Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I have had many snakes over the years from Scarlet kings to large red tail boas. I have never had one die from vomiting. I have had a few snakes over the years vomit but none ever died. The snake in question was a 5.5 foot Leucistic Southern Pine. He ate an appropriate sized rat and was fine. I turned the lights in my reptile room off and went upstairs for the evening. When I returned the next morning I found he had thrown up and died during the night. I had him about a year and he never had any trouble before. Any Ideas???

Thanks,
Jason Brown

I have heard many Pit keepers swear that regurgitation in Pits is very harsh on the animal, possibly moreso than other snakes. A young snake that pukes 2 or 3 times in many cases is on its way out, and I have also heard this for adult Southern Pines. The culprit is usually too large of a rat. For some reason Bulls can really devour large rodents and be fine, but Pines in many cases hold good body weight and look perfect when fed smaller meals than you know they're capable of eating. I could not really give any medical details why....but this subject comes up time to time and most agree about what I wrote. I feed most of my Pines and Gophers mice in quantity most of the time, and then throw rats in now and then. Tom Stevens
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TomsSnakes.com

Have you considered taking the snake to get a necropsy done? I did that when I had the exact same thing happen to a snake for reasons unknown, and it was found out that he had abcesses on his liver, which he was born with.

These things can happen and happen more than we may know. Snakes can be born with a multitude of problems that are internal, and there is no way for us to know it if all goes well at first, or seems to be. I know many that have experienced the same thing as you have.

If you are able to find anything out, keep us posted!!
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Genesis 1:1

I had a necropsy done the day after he died. The vet said he found no reason for the snake to have died. He said possibly too much stress on the snakes organs and body in general.
As far as size goes I don't feed the snakes anything bigger than they are in diameter. He was about 1.5" in diameter and was eating small-med. rats.

Thank you guys for the quick replies,
Jason

Well, it could have been one of those things where the snake was only going to live for so long.
I am sorry for your loss, and I hope you are doing ok.
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Genesis 1:1

Thank you so much for your concern. I guess it's was just one of those things. I'm going to a show in Atlanta this weekend, I might find another male-but I doubt it. He was a gorgeous patternless pine with an orange/pink tint.
Thanks,
Jason

Yeah, believe me, I know the frustration.

Last year, after I went through a family tragedy, I lost my most beloved pine snake for reasons unknown. Nothing had been strange or out of place. He didn't even regurge, and he was only 5. To this day, I still wonder.

Every person I know in this hobby, whose collection is either great or small, has had this happen to them some time or another.

Just know that you gave him a great home, did everything right, and that it was beyond your control.

I hope you find another snake at that upcoming show! Keep us posted!

Billy
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Genesis 1:1