aged black rat ?

[mechnut450]

ok I had this wild caught black rat for about 12-14 years now ( was already about 3ft long when I removed from the wild) I havea concern that somethign up she eating and doing everythign fine but she does shed almost every 2 weeks ( I know one eye either got a growth or tumor) but I amnot sure if this would cause her to shed so often, I was wondering if anyone had a black rat snake this old and similar issue.

[Aeries]

I would think that growth/tumor would be causing it.

[mechnut450]

yeah I think it that but I also knowdess this last time she shed that the scales around the said eye and other spots have lost the scale hardness ( for lack of a better term) they really soft and skin like feeling. I think I mave to look at having her put asleep or forzen she done a part shed and just sitting there now.( like she giving up the fight ) . SHe has not bothe wit hthe finish shedding ( over the weekend in he past I finished it but she never started her lower jaw, and the scale didn't come off over the eyes ( a lot of excess skin around the eye ) ) SHe not even after a prey item when held for her to go after, she never refused to eat for me in the pass even when she was carrying eggs ( infertile) Rough figures ( I got her back in 10 grade I grad in 96) and it 2009 put her well over 15 years as she was full grown when I aquired her. I think part of her decline could bee nthersult of her back injury when I first stepped on her ( leading to her aquiring in the woods)

I was wondering what is the best possible ways to consider doing so with the least suffering for her ( it killing me just thinking of this )

[mechnut450]

well sadly I found my rat snake dead this morning . I wentot check on everyone and she was fine came back an hour later and she dead all twisted around like she had a heart attach or a serizure of some type so after 16+ years I guessshe finally let go

[Michelle.C]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[mechnut450]

thanks I knew itr was gonigot happen just not so suddenly and volient appearing , I just cleaned the cages on saturday and she was fine a while ago so with everything I not too shock I think she had a serizure and it was just too much on the old girl's heart .

[Michelle.C]

After their brain stops functioning, their body is still capable of moving. Just because it appears violent, doesn't mean it was painful.

It's never easy losing a pet, especially one you've had for so long, but I'm sure she's in a better place (somewhere with a 24 hour rodent buffet).

[mechnut450]

lol didn't the buffet she needed the snake version of a tread mill she was so fat the skin between the scales stayed visible all the time even if i restricked her diet to a single small mouse once every 2-3 week. she just styed fat and laid in one spot 90% of the time..i'll miss her she was the main biter of my collection.

[Tim Mead]

If she was as you stated she may very well have died from obeisity..
She very likely would have lasted several years longer if it wasn't for the fat content..Live and Learn..

[BPelizabeth]

wow I am sorry to hear that she passed on!