My local reptile vet is pretty flexible and thankfully willing to try lots of the new and slightly strange procedures that reptiles and amphibians require. But I think even he would shake his head at trying to reinsert the heart of a hatchling. I wonder if he would even try.

Furthermore, there is significant evidence from both research and veterinary care that snakes have little or no pain receptors on their ventral side. Which is why researchers implant PIT tags at the edge of the ventral scales, less stress to the animal so it can be released immediately.

Did you read the procedure the OP was recreating? The procedure was as clean and neat as possible given the circumstances. I believe both people had the snake's best interests in mind.
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

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