Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all: The female I posted about earlier in the month, passed today. I found her dead this evening. I forced out the bulge near her vent and a very smelly unfertilized egg came out, plus some other wonderfully smelling crap. I went from anticipating the laying of eggs to the fact that that I've lost a wonderful animal. This sucks. But, I had her 14 years. Is this a fair amount of years? What is the average life span? I still have a 13 year old male and two other females, a four year old and a 2005 hatchling. I'll miss this snake. I have used her many times at Educational demonstrations. Always went over big with the kids. What else can I say. It's the circle of life.

Mark

N/P

Mark,
Sorry for your loss. I know it sux! But you are correct,... it is the circle of life. The reeper comes for us all sooner or later. Perhaps you will see her again in the next life. Hang in there.
T.

Sorry for your loss. Hope you are blessed with future offspring from your others to fill the gap. I know the snake will be missed...........Bill
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

I too am sorry to hear about your loss of a long term scaly friend, I just recently (3/8/6) loss an Iguana that I got as a hatchling in 1992. So I can understand how it feels.

Hello all: Thanks for the kind thoughts. I'll be cleaning out the cage today after work. It's gonna kill me. But we'll move on. I'll have a nice big cage for my 4 year old female. she'll enjoy the open space.

Mark

Mark,

Losing a long term animal, one that you have gotten to "know" well and interacted with over a large number of years is never an easy thing to do. I lost my male Eastern ""CADILLAC"" about one and a half years ago, due to old age. Nothing lasts forever however, and we should try and appreciate these fine animals while they/we are STILL here. Sorry for your loss.

Sincerely,

Fred Albury

P.S.

Was the egg retained from a breeding the previous season and how far over her lay date did she go?

HI Fred; Regarding your question. this female has never laid a fertile egg. she always dropped three to six infertile eggs. Most often in late May. So, i was pleasantly surprised to see her showing signs of being gravid so early in the year. Once i saw the egg dropping close to the vent i was really getting excited..
I thought she finally figured it out. Well, as we have seen, it didn't work out. I was able to force out one infertile very smelly egg. The only other stuff to come out was a smelly brown substance. Lots of it too ! Then some feces. I'm not a Vet but My guess, The egg prevented her from defecating. Which I believe poisoned her system. Live and learn. if I ever see this again. Right to the vet.

Mark

The snake looks short, was it a small animal?

yes: SHE WAS ONLY ABOUT 5 FOOT. COULD NEVER FIGURE THAT OUT. SHE ATE LIKE A PIG. MAYBE THAT EXPLAINS WHY SHE NEVER LAID ANY GOOD EGGS

MARK

Where did you get her, from what breeder?