Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been fighting to cure my pastel male for 2 months now. I was borrowing a female to make more pastels, and I gave her my pastels bin, and had him in a foster tank. They didn't mate, so I popped the female, and two penises popped out. *sigh* I gave her/him now back to the owner, and put my pastel back into his home. He was eating just fine and then all of a sudden started getting a bad URI. I figured out that the heat pad I gave him for his foster tank was WAY too hot. I felt like such a failure. I have been caring for 7 balls for more than 3 years, and I was so stupid as to not check that temp! I stopped all of my breeding and brought the temps up, and ran the warm mist humidifier twice a day for two months. I opened his bin this morning and he was on his side with blood coming out of his mouth, but he was still alive. I knew I had to let him go. I put him in a pillow case, and said good bye to him. I put him in the freezer, closed the door, and right then I broke down. I am a 28 year old male who watches UFC and football religiously, and I cried like a 4 year old girl. I called my girlfriend and she comforted me, and said a prayer for him. I called my dad and he congratulated me on becoming a better human being for recognizing that he was in pain and helping him on his journey to our Lord. I have definitely learned something from this, and I will be purchasing a temp gun today. Thank you for allowing me to vent. *sob sob*
Matt Z.

I am so sorry for your loss. I'm sure many of us understand and relate to the heartbreak of losing a beloved pet. Thank you for doing the right thing.
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1.0 normal ball python
0.1 greyband hybrid kingsnake
0.2 crazy cats
1.0 husband

I'm sorry for your loss but i once had a granite male that passed away in january for the same reason i just firgued out that URI is uncureable without medical help.

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1.0 normal
0.1 Black Back
1.0 Yellow Belly

Sorry for your loss... and even more sorry for the poor snake.
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PHLdyPayne

Working at an animal hospital, I know first had loosing a pet is one of the hardest experiences anyone will ever have to go through. My heart breaks for you and your snake.
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

I feel you man I was there about a month ago with my brothers bulldog who was pretty much a member of the family...

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1.5 pastel
1.0 butter
1.1 black pastel
1.0 spider
0.1 spider(het. ghost)
1.0 pinstripe
0.1 yellowbelly
1.0 fire
0.8 wild type ball
1.0 jungle/diamond cross carpet
0.1 jungle carpet python
1.1 super dwarf retic's
1.0 albino monocle cobra

Thank you everyone for the comforting words, and my condolences for you, your family and your bros' bull dog. Thanks
Matt Z.

Sorry to hear this , it happens , the best thing to do is just try to learn from it and move on, it's hard to swallow but that's how you have to look at it . I would also check with the guy that gave you the one to breed as if you didn't clean out the entire area before you put your pastel back in his tub it is possible that the other snake could have been carrying something and if you didn't clean things out well enough it could have transmitted to your pastel. Also I think you said you had that other one in with your pastel too so if they drank from the same water bowl you may have started a situation there too if the other one had anything, it could have been in the early stages so you didn't notice it , yet he still could have transmitted the bug to your pastel without you knowing it. Not saying that is what happened but it is something to keep in mind for sure. I ALWAYS clean out and wipe down the slot in the rack before putting a new snake in there, no matter what I do it for peace of mind if for no other reason, it's just good practice to get into I think. The old saying better safe than sorry is a powerful thing to keep in mind! The heat pad may have been the cause but just to be safe I'd check back with the other guy and see how his snake is doing as well that way you know.

Anthony McCain