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I had a very healthy full grown Red Tail Boa, I was at least, the 3rd owner.

NOT SURE of the age,the best we could figure was 10-15 years??

I had the snake for about 5-7 years. The snake was always well, no problems. The snake always ate real well (thawed pre-killed)
until July. In July the snake refused food. I thought maybe it was going into shed. This month, August, again refused food. I thought it was because it just shed. I was going to make an Appt. at the Vet. for next week. But, last night, the snake died. AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. There was no sign of weight loss, no outward sign of any problem.

The night before, I lightly sprayed some water in the cage and on the snake. The snake seemed to like that. Than the snake was drinking some water from the water bowl. Than I went to sleep.

That was the last time I saw my beloved pet Boa alive. The next day the snake was dead and sort of twisted over, as if it had a convulsion, (I don't know.) I have cried sooo much, I am VERY hurt over this loss. The Vet. said that an Autopsy would cost at least $275.00 and for it to be accurate, it should have been done with-in one hour of death. So, that's out.

HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE? ANY IDEA'S AS TO WHAT HAPPENED?
I APPRECIATE ANY OPINIONS. THANKS.

Unfortunately, autopsy must be done as soon as possible, because tissues start to dissolve very quickly, thus final result will be false or not accurate. As you may know, autopsy is the only possibilty to find out what caused your boas death. Without it, you can only speculate.

Anyway, here are my tips:
It is known that some bacterias could cause very guick death in snakes without any specific symptoms. This is a relatively common case.

You mentioned your snake were fed on frozen rodents. Snakes that are kept on frozen preys over the years often have drastic liver disorders. Frozen preys could cause overexertion in liver. But again, to achieve this you have to feed your snake with frozen thawed preys over long periods, not just a few times.
I personally prefer to feed with freshly pre-killed rodents, even if it is not as comfortable as feeding with frozen.
Hope this helps a bit!

How often should I alternate the live food and the frozen to be safe?

Well, first of all, I am not a pathologist. I just wrote that I have been told by one of my vets who is also working as a pathologist and has autopsied several hundreds of dead snakes. What I can tell you there is an obvious relationship between liver disorders and long term frozen feeding.

If you ask me, I would suggest 50%/50%, at least. But as I said, I prefer to use freshly pre-killed rodents. By freezing the prey, most of the vitamins and nutritional value also perish, therefore additional supplement will be needed which is... well, more risky(overdosing, etc.). In my opinion, freshly pre-killed rodents are always the best food source for a snake in captivity. They got everything a snake needs.
However, I'm sure there are several keepers whos been feeding their snakes with frozen thawed rodents for a long time without any problem occuring. But when it does, liver has always some sort of disorder.

I've never heard that before, very interesting. I'll have to look into the frozen prey and liver disorder phenomenon.

From everything I've read, freezing for short periods does not negatively affect the food in terms of loss of any essential nutrients, especially when vacuum packed. Suppose I'll have to research that as well...

Thanks for the interesting reply to the topic!

jb
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Jonathan Brady

Deviant Constrictors picturetrail

I work as a vet tech and I've never seen anyone link frozen food with liver disease. I don't see the logic there either. If a vet is saying that many snakes are coming back with liver disease on necropsy and seeing in the history that they've been fed F/T and determining causation from correlation that is poor medicine and poor science. There would have to be pretty extensive studies done before this could be determined as a cause.

To the OP, I'm very sorry for your loss. Unfortunately this is the sad part of keeping animals, but I truly hope it does not discourage you from staying in the hobby as it is one that brings much joy.

What's the name of your vet. If he's autopsied several hundreds of snakes, he must be a very experienced vet.

I doubt that the average Herp Vet has necorpsied 50 snakes. I'm just curious as to how your Vet has done do many.

I have never heard of liver disorders in snakes as a result of feeding thawed rats. Please post your source for this information, what exactly happens to the snake's liver, and what chemicals from the frozen rodent causes the liver failure. I'm a radiologic technologist and a BSN graduate in May of 2010 so my mind needs conclusive studies before I can use this information in everyday practice. Thanks.

Im not one to be such a doubting Thomas, butI personally know many breeders will only use frozen thawed animals and have raised the animal well into their teens and beyond. It would take a lot more than a few hundred boas that have eaten frozen thawed to prove out any liver disorder theory. I use frozen thawed and have since 1990 and have NEVER had an issue. In order to prove your claim , the studys would need to be done over many yrs under like conditions (food supply,water, genetic diversity.....). Im not saying it cant be true , but seems to be a fuzzy theory at best.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Losing a boa is always such a bummer.

I lost my albino arabesque male last January after only having him for a year. It was a totally sudden and unexpected death. He was had killer color and was in breeding mode. I think he succumbed to stress.

Boas are a very sensitive species in my opinion. They certainly don't compare to some of the heartier python and other species.

Just one of those things we have to deal with from time to time in this hobby.

Trey