Over the years this has only happened twice. A hail and hardy animal naturally coiled in its hide but deader than a door nail. No evidence of distress or anything. I've always hated loosing animals but now that I have so few it feel like a more personal failing, like I should have been able to see something was wrong and act accordingly.
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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson
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Inexplicable
Tony D
Apr 18, 2011 08:07 AM
Replies (13)
pyromaniac
Apr 18, 2011 08:13 AM
How old were the snakes that died?
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.
Tony D
Apr 18, 2011 08:42 AM
3 year. He was in his prime. Fed him five days ago and all seemed fine.
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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson
pyromaniac
Apr 18, 2011 08:50 AM
Major bummer. Sometimes when animals are sick it is really hard to tell. I am sorry for your pain.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.
Tony D
Apr 18, 2011 09:18 AM
I wouldn't describe it as pain but thanks. Thing is, these things happen. Just glad its not frequent.
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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson
a153fish
Apr 18, 2011 08:54 AM
Tony, I guess snakes can have similar ailments as humans such as bad hearts, liver who knows? I'm sure it wasn't your fault, so don't beat yourself up over it. If it were something detectable it wouldn't still be sitting there pefectly coiled.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra
My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com
Bluerosy
Apr 18, 2011 09:04 AM
A hail and hardy animal naturally coiled in its hide but deader than a door nail. No evidence of distress or anything.
It's happened to me before. No explanable reason for a healthy feeding vigorous snake to just turn up dead. Just be glad it wasn't a $40,000 ball python.
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www.Bluerosy.com
mikefedzen
Apr 18, 2011 09:46 AM
Rough stuff man, I actually had the same thing happen a little while back with an adult kingsnake. It's very unfortunate when a snake death occurs, you have no choice but to feel like it was your fault, the unexplained deaths are the worst.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles
www.kingpinreptiles.com
BobS
Apr 18, 2011 10:13 AM
I know how that feels Tony. Hang in there. I agree. When you keep fewer it's devastating. Takes such a long time to raise up a nice animals.
DISCERN
Apr 18, 2011 01:33 PM
I am so sorry to hear about this Tony. 
Unlike some here who may say you are to blame, as it is our human nature to blame ourselves as well, you just simply may never know the reason, and that is the fact flat out sucks!
Snakes can always have something internal going on, in terms of some sort of medical flaw, just like we as humans can, and they can be on borrowed time the whole time we keep them in our collections and are doing everything right. Could be born with something, or could be just their time. Who knows every individual case? Everyone I know, including myself, has experienced what you are going thru.
If you know you did everything right, then just be assured you provided the best home possible.
Here is a cup of coffee for you my friend!! 
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Genesis 1:1
varanid
Apr 18, 2011 01:46 PM
that sucks Have a necropsy just to be on the safe side? It'd suck if there's a pathogen in your collection.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
1.3 African House Snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
1 corn snake
4.3 Florida Kings
2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
1 Argentine boa
1 Texas Rat Snake
1 checkered garter snake
Tony D
Apr 18, 2011 02:31 PM
Both times this happened the snakes were too far gone to investigate. Funny how a freshly fed but dead snake resting in its warm hide can funk up so quickly. Last time I saw him live was the day after feeding to make sure he took all the mice I put in the cage for him. He was fine then. A couple of days later a faint odor let me know something wasn't right. He must have expired soon after I checked in on him.
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“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emmerson
mbrawley
Apr 18, 2011 02:53 PM
Really sorry to hear this man. It sucks bro.
trevid
Apr 19, 2011 11:12 PM
Tony- sorry for your loss. You say that you checked on him to make sure he had eaten all the mice you had left. Were those mice alive when you left them with your snake? I only ask because many years ago I lost a young snake when it struck the side of a live mouse. The mouse bit into the neck of the snake, and although the snake ate the mouse, about 4 or 5 days later the snake died from the wound, as gangrene set in. Only prekilled food items now.
