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Final update for my sick ball python...

montypython_42 Nov 22, 2009 07:31 PM

Hello everyone,

I was hoping to post goo news today because my baby ball python finally ate a hopper mouse last night. He was out exploring the tank so I decided to dangle the mouse I had in there to see if he'd take it and he didn't hesitate at all. Unfortunately I found him dead this afternoon : ( As usual the temperature and humidity was fine in is tank. Any ideas on what could have caused his demise? I feel bad for him, he obviously wasn't taken care of before I got him and I was hoping that with a proper setup he would recover...

Replies (13)

thunderpaws Nov 22, 2009 08:37 PM

Hi,

I am sorry for your loss.

Regards,
Bill R.
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent White
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

jason Nov 22, 2009 08:55 PM

Without a proper necropsy being done, it would be impossible to say 100% what caused the death of your snake. However, when a baby has gone too long without eating and is too thin, it seems to overload them when they finally do eat.
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Snakes:
1.1 gray banded kingsnake
1.1 california kingsnake
1.1 kenyan sand boa
1.1 western hognose snake
0.1 albino checkered garter
1.0 florida blue garter
1.1 het anery red sided garter
1.1 reverse oketee corn snake
1.1 blood red corn snake
0.1 amel striped corn
1.0 amel 66% het striped corn
1.1 het albino ball python
1.1 het ghost ball python
0.1 spider ball python
1.0 pastel ball python
1.1 mojave ball python
1.0 butter ball python
0.1 ringer ball python
1.0 African dinker ball python
0.3 normal ball python
1.0 piebald ball python
0.1 het piebald ball python
0.1 Genetic Stripe Ball Python
1.0 Het Genetic Stripe Ball Python
0.1 Mystic Ball Python

Turtles
1-eastern box turtle
2-spotted turtle
2-eastern/midland painted turtle intergrade
1.0-common musk turtle
1-Pink bellied sideneck
6-Northern red belly

Invertebrates
0.1 southern black widow
1-Tanzanian Giant Tailless whipscorpion

Amphibians
0.1 Ornate Horned Frog

Birds:
1.1 red avadavit
2-blue breasted cordon blue
1.1-black cheeked waxbill
0.1-star finch
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2.0-owl finch
1.0-hybrid munia
0.1-White bellied caique

Fish
2-corydoras cats
1-African upside down cat

normal stuff
0.1 black lab

JonathanPG Nov 22, 2009 11:53 PM

Hey there and im sorry to hear about your snake parting from you, your post says " final update" i was searcing and i couldn't find the original post about your baby, please let me know how everything started, if you don't mind, where did your baby come from and are there anymore?

JonathanPG Nov 23, 2009 12:05 AM

ok nevermind, i found your post. Sorry to hear about that. Where are you located as maybe your temps are changing as the seasons are as well.

montypython_42 Nov 23, 2009 12:42 AM

Hi!

In all my tanks I have a humidity gauge and a temperature gauge stuck low on the wall, but I also have a digital temperature probe that I move around in the cage to get the ground temperature. The house we're currently living in is big with tile and wood floors so the temperature plummets into the upper 50's so it creates more work for me to maintain the right temps in my cages. But I've been managing the keep all the temps pretty stable.

robyn@ProExotics Nov 23, 2009 03:30 PM

In the wild, survival rates aren't anywhere near 100%, as we see in captivity. Babies succumb to all sorts of natural issues.

In captivity, these can still catch up with you, there is no avoiding it. Some babies are non viable for any number of reasons. Organ issues, digestive tract issues, underdevelopment of one of the vital (or even less than vital) systems.

It happens, and will happen again. ASSUMING proper setup and temps, there will always be some loss, some babies that will fail to thrive. It is part of the gig.

But never easy.
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

montypython_42 Nov 24, 2009 04:10 PM

I suspect that he had some internal issues and that he never ate since hatching. He took a really long time to swallow the fuzzie which he shouldn't have because this was definitely smaller than what he was capable of eating. He came from a commercial breeder who probably shipped him out before realizing there was a problem, or maybe he did notice the problem but figured he would eat at some point. Who knows, I just hope he didn't suffer too much.

afcinc4747 Nov 23, 2009 07:05 PM

Sorry about that been there alot of times a snake that is not taken care has alot of stress which in turn depletes health not to mention could have got a internal parasite

JonathanPG Nov 23, 2009 07:08 PM

Hey there monty, how many other snakes or balls in particular do you have? also where do you live? Lastly, where did you buy your babies at? if you can answer those i might be able to help you out with another baby! Give me a call.

Pardalis Nov 23, 2009 09:47 PM

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. Please don't let this keep you from trying again, sounds like you did all you could for that snake. Best wishes for the future.
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JonathanPG Nov 25, 2009 10:26 PM

hey monty you nver answered my questions, if you can please do so. thanks

montypython_42 Nov 26, 2009 02:46 PM

I did return your email but I guess it didn't go through. I live in Sonoma County in California, so our days are pretty mild but the temps drop to the 40's or below at night. I bought my baby ball python from a local pet shop that specializes in reptiles and fish. I knew when I bought him that he had a 50/50 chance at best but I figured his chances were better with me than at the pet shop since they have roughly 50 reptiles to look after and I only have 10. I talked to the owner on Sunday and he said he would replace it for me so that's not a worry. But thanks for the offer!

-Monty

JonathanPG Nov 27, 2009 09:28 PM

hey no worries, just wanted to try and help you out, like i said i know how that feels, and it is terrible, especially if it was a pied ugh! But thats good for you, thanks again! -Jonathan

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