Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, long story but I want to make sure I dont leave out anything. I was cleaning snakes this morning around 8:00am and I pull out the tub that contains my 6ft male black rat. I don't know how to say this but he was "dead" when I pulled out his tub. He was upside down and not moving at all. His mouth was gaping and his body was all twisted up. I picked him up and nothing. He was totally limp in my hands. He didn't flick his tounge and his pupils didn't respond to light. I thought for sure that he died of old age because when I caught him in 2004 he was already large and this May will be my 7th year with him. He was treated for parasites by me when I first caught him in 04. He always pounds food in spring and summer and will rarely refuse but he goes off feed from Sept. until late Feb. Ok, so i'm assuming that I just lost one of my favorite snakes and I am really bummed the whole day. Well my wife and I went to the store and some other places. We got home about 2:30pm six hours after I found my ratsnake "dead". I am getting prepared to go bury him on the land where I found him so I pull out his tub to get him out and I am shocked to see that he is alive! After staring in awe for a few minutes I took him out and put him on the floor. He didn't act normal but he was alive for sure. He was kinda just wiggling around and trying to crawl backwards. Finally he started crawling forward and acting normal. I put him back in his tub and checked on him a few minutes later and he was as normal as ever buzzing his tail and ready to bite if I got too close. He hasn't been exposed to anything toxic or any parasites. I am a clean freak when it comes to my snakes and i'm very OCD about what they come in contact with. Trust me when I say that he's clean. I have been keeping snakes since I was a child and i'm 25 now. Do any of you have a clue what i'm dealing with here? There are no vets around here that deal with snakes so i've always been able to fix any heatlh issues myself but I have no clue what to do here. Thanks for any help or info you can give.

Now That's a stumper!!!!

Pat G-C

Wow, thats quite a rollorcoaster ride.
Chemical or heat issue?
Was there a new bin or object introduced that could have had chemical residue from the factory or store?
Did the heat tape or did the ambiant room temp take a dive or spike too high?
Was there a recent feed that the snake had dificulty digesting?
If the temp is too low after a meal, that can do it.
Good luck with it, Mike.

The same thing happened to me several years ago. I put a snake in a container to feed and 45 minutes later the snake was stiff as a board dead. Someone told me it could have been a seizure. It's possible that's what happened to your snake, but at least it's still alive.