Please help, royal python died!

[Em.R]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place or has been asked before but I am new to this (posting and snake owning) but I am hoping someone might be able to help me by making some sensible suggestions. I recently decided to fulfill my life long dream of owning a snake and was advised by several more experienced individuals that either a corn snake or royal python would be best. I chose a royal for various reasons and attempted to educate myself as much as possible on how to take care of one. Having read endless care sheets, forums, advice guides and spoken to people with experience I purchased my first snake. I decided that I wanted something young enough to see grow but a bit more established than a hatchling. I ended up with a 10month old female who I was told was tame and use to being handled and always ate except when shedding. I went to get her to discover that she was just starting to shed and was warned that she may not eat that week but not to worry. I brought her home and placed her in a viv (as she had been use to in her previous home) with a ceramic heater and thermostat with hot spot of 91 and cold side of 80 with hides and water at both ends plus a cork bark hide in the middle and some artificial plants. I initially had a couple of days of struggling to keep the humidity up but with lots of spraying the humidity eventually stabilised at 50-60%. I provided fresh water each day and used a beach chip substrate. I tried feeding her after 5days (frozen thawed weaner rat as that's what I was informed she was used to having) but she didn't eat and I didn't worry. The skin had come off her head but didn't appear to be anywhere near ready to come of the rest of her and I did wonder if she was a bot dehydrated but she had plenty of fresh water and the humidity was good and I had read that it can take up to 3wks for a royal to shed and so I wasn't worried. She seemed quiet and didn't move around much but again I understood that this was likely when shedding so didn't question her behaviour, plus the times she was likely to be active dawn and dusk I was in bed. She was easy to handle and didn't seem bothered about being handled and I made sure I didn't over handle her. I tried again to feed her 7days after her previous feed and again she didn't have it but equally was still shedding (although not really making much progress on that front either) so I didn't worry although was starting to think perhaps I needed to soak her as advised in various places. That was Sunday and she seemed fine on Monday but by Tuesday evening she was dead. I have no idea why and I am not expecting others to be able to give me a definitive answer but ideas and suggestions would help. I know since the event from reading on here that the advise would be to have an autopsy but I was so shocked and upset at the time that all I could think to do was bury her. I loved her even after 13 days and feel quiet unexpectedly traumatised by what has happened. I would love another but I am terrified in case the same thing happens because I don't know why it did and I worry that it is something I did wrong but I have no idea what. Any advise, suggestion, help would be much appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

[Craiga 01453]

I'm not going to be able to offer any help, but I do offer my sympathy. Hopefully this doesn't deter you from sticking with the hobby. I think you'll be missing out if you walk away now. You got a snake and did all that research for a reason. Hopefully after a bit of time you get back at it so you can enjoy this amazing hobby and these amazing animals.
Good luck.

[Booper]

First of all, my condolences. It is extremely upsetting when a pet dies, especially when you don't know why. My suggestion for you is to seek out an autopsy to see if it can offer you any answers as to what happened. I hope everything works out for you.

[bcr229]

Did the snake come from a pet store or a private breeder/seller?

[Bravo.whiskey]

I'm not an expert by any means, but if what you're saying is true, then it sounds like you did everything right and the snake may have already been sick when you brought it home. Its hard to say for sure without an autopsy though. I would buy from a reputable breeder if next time if you didn't do so this time. I have had luck at expos and most of the breeders there stand by their animals because that's their livelihood.
Anyway, I hope this helped.

[Justin Smith]

So sorry to here that. You did absolutely everything right and there was nothing you could of done to prevent her from dying. The snake was sick when you got her wether the previous owner knew it or not. This is not typical at all and I hope it doesn't deter you from owning another ball python. If you'd like you can message me and I can send you a free ball python if your able to pay for shipping. I breed various morphs.


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[Lizardlicks]

Yeah, healthy snakes don't just up and die after 2 weeks. I would be asking for a refund/replacement.

[RiA MaU]

Two weeks is not enough time for you to have caused this based on how you said she was set up. It sounds like she was sick when you got her, which is really sad, but at least it means you should be fine to try again when you're feeling up to it. Losing pets is never anything but devastating, even after a short time, but I hope you can get back on it one day!

[Meerna]

I also agree that this is not at all typical. It looks like your husbandry was just fine, so she must have been sick when you got her. I know it might take a little while before you feel like you're ready for another snake, but don't let this experience discourage you from giving up your dream of owning a snake. Royals are good hardy snakes in my opinion and though they are known to be picky eaters one rarely dies because of it.

[VIP CONSTRICTORS]

Condolences! You did everything right (even more so with ceramic heater which is a bonus).
I would get a refund and get another snake somewhere else. She probably was sick. And while on this topic I would disinfect everything she was in touch with.
Was her mouth dry or bubbly? How about eyes?