Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I don't know what happened, but my male sunglow (2004) died suddenly. I took him out to clean his cage and he appeared ok, the only thing was he was in a very deep shed. I cleaned his cage then put him back in his cave. About an hour later, I happened to walk past his cage and notice he was on his side, thrashing violently with his head on its side. I knew right then and there that he was dying but there was nothing I could do. I left him alone and checked back up on him a half hour later and there he was laying on his side dead with his mouth wide open. I'm just really bummed out because he was such a beautiful snake. What could have caused something like this?

What did you use to clean the cage?

dc

I too wonder what you used to clean the cage. Seems like something toxic may have been involved. It seems way too suspicously coincidental that he just keeled over like that. It is for sure a tragic accident.

--Dennis

I used 2% chlorhexidine gluconate solution diluted in water per instructions on the bottle. I've used it many times before without any incident.

>>I used 2% chlorhexidine gluconate solution diluted in water per instructions on the bottle. I've used it many times before without any incident.

I have seen this happen also over the years. Not often thank GOD. Yet same symptoms, and then the snake lays dead with mouth open. Who knows without a Necropsy? Parasite load, some inherited disease, or organ failure?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

Really sorry to hear about that. That is always a real bummer when animals pass away like that. Unfortunately as Jorge mentioned, anything short of a necropsy and it is virtually impossible to know what it died of.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I am really sorry about your unexplainable loss. He was quite a beautiful snake.

--Dennis

Thanks everyone. I feel so bad that I couldn't do anything about it, but I guess it's just one of those things that happens. He sure was beautiful, he just glowed orange and was so mellow. I was able to measure him and he was 58 inches and 1028 grams. I'll miss him for sure.

Sorry to hear of your loss! He was a beauty!! jeff