Dead snake at work...really sad...

[SCWood]

So, yesterday I had to stay over to feed the snakes. I was rushing so I didn't eat up too much of their time. 3 ball pythons didn't eat but they checked my protocol and I had followed it so they had me set them up in the back. (BTW I got written up because I was so flustered I forgot to get a heat lamp!) Today, I was passing the boa tank and saw one sitting funny. I opened the tank, picked it up, and it was limp 😢 it had a huge lump in its throat that was soft and squishy and a mouthful of substrate. it had dropped a few grams but I figured it was from defecation...and now they're trying to say I fed it too big of a prey item. It was 45g yesterday and was fed a hopper. I have been feeding these small boas hoppers for nearly a month now and they take them like champs. I don't think this is the case.
See, the boa refused to eat but I left the Hopper in with it for half an hour and when I checked the boa was chowing down! Could it maybe have been ill and tried to regurgitate? I've been in tears since I found it. If it's my fault I'll never forgive myself 😣

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

[Morris Reese]

The hoppers that I feed my snakes are somewhere in the 20-29g range. Are you saying you fed one this size to a snake that weighs 45g? I don't go by weight of the prey for boas, I compare the prey to the girth of the boa at the largest point of their body.
I would guess your using mice and not rats correct? That would make a huge difference.

[KMG]

Did your work not tell you what feeder size should be fed to each snake?

[SCWood]

The hoppers that I feed my snakes are somewhere in the 20-29g range. Are you saying you fed one this size to a snake that weighs 45g? I don't go by weight of the prey for boas, I compare the prey to the girth of the boa at the largest point of their body.
I would guess your using mice and not rats correct? That would make a huge difference.

I don't think our hoppers weigh that much. They are very small for hoppers. Border line fuzzies. Prey did not seem too large. Perfect size. Had no issue eating it. Yes, mice.

Did your work not tell you what feeder size should be fed to each snake?

They did. Once I took over the task, I used weight and girth combined to determine when to move up. These guys EASILY take hoppers and the ones we use are small. The boa ate it with no issue and seemed fine when I put it in its habitat afterwards.

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

[KMG]

If your work is really making an issue of it you may for a necropsy to see what the cause of death was. May help you or may hurt you but at least you would know the truth.

[SCWood]

If your work is really making an issue of it you may for a necropsy to see what the cause of death was. May help you or may hurt you but at least you would know the truth.

That's the thing, I rushed the snake to a manager and begged her to help it and she said it was dead. I cried and asked what went wrong and we discussed the unfortunate state of the animal and later concluded it must've been sick. At the time of the incident, I asked her if she would like to have a necropsy done to see the cause of death and she said no. She took it, put it in a black bag, and placed in freezer. Next time they pick up they will cremate it :/

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

[KMG]

Well it sounds like things are ok for you with your job.

[SCWood]

Well it sounds like things are ok for you with your job.

I hope so :/ She seemed fine once we clocked out and waited for our rides. I think it really hit her hard, like me, and she just had a rough time showing it

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn