I'm so bummed... *graphic pics

[cschneider]

*Update* they are both still alive although I'm still very concerned about the BEL with the swollen heart. Has anyone ever seen this before?

Got them on a scale. The mojave is 60grams and I love the pattern on it.


Next the bel weighing in at a whopping 36 grams. Praying for this little one



Hoping the bels heart is normal size and the little guy or girl just needs to grow into it.

[galequin]

Well I'm glad to see they both made it out the egg okay. I'll say a quick prayer for that BEL I've never seen anything like that :/ poor little thing. Please keep us updated, and good luck! I'll do some research to see if I can find anything on this.

[galequin]

So far it's going slow, but for now here is what I can offer:

1) Ball pythons have been born with enlarged hearts before... the stomach is something I haven't heard of before but not a unique case I'm sure. From my findings snakes with enlarged hearts can live for quite some time. One research article said that a pair of BPs being study lived to grow "several times their original body weight" though it does not mention a time frame :/

2) A python's heart can increase nearly 40% it's original size 2 to 3 days following a meal. All part of digestion. That considered I would ask you to consider undersize prey items when your BEL is ready to eat so as to make it easier for the lil worm.

I can post links to where I found this info if you're interested. I'm still doing some research, I'll share anything new that turns up.

[cschneider]

I went to check on them this morning. The bel passed away during the night. He was twisted right where the heart was so I'm wondering if it had a heart attack or failure . Down to one mojave who is looking promising.

I don't think I'll be pairing these two again next season. Think ill invest in a new lesser male.

[Oombootoo]

That is so sad to hear. I hope/pray that your mojave stays healthy.

[RyanT]

The only idea I have to interject...What was your incubation medium? Happen to have changed it this year?
A few years ago I lost half of my eggs because I didn't realize until it was too late that Miracle-Gro perlite has fertilizer in it.

[Badgemash]

I'm so sorry to hear that the little BEL passed. Are you planning to necropsy?

[cschneider]

No necropsy. I buried him already any I wouldn't even know what to look for.

Also I use a mix of perilite and hatch right.

I'm thinking its a pairing issue because my other clutches look ok so far. Hoping they will be healthy and I don't have to go through this again. It sucks losing great morphs but even worse losing them in general. I feel like a bad mom even though I don't think I could have done anything to help them.

[Badgemash]

I feel like a bad mom even though I don't think I could have done anything to help them.

You're not a bad mom, as much as we stress and worry about these little guys and try to do everything to help, sometimes it's just out of our hands. I'm just sorry you had to go through this. *hugs*

[don15681]

I had a weak clutch last year. only one survived. but.... he's kickin butt right now and he eats like a pig. you would never know that he was from that clutch. good luck with the Mojave! don