we had a female yellowbelly that we found dead this morning...about 1700g....was gravid until bout 3 weeks ago and laid 6 duds...also had a strange secretion right before laying....weird thing was, she was relatively stiff when we found her this morning....not the normal wet noodle kind of feel that dead snakes usally are....any insights?
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SUDDEN DEATH
BRYANTDAY
Aug 15, 2008 01:45 PM
Replies (1)
BrandonSander
Aug 15, 2008 02:17 PM
Every animal "goes stiff" shortly after dying. It's call rigamortis. It doesn't last long (a few hours in some animals up to 12 hours in others depending on size and environmental conditions).
If she was stiff when you found her she most likely died within the past six to eight hours. Rigamortis sets in fairly quickly after death. If the other animals you've found in the past have been limp it was because rigamortis had already completed it's "cycle".
From the symptoms you've posted it would be difficult to determine what actually caused her death. If you really want to know I suggest bringing her to a vet to do a necroscopy (don't freeze her in the meantime - freezing can destroy some of the "evidence" the vet will be looking for).
