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sad day

louisianalure Nov 02, 2010 11:23 AM

I lost my only corn that was left over the weekend. I have no clue as to why he died. I fed him on schedule, his air temp was fine, humidity was good, no signs of bein sick or anything. I'm dumbfounded. My male Okeetee passed in a similar manner. I'll try again one day, but I'm thinkin I'm gonna go for an older, more established snake. It's been rough losing all 3 snakes within a few months, and this last one (Lebowski) was my wife's favorite. Thanks to everyone that gave me advice in the past. I'll let yall know when I try again.

Replies (15)

draybar Nov 02, 2010 07:53 PM

>>I lost my only corn that was left over the weekend. I have no clue as to why he died. I fed him on schedule, his air temp was fine, humidity was good, no signs of bein sick or anything. I'm dumbfounded. My male Okeetee passed in a similar manner. I'll try again one day, but I'm thinkin I'm gonna go for an older, more established snake. It's been rough losing all 3 snakes within a few months, and this last one (Lebowski) was my wife's favorite. Thanks to everyone that gave me advice in the past. I'll let yall know when I try again.
>>

did you buy all three of these snakes from the same person?
If so, I wouldn't buy from them again.
I would also go back and look at every single thing you are doing. enclosure type...possible solvents ever used on enclosures, temperatures, substrate, water(clean? chlorinated?)
decorations (anything possibly toxic)...look at every aspect of the husbandry and then look at it again....then look at the source for the snakes..
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes...No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

surpera1 Nov 02, 2010 11:07 PM

kind of odd
any kind of bug spray or chemical cleaning agents in use around them ?

LouisianaLure Nov 05, 2010 07:48 AM

We never use bug spray at the house. Mainly cause we can't afford bug spray, secondly because we have cats and HAD snakes..

I never used any harsh chemicals around their cages, and I only used a very small amount of bleach when I cleaned their cages.

a153fish Nov 03, 2010 09:15 AM

Good advice Jimmy! Did they show any loss of appetite or weight loss? No mites? Mites can be easily overlooked, but would slowly waste the snakes away. Food source is also suspect here. It's hard to say without being there and seeing the enviroment and routines.
-----
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

LouisianaLure Nov 05, 2010 07:43 AM

I never saw any loss of appetite or anything like that. They both ate at their scheduled feeding times, and acted as if nothing was wrong.

draybar Nov 03, 2010 05:13 PM

>>I lost my only corn that was left over the weekend. I have no clue as to why he died. I fed him on schedule, his air temp was fine, humidity was good, no signs of bein sick or anything. I'm dumbfounded. My male Okeetee passed in a similar manner. I'll try again one day, but I'm thinkin I'm gonna go for an older, more established snake. It's been rough losing all 3 snakes within a few months, and this last one (Lebowski) was my wife's favorite. Thanks to everyone that gave me advice in the past. I'll let yall know when I try again.
>>

by the way, I thought your okeetee got loose when you let your crack-head friend watch it?
Did you find it and then have it die on you?
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes...No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

louisianalure Nov 04, 2010 08:06 PM

Well, I had two okeetees I bought from cochran, and I've had them for about 6 months? I think. They were healthy when I got them, and I plan to buy my next snake from him when I have the money. Nothin wrong with the breeder.

That being said, one of them was lost by said exroommate. The other passed away about 2 months ago.

The snake that just passed away was my first snake I bought from petco early this year.

All snakes were healthy as far as I could see. I checked for mights everytime I handled them, and never saw any.

We don't use bugspray, so that's out. I cleaned their cages with hotwater that had a couple drops of bleach in it. they had fresh water, fresh pinky's everytime they ate, fresh substrate every other time they ate, and I gathered their dropings everytime I fed them and didn't change substrate.

I read up on keeping these snakes for 2 months before I even got my first one. I'm no expert or anything, but I think I had a good idea, atleast I hope.

By the way. I'm sorry it took me so long to reply. Things have been hectic around here, and I forget that I can view the forum on my phone, sometimes.

If yall see anything I need to change the next go around, please tell me. I will be going with an older snake, I believe. Just gotta wait until I have money.

Thanks yall!

Steve-O

surpera1 Nov 05, 2010 10:29 AM

i have never had one die of anything except old age
it is either chemicals , temperature extremes or tainted food or water

louisianalure Nov 05, 2010 05:17 PM

Well, I know for a fact that it's not chemicals. I used tap water for their water bowls, and I always read that tap water is fine. I've also heard that young snakes have a tendency to die for unknown reasons.

surpera1 Nov 05, 2010 11:32 PM

only snakes i ever had die on me were from old age - did have a wild caught spilote croak though - cornsnakes ? hard to kill - one maybe - but 2 ? kinda suspicious

louisianalure Nov 06, 2010 12:04 AM

Ok. Maybe I'm wrong, but its kind of rude to say it's "suspiscious". I dunno. I'm lookin for help, not for you to tell me it's suspiscious. If I'm reading your message wrong, please say so, but I assure you I didn't intentionally kill my snakes, and it wasn't for lack of care.I had a feeding schedule I kept, fresh pinkys bought from petco, I was anal about keeping temp and humidity levels normal, never used any kind of harmful cleaners in or around their cages. I kept the substrate changed regularly, fresh water. I can't afford to have an autopsy done on the poor thing, but if I could I would. These snakes were a part of my family, just as the cats are, and all my dogs used to be.

surpera1 Nov 06, 2010 10:24 AM

didnt mean to offend - but i am not anal about temp or food or humidity or anything really - they are basically bulletproof - i have been keeping snakes for 30 years - i know you didnt do anything on purpose - i would say get yourself another one - i suggest an abbott okeetee - he has some fine stock - i will have 50 or so eggs myself next season - locality ones from wild caught right in my backyard - you pay shipping and i will hook you up with some

louisianalure Nov 06, 2010 11:00 AM

Wow, that awful nice of you. Thanks for the offer, and I'm sorry if I was a little quick to jump the gun on you. Things have been a little stressed out around here, with the baby on the way.

I appreciate the offer, and will definitely take you up on it. I LOVE Okeetee corns, and if you look back to Feb. this year on this forum, you'd see about 10 posts of me ranting and raving over them. Lol

Thanks again, and if anyone has more advice or sees something I was doing wrong, I'm happy to take the advice.

surpera1 Nov 30, 2010 11:44 AM

i have one holdback from my clutch last year - its from wild caught south alabama stock - you can have him if you want - eats like a pig on fuzzies

louisianalure Nov 30, 2010 12:12 PM

Hey, that's awesome, man. I appreciate it! E-mail me with details, please. mad_steve@live.com

Thanks a million. You have any additional pointers? I read every piece of information on keepin corn snakes before I bought my first one, but I might've missed something, or miss-read.

Thanks again,
Steve-O

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