My BP died inexplicably and I'm crushed... any ideas?

[kairotique]

I don't actually know about the wood. It looked like it was a little stuck, but not like it had gone all the way through his digestive system. I don't know about that.

[West Coast Jungle]

I don't actually know about the wood. It looked like it was a little stuck, but not like it had gone all the way through his digestive system. I don't know about that.

You are right, it does look to clean to look like it passed through his system. He may have had some fluid or something coming out and the aspen just stuck to it.

It looks like there was somekind of internal probleimpaction that did damage. Without any clues there is not much you could have done. The poor guy was trying to pass something that caused sever damage. I did have a BP from a petstore once that was so dehyrated the urates turned to rock and had to be removed by a vet. I was lucky enough to bring her in for other problems(ticks and mites) and the vet caught it. That was the last snake I ever got from a petstore.

[kairotique]

Also, one important thing.
He last ate about a week ago, and he has actually pooped since then. A few days ago. Everything looked normal there, too. There was nothing strange about any of it, for the entire time.

[ohyeahnow]

Aspen is safe for substrate, but not for feeding. It can cause impaction. Some bags will even warn about feeding on aspen. 4 of my snakes are fed in a seperate feeding container because I use aspen. The two that won't eat in another container are fed on a "tray". Before feeding them I cover the aspen with a piece of cardboard for them to eat on. I am very sorry about your snake. I too recomend taking him to a vet to find out the cause for the sake of your other snakes.

[SlitherinSisters]

That is so terribly sad Let us know what the vet says......

[Shadow4108]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I think a necropsy would most likely ease your mind.

[blackcrystal22]

Aspen is safe for substrate, but not for feeding. It can cause impaction. Some bags will even warn about feeding on aspen. 4 of my snakes are fed in a seperate feeding container because I use aspen. The two that won't eat in another container are fed on a "tray". Before feeding them I cover the aspen with a piece of cardboard for them to eat on. I am very sorry about your snake. I too recomend taking him to a vet to find out the cause for the sake of your other snakes.

It can cause impaction in large amounts, but is very rare.
And it's doubtful that was the reason this animal died, as the other posters have said, that was just aspen stuck to his vent, it had not come out of his vent.

Good luck and I hope your collection is safe!

[rbchesapeakeball]

So very sorry for your loss please post updates when you find out what happened.

Rich

[Tosha_Mc]

That could just be postmortem bloat at the vent -- really no way to tell why your snake died without taking it in for a necropsy -- have you cleaned his cage lately or cleaned around his cage? Perhaps he got in or around something toxic?

I am sorry for your loss.

[Riokeshen]

I bought a Ball Python from PetCo and it died in a few months o_o I never cried though I wanted to ._. mine died a resp infection along with blister disease. we herd clicking noises sense we bought her.but we payed no mined to it. I'm guess it was not just clicking but a sigh of a resp infection.