them from my nephew who took pretty bad care of them. looks like i suck too.

One is a pretty big guy, Col. Kurtz is 3 1/2 feet, the other one who just died was much smaller, Mr. Squeezy was just a cute little guy maybe 18". They were really happy together. first i just had Kurtz, then my nephew gave me the little one, they were honestly happier together...they snuggled and everything. I didn't feed them that often, once a month or so...sometime more...sometime less. They both ate live rodents (yeah i know, i know) with no problems. Both great eaters until recently. In september I fed them a whole bunch of mice...I think big guy had 6 little guy maybe 4. The next day i found a bunch were regurgitated...yuk, awful! I assumed it was big guy who regurgitated. we went on vacation for a few weeks. then last weekend i fed them again, only 2 or 3 mice each. Later that day 2 were regurgitated...i didnt see who did it but again i assumed it was the big guy. Then this morning i found little guy dead!! I'm so sad. I guess it was him who had been doing the regurgitation all along...this means he hadnt eaten in months. (but he caught and ate the mice faster then the big guy!) I should have fed them seperately so i could track who did what (what i used to do until i got lazy and just fed them together) . I should have noticed that Squeezy wasn't getting any bigger. I should have paid more attention to them. Now squeezys dead and Kurtz is all alone.

I'm 33 year old man and I've been on the verge of crying all day beacuse of a my little dead snake.

-Andrew-

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You kept two snakes together in the same tank? You only fed them once a month? And the "snuggling" as you call it was not snuggling. It was a fight for dominance. Did you ever take them to the vet for a check up? Did you have the proper heating?

Really sorry for your loss. Don't be too hard on yourself, after all you did give them a better home. Maybe they had parasites. Try to get a necropsy done so you know what happened.

I did a ton of research. Temp and humidity were/are perfect. I read up on everything (used to post here ages ago but lost all my old info)...over time I just began to neglect them I guess. Took it for granted that they were just fine. I should have fed them seperately like I used to though for sure and probably more often. Also I should have tracked their weight.

I believe 100% they were "happier" together. Big guy was alone for about 8 months then i got the little one. It sounds strange but as soon as they were together (which was for a couple years btw) they slept together and seemed somehow more content. I can't explain it, but it true. You say they are solitary, but even in nature, in west africa, its not entirely true, balls are sometimes found together in dens even when not mating.

I'm surprised that the little one died because he was always the best shedder, the most energetic, the more efficient killer/eater. Until recently he looked the healthiest. The big one was never a good shedder and a bit more lethargic.

Anyway it's done...Squeezys dead, and most likely I am to blame. (though i have no idea what actually killed him...he seemed fine 2 days ago).

I'll try and do better with Kurtz, but If it was up to me all these snakes would be back in the jungle where they belong. Not on display in glass.

It was not fighting for dominance...I just meant they curled up together when they slept.

Thanks itsazoo.

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Originally Posted by ANDREW_PYTHON

I did a ton of research. Temp and humidity were/are perfect. I read up on everything (used to post here ages ago but lost all my old info)...over time I just began to neglect them I guess. Took it for granted that they were just fine. I should have fed them seperately like I used to though for sure and probably more often. Also I should have tracked their weight.

I believe 100% they were "happier" together. Big guy was alone for about 8 months then i got the little one. It sounds strange but as soon as they were together (which was for a couple years btw) they slept together and seemed somehow more content. I can't explain it, but it true. You say they are solitary, but even in nature, in west africa, its not entirely true, balls are sometimes found together in dens even when not mating.

I'm surprised that the little one died because he was always the best shedder, the most energetic, the more efficient killer/eater. Until recently he looked the healthiest. The big one was never a good shedder and a bit more lethargic.

Anyway it's done...Squeezys dead, and most likely I am to blame. (though i have no idea what actually killed him...he seemed fine 2 days ago).

I'll try and do better with Kurtz, but If it was up to me all these snakes would be back in the jungle where they belong. Not on display in glass.

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Well, if youre from this site from a long time ago, then you would know that snakes dont like to be housed together. Also, you had them together for a couple of years? And the little one was only 18 inches? That's an obvious sign that there was dominance going on. I think you should take the survivor to the vet ASAP and if you think all snakes should be free then find a good home for him elsewhere.

Open your mind while you read the posts that will follow...

There are some things that you really should have been doing differently, even if you believe you were doing them right.

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Originally Posted by ANDREW_PYTHON

It was not fighting for dominance...I just meant they curled up together when they slept.

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I must politely disagree sir. It is been proven in many studies that snakes are not social creatures. They don't like having "company" or friends if you must. The regurge could have been caused by multiple issues... 1 of them being the fact that keeping 2 snakes together stresses them both out and stress can definitely cause a regure... another one being that you were feeding mice to an 18" snake. If you provide food.... they will eat lol! I don't think snakes know when they are full... causing captive snakes to be kept on feeding schedules.

Yes... they were being dominant over each other... fighting for the warmer/better spot.

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Originally Posted by ANDREW_PYTHON

It was not fighting for dominance...I just meant they curled up together when they slept.

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How do you even know they were asleep? They don't have eyelids.

you know, i really dont think this is time to yell at him.
I am really sorry for your loss.
I do believe that they should be housed seperatley, but whats done is done. If you get him another house-mate (which i suggest you dont, and keep the snakes seperate), if you ever see a regurg. or something, seperate them for a while so you can see who is sick, and take care of the problem.

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Originally Posted by Amy1217

you know, i really dont think this is time to yell at him.
I am really sorry for your loss.
I do believe that they should be housed seperatley, but whats done is done. If you get him another house-mate (which i suggest you dont, and keep the snakes seperate), if you ever see a regurg. or something, seperate them for a while so you can see who is sick, and take care of the problem.

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Honestly, I think that anyone who has been on this site has knowledge, and should listen to those who house many reptiles and know the best for them. Plus, he said he had the 2 together for a few YEARS and the lil one was only 18 inches. That's total neglect. He also said that he got lazy about them. I check on my reptiles temp, humidity and spot cleaning to make sure they are in proper shape. If I see something out of the unusual I'll seek info and if it requires vet care then I'll be on my way to the vet.

First off...I've locked this thread to keep it from getting any uglier...as we all know it is bound to do.

Second off...Andrew, I am sorry for your loss. I know it doesn't feel good. But I can't help but notice that while you say you feel responsible for the loss...you refuse to accept the fact that your husbandry methods were less than ideal. If you can't accept that fact, then the chances of losing another snake in a simliar fashion are high.

All the information for the very best care is available to you right here at BP.net, which you've had access to for well over a year. But how you keep your snakes is your choice. You can choose to believe what highly experienced people say....or not. Just don't be surprised if it happens again. And, for the love of all that's good...if it does happen again, don't come here and express disbelief and surprise and ask us what went wrong and expect to find much sympathy.

I hope your other snake is not also sick. Good luck with him.