Please Help! Snake dies while eating...

[Boomstick]

I just found one of my adult normal ball pythons dead with a regurged, partially digested rat???
I feed a large group yesterday and everyone else is fine. I buy my frozen thawed rodents from the same place everytime.
This is the second snake I've lost this way...both snakes have been 3-5yr old unwanted pets that I have taken in.
The first snake I'd had for over a year and would go for a few months at a time with not eating. I assumed when this happend there was something wrong with the snake.
I've had the second snake for a little over 6 months and was eating great prior to this.
The first time it happend I thought it was something wrong with the snake, but to have 2 do this in less than 3 months is crazy.
Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions or similar situations?

[PitOnTheProwl]

I am probably not going to be much help here but someone will hopefully chime in.

Are you sure the rats were up to good temps and not still frozen some??

[brikwall96]

Or are u sure u didnt cook the rats? How do u prepare them...where do u get them?

[Kara]

My guess is that the snake aspirated fluid when it regurgitated the rat, and potentially suffocated on that. While snakes can regurgitate, it's very tough on them, and considering that the windpipe (aka glottis) is located on the floor of the snake's mouth, it's relatively easy for one to accidentally breathe in some digestive fluids while in the process of "throwing up" a meal.

Very sorry for your loss.

[Boomstick]

I buy from rodentpro and I slow thaw them in warm water.
Before I feed them I check to make sure that they are not still frozen or cold.

[dr del]

Hi,

Couple of thoughts.

Can you describe your quarantine proceedures in regards to these two animals and to your existing collection.

Have you had a PM done on either snake? ( bag it in the fridge before taking to the vets do not freeze it.

What size were both rats and what size were the snakes.

Can you tell us your temps and how and where you are measuring them?

Do these rats smell when they are thawed?


dr del

[Simple Man]

Slow thaw is great but how are you heating them up? Rodents should be 95-100 degrees when you are feeding. It sounds to me like the rat was still cold internally. More info. I used to feed F/T and the rodents need considerable time under a 140 degree blow dryer before I would feed them to my snakes. I get them to about 105-110 and then head towards the tub to feed. If you don't heat them properly this way their heads and guts can stay very cool still. 50-70 easily according to my IR temp gun. That's why I heat them with a blow dryer before feeding. It takes quite awhile to get a whole rat to the right temperature.

Regards,

B

[Rat160]

Slow thaw is great but how are you heating them up? Rodents should be 95-100 degrees when you are feeding. It sounds to me like the rat was still cold internally. More info. I used to feed F/T and the rodents need considerable time under a 140 degree blow dryer before I would feed them to my snakes. I get them to about 105-110 and then head towards the tub to feed. If you don't heat them properly this way their heads and guts can stay very cool still. 50-70 easily according to my IR temp gun. That's why I heat them with a blow dryer before feeding. It takes quite awhile to get a whole rat to the right temperature.

Regards,

B

This is exactly why I dont feed F/T. When you have 25+ snakes this process takes WAY too long. I just simply feed live and keep a careful eye out. Now feeding takes me maybe 30min-an hour.

[PitOnTheProwl]

this is exactly why i dont feed f/t. When you have 25+ snakes this process takes way too long. I just simply feed live and keep a careful eye out. Now feeding takes me maybe 30min-an hour.

x2:d

[Boomstick]

To thaw i'll start out with little hotter than room temp. Then drain and refill with warmer water. Finaly, repeat but refilling with water around 95 degrees letting stand for a couple minutes and towel dry before feeding. This takes around 3 hours. I clean cages, water and organize my room while the rats thaw.

"Quarantined animals" get a seperate location for at least a month before introduction to the colony. The first snake that passed came from another breeder she was in possesion of for a few years and today all of her reptiles are healthy. The second, came from a friend who had it as a pet for many years. Both snakes were active but one ate often while the other would go months between meals.

I get my frozen rodants threw RodentPro. I've never had any promblems with them.

I bagged the fella that has passed and have an appointment with my Exotic Animals vet tomorrow morning.

I have a vast collection of Ball Pythons and can only hope that this unfortunate event is a natural occurance.

Thank You Everyone...