Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have posted this in the Ball Python forum, and i want to post it here, because it's important.

I checked on my snakes one morning last week, and all seemed well. I checked them when I came home from work. I went in to check once more before I went to bed, and all my pythons were dead and dying. The one living snake was in horrible shape, obviously in pain. Twisting her neck, gasping for breath, and unable to hold her head up without violent wobbling. I had to euthanize that snake.

The next day, two of my corns began to exhibit the same symptoms. I had to drive across the state to find a vet who would see them. One snake died at the vet's, and I opted for euthanization for the other.

It was like walking into a train wreck. It happened so fast. One minute all the snakes were there, and the next time I walked in, there were just bodies everywhere. The worst part of it was seeing how much they suffered before they died.

I spun my head trying to figure out what could have happened. I sent all the dead snakes off to the lab for necropsy.

Turns out they were poisoned.

I am usually very careful about what products I use in my home. I have a lot of animals here. And children. I am usually very aware of how pathogens, toxins and diseases are spread, and try to take precautions.

Turns out that I had loaned my vacuum cleaner to a friend. This friend had been battling a flea problem in her home, and had used flea killing products on her carpets. I thought nothing of pulling my vacuum cleaner out of my closet and using it.

The outcome has been devatating. Researching some of the chemicals used out there has been horrifying. I am still in disbelief that this has happened.

I really, really hope that nobody else has to go through this. It's my hope that by sharing this experience, somebody else might avoid a similar situation.

OMG i am sooo sorry.. and thanks sooo much for sharing. thats so sad. aww i feel horrible for you so was it the dust for fleas that was vacuumed up? or was it something else? i'm sorry you had to deal with that and thanks so much for sharing! i hope you understand it wasnt your fault for being a wonderful friend. it was just a random thing thati'm sure could have happened to anyone!
~kin
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~Sober Serpents~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SNAKIES~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Corns:
.1 Normal (Gertrude) [just a pet...she started it all]
1. Orange normal (Romeo)
1.2 Miami Phase (Hector, Emily, Charlotte) thanks jeff!
2. Miami Phase part zigzag (Starkey, Mcvitty)[Emilys F2]
1. Amel het Blizzard (Dunesbury) .1 Blizzard (Detta)
1. Classic het Hypo, poss het Amel, Anery (Cobra)
1.1 Classics (Henry VIII, Cassy) [Emilys F1 babies]
.1 Sunglow Amel (Pepperoni)*1. Sunglow coming soon!
1.1 Hypo zig zags poss HET Caramel (Bernard, Abegail)
.1 Hypo HET Stripe (Gracie Lou) 1. Hypo Stripe (Gideon)
1.1 Anery HET Motley (Lleroy, Persia)
.2 Candy Cane (Peaches HoneyBlossom[Just a pet], NO NAME)
1.1 Abbotts Okeetee (Albert[Charlottes son], NO NAME)
1.1 Snow (Crickle, Isis) .1 Green Snow (Maya)
1. Caramel poss HET Butter (Topher)
.1 Anery stripe (V) [husbands snake...he named it]
.1 Orange Reverse Okeetee (Lonna)
1.2 Bloodred HET Amel 1. Amel HET Bloodred

Others:
1.1 Black rats (Willard, Cecily)
1.1 Striped Cal Kings (Dweezil, Skunky)
1. High-white Reverse Spotted Cal King (Wishbone) *.1 soon!
.1 Albino Stripe Cal King (Eve)
.1 Bananna spotted/stripe cal king (Speckle) Thanks Jeff!!!
1.1 Thayeri (Giuseppe[MSP], Cheyenne)
1.1 Creamsicle HET Motley(Orangejello, Genevieve)
1. Creamsicle motley (no name) Thanks Jimmy!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~LIZARDS~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.1 Blizzard Leopard Gecko(Blitz)
.1? High yellow Leopard Gecko(no name)
1. Bearded Dragon (no name)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~TURTLES~~~~~~~~~~~~
.1 white cheeked mud (Opel)
.1 snapping turtle (Snappy Jaws)

It just goes to show that you cannot be TOO careful. I'm just sorry that it takes events such as your tragedy to wake us all up as to the hazzards.
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Darin Chappell
Hillbilly Herps
PO Box 254
Rogersville, MO 65742

wow I am soooo sorry about your expeiriance and have to thank you for all in advance for sharing this horrible story. I am sure we will all be that much more careful and really hope thigs get better for you
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2.2 Columbian common boas (Zeus, Athena, Aphodite, Hades)
1.1 Corn snakes (Appolo, Boreas)
0.1 King snake tri striped cal morph (Helios)

So sorry to hear about this. And THANK YOU for giving us the heads-up on something so bizarre that could get any one of at any time. You can never be to carefull!

I am so sorry to hear that, its absolutely horrible.

A couple months ago my boyfriend decided to get a jungle carpet python. He had it a week and then we found it dead, curled around its water bowl.

Initially we blamed the pet store for possibly not giving it the proper care requirements. It had been housed with Macklott's pythons and once we thought we saw a dead Macklott's in the same tank.

However the same week he had gotten the snake he'd painted his room. He kept the snake in the bathroom for a few days before bringing the tank in the room. The smell was gone for us but now we believe the paint fumes are most likely what killed the snake.

OMG- Thanks for telling you're story too! My heart aches! I just painted my "nursery" too- I'll wait a couple weeks until I bring in "my kids" enclosures back into the room!!!

I send all my hearts warmth in this tragic time to you. I pray St Francis holds your lil'souls close in his paradise garden.

Let me say that I am sorry for all your losses. I could not imagine what its like to lode all your pets at once.
And Thank You so much for sharing. I am sure it will help save many animals.
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****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

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AIM - BlackHeartMisty
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"Time flies when you can't remember what you did yesterday!"

That's a real downer!! I am sorry it happened to you but thanks for sharing that. I would like to use your post to pass on the others that may not frequent this site if you don't mind.

Please do.

I was coming very close to asking you if you would post your story here for the corn owners to read. It's such a strong message to post on almost any of our boards.

Again I am so sorry for what you've went through. It's a horrible situation, but with your message you may have saved countless herps from the same painful end.

Izora