Just an homage to a deceased snake.

[Bruce Whitehead]

Excuse the self-indulgence of this post.

I had a message on my machine tonight from one of my vets.

I have a few vets that I see, just depends on what I need done, and what services they offer. I do not update with one vet or another, as due to the number of snakes it is usually just a PRN visit.

I came home the other day to a message on my machine that it was time for Ash`s annual checkup. Ash was put to sleep last year for a prolonged RI and what was best described at the time as `system failure`.

He had 3 years of abyssmal husbandry, and when I got him he was not shedding, eating, sleeping, etc. I got him on track and then about six months in he just started to fail consistently and rapidly. After 3 rounds of antibiotics I had to make that tough decision.

It broke my heart to put this snake down, but it was harder watching him struggle to stay alive.

This is one of the reasons I can be a bit harsh with laissez-faire keepers that figure that the snake can just make it work and that attention to husbandry is just us being neurotic.

There are consequences, and it is the snake that pays the price.

But yeah, blah. blah. blah.

Getting that message just kinda put me on a 2 day downer thinking about this snake and how amazing he was. My first BP, a difficult snake to get thriving, but he taught me so much about BPs that I am always going to be grateful to him.

That and I really miss him.

[anendeloflorien]

No worries man. It's always the first ones that really get us huh?

I don't know what I would do if I ever lost my first snake. I honestly love that snake more than any other pet I've ever had. I'm sure he'd be glad to see what him coming into your home started and the love you have for your other animals. I feel the same way towards people who practice poor husbandry and then act like it doesn't affect the animals....... It disgusts me and I have a tendency to get a little frustrated sometimes with some of the posts on here.

[iCandiBallPythons]

great pics

[wax32]

Sorry about your loss. We got calls recently about annual checkups for a cat who had been put to sleep after a long fight with cancer and for a rabbit who had died for unknown reasons. That's a tough call to take...

[Argentra]

*COMFORT* It's tough, losing an animal close to you. I feel the same about my first BP. Even though she wouldn't be "contributing to the breeding plans" as Ari says, I'll keep her as long as she's around. Yes, she's a very picky eater who tends to go off food from late December to early April. Yes, she's really small for her age. And yes, she'll probably never get to be a breeder...but I don't care.

Ash was a beautiful ball python, and you are a wonderful person for giving him the better quality life you did before he succumbed to prior bad treatment. Keep up the good work!

[Slim]

Very touching, Bruce. Just remember, the care Ash got from you at the end of his life was the best he's ever had...that counts for a lot in my book.

[dizzy]

Sorry for your loss.



I've lost pets before, but I have a cat that I've had for 11 years and when she goes I will absolutely lose it. There's always that one pet that you bond with like no other.

[Texas Dan]

I'm sorry for the loss and the fact that it was brought to your attention again.. But I must say. I love the house!

[BPHERP]

Great post...

...After reading that I think I need to call my mom.

[Bruce Whitehead]

He did get good care and we did not let him suffer. So I always take comfort in that... and he really did teach me tons that benefits every snake that comes into my house.

If he hadn't been such a hard snake to get on track, I may have ended up learning nothing about snakes.

People can keep a snake forever and never actually learn much about them.

I have said it before, but Joanna, Robin and Deborah were my mentors in that area. If it hadn't been for them that snake would not have made it as long as he did.

THEY got him setup and got him eating and got him on track. But they already know that my gratitude and loyalty runs deep.

I know it is over and all that... but really it is surprising me how much of a funk it has put me in. Maybe I worry that I could have done more, or missed something... but logically I know that at the time, with the resources, and with the information I had... which is not that different than now... that I did the best by him that I could.

He was my therapy snake.

But he came in a 275 gallon flexarium with a 200w red bulb, an Olympic sized water dish, lots of things to climb on, a log hide, and a ceramic space heater. Seriously.

Again, that was good as I had to unlearn EVERYTHING the original keeper had told me about BPs.

Yeah, whatever. Still missing him, but watcha gonna do. My mother-in-law is letting us bury him in her garden in the spring and Jer is going to do a nice homage art pieces with what is left of the remains in a year.

I know, sometimes living with an artist can have its macabre moments.

There is a St. Ginger piece in the works using our first rat's remains, so why not the snake?

Bruce