Ball python died then came back to life???

[Jonny_]

Okay so I'm new to these forums but decided to give it a try...now I have a ball python that's 3 years old & is healthy. Well yesterday I went to work early & saw him soaking in his water bowl, when I got back in from work, a 12hr shift...he was still soaking in it so I turned on my light & he began to get out of the bowl. So about 2:30am when I was about to go to bed, I heard a bunch of substrate being moved around & clashing against the tank I decided to take a look. He was twisting & turning pretty bad & making a really weird noise that sounded like a whine, then opened his mouth wide open & kept it somewhat open then slowly dropped his head underwater.. After I realized no more movement, I took him out & he was dead. No movement whatsoever, he was limp. So after realizing how much it sucked losing him I decided I would wait till this morning to call my vet to dispose of him. Now when I was about to do all that, I saw that he wasn't where I left him last night, he was in his hide & came out casually like nothing ever happened, I took him out & took a look at him & he seemed perfectly fine, his body was straight, nice & strong, couldn't find out what could've happened. So what do you guys think, any ideas of what may have happened?

[KMG]

Have you owned it three years?
What are you using as heat sources?
Any major spikes in temp?

[Jonny_]

Yes I've owned it for 3 years...& no, temperature has been the same, no change. Heat sources are heat lamp

[Kibbleswhites]

Sounds like some sort of seizure?

[Ophidia]

Sounds like a seizure to me. I would take your snake in to see a vet, getting tests done can be expensive, but worth it...

[Kibbleswhites]

Sounds like a seizure to me. I would take your snake in to see a vet, getting tests done can be expensive, but worth it...

I would just monitor. If it is a seizure disorder, there is nothing a vet can do. As long as the pet is eating and gaining weight I would just watch him.

[Ophidia]

I would just monitor. If it is a seizure disorder, there is nothing a vet can do. As long as the pet is eating and gaining weight I would just watch him.

I tend to err on the side of caution. If the seizures are due to an infection that is treatable then it is better to have the snake looked at and treated. If it isn't treatable then at least there is no in the dark about the cause. But to each their own.
I trust my herp vet, if he can't help a condition he doesn't even charge me to look at the snake, if he thinks there is a fix he tests and treats. I guess it pays to have a vet you trust.

[dr del]

Have you been using any chemicals or mite treatments etc near him?

[Jonny_]

Okay so to update everyone on this, sadly he died Saturday night...I monitored him all day Saturday & was really calm & wouldn't move as much. Just looked like he was suffering. Saturday is feeding day & even though I had a feeling he might not be able to eat, I still went out to buy a mouse. Exactly as I thought, he didn't eat...dont think he even acknowledged there was a mouse, it was running all over him. So I took him out & he began to move a little more, even took a drink of water. So after that he went into his hide & for a bit then came out again & began to roam around...come later on that night all of a sudden seemed down again but was still moving a little, I went to sleep & woke up to him dead. Left him for a while to see if he would come back to life again like the first time & sadly he didn't.

So would anyone know what could've been the cause of it? If it was a seizure the first time & possibly the second time...how would it occur all of a sudden? He was healthy & never had problems...it was honestly an overnight thing which is why it's so confusing to me?

[dr del]

There are quite a few things which can cause seizure like symptoms so unless you put him in the fridge for a PM you will probably never be sure.

At 3 years old it seems unlikely to have been anything physiological wrong with him from birth. The most common triggers that seem to come out of nowhere are chemical poisoning or overheating.

But there are also parasites that can cause neuro problems ( some ameobas and protozoans iirc ).

Did you recently add any new snakes to your collection?