Ball Python Dropped dead, any ideas?

[MMReptiles]

So I received an imported lot of ball pythons from ghana a couple months ago. Some took right to eating, and where sold as pets and haven't had any issues. A few of them would not eat, and where force fed for awhile, until the last 2 weeks, where 2 of them would readily accept food items.

Today I went to get some food for the 2 eaters. Both received a small hopper which they ate without issue (they won't take much larger). Both snakes where extremely active, alert, no issues. I sold one of the females to a fellow breeder. 4 hours later, snake turns up dead. Snake had passed fecals, and had been treated for internal parasites before I received her. She had no issues up until late tonight.

Any ideas from some more experienced guys what might have possibly happened? I'm guessing she either picked up something from the mice from the shop, or the ride home was too stressful. Thanks for any advice.

[dr del]

Hi,

It's hard to say.

Heat springs to mind as a quick way to kill an animal.

But then the fact, if I'm reading this right, you fed the snake and then sold it on to someone the same day sounds like a very stressful situation that could easily have complications.

How many meals had the snake had on its own before you sold it?


dr del

[MMReptiles]

Hi,

It's hard to say.

Heat springs to mind as a quick way to kill an animal.

But then the fact, if I'm reading this right, you fed the snake and then sold it on to someone the same day sounds like a very stressful situation that could easily have complications.

How many meals had the snake had on its own before you sold it?


dr del

3 on its own, a few assist fed, and several force feeds when I first got the animal. I've never had a problem with feeding the same day as a sale, but maybe it was too much for this animal.

I also wonder since it was a motorcycle ride what kind of temps where in the compartment with the snake.

[JLC]

I also wonder since it was a motorcycle ride what kind of temps where in the compartment with the snake.

Such a baby snake with such a difficult start in life...it wouldn't surprise me a bit that such a loud, rough (tons of vibrations) ride might literally scare it to death. Especially if it was already feeling vulnerable with a belly full of prey.

[Vypyrz]

...or the ride home was too stressful.

I also wonder since it was a motorcycle ride what kind of temps where in the compartment with the snake.

I'm not a breeder, but I am a biker, and I would say it was probably a combination of heat stress and the added stress caused by the excessive vibrations from the bike. Most saddle bags/storage compartments are designed to keep their contents dry in the rain, so I doubt that there would be very much, if any, ventilation.

[Ladybugzcrunch]

3 on its own, a few assist fed, and several force feeds when I first got the animal. I've never had a problem with feeding the same day as a sale, but maybe it was too much for this animal.

I also wonder since it was a motorcycle ride what kind of temps where in the compartment with the snake.

OMFG are you kidding me??? Of course it was the heat. It is HOT out there. When I first got my snakes I went and picked up two hoppers on my bike. 10 min drive in September (Florida though). Dead as door nails.

[MMReptiles]

OMFG are you kidding me??? Of course it was the heat. It is HOT out there. When I first got my snakes I went and picked up two hoppers on my bike. 10 min drive in September (Florida though). Dead as door nails.

I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, not looking forward to having to tell him that he killed his snake, not me or something else.

[wolfy-hound]

Some of the motorcycle bin things might hold the heat out, but the vibrations alone would stress the poor thing out enough. Add to that the "probable" heat, and yep, most like stress + heat = dead.

Sorry to hear it.

[Homegrownscales]

I agree it sounds like the bike ride had a huge part to play in this death. Hyperthermia for a baby is easy to occur especially if there is no ventilation.
Added stress can make a small dehydration occurrence deadly.

Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

[MMReptiles]

I agree it sounds like the bike ride had a huge part to play in this death. Hyperthermia for a baby is easy to occur especially if there is no ventilation.
Added stress can make a small dehydration occurrence deadly.

Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

It didn't occur to me before I sold him the animal, he assured me it would be fine. Now I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I sold him this snake, I should have known better about the motorcycle and refused sale, but this was my first purchase to someone buying with a bike, and he drove a long way for it.

He has requested a refund at some point. I can either refund for something not really my fault, and keep the possibility of a future customer, or tell him it's his fault the animal died. Anyone ever have a situation like this, it's a first for me.