Stu,

Yes, I agree, euthanization BEFORE getting a refund is not the route to go. In my prior response, when I mentioned euthanizing the snakes, I was simply letting you know the route I would have taken if they were in my collection (not considering coming from someone else). Also, I've agreed with Rick for a long time that the likely cause of this condition is environmental...but, and a big BUT, until that is proven to be true we can't rule out a pathogen. I was thinking this year of taking one of my clutches and exposing half of the hatchlings to warm and dry conditions to see if this appears (and don't worry everyone, the conditions will still fall within what everyone considers safe and not cruel or unusual; i.e., mid-80's, water for drinking but not a moist box, and a small temp gradient). That kind of result would go a long way to support the environmental argument.

I'd ask whomever you got these five snakes from what the conditions were like that they were keeping them at. If they were keeping them cool (high seventies at the high end) and moist, and then they went to mid-80's and dry'er', then that might shock their system into this funk. Regardless, it sounds like it's just contained to animals you got from this breeder, so the discussion of a refund should definitely be on the table. My best of luck to you.

Lastly, another funky thing that can happen to zonata, especially when they get too hot (in my opinion), is that their entire last half of their body can go into a paralysis. They won't shed any more than normal, but they'll just go limp. It doesn't seem to be a condition that can spread from snake to snake, but I've seen it before in animals that have gotten too warm. Unfortunately they don't ever seem to recover from that. Anyhow, good luck!

Mitch

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