Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Last night one of my 2010 pyros died. I had brought him and his two mates out of brumation February 3. He seemed fine then. They had been in brumation since October 28, 2011. All my other 19 pyros of assorted ages seem hale and hearty, a few even commencing to feed again. The male that died was one of the ones who has not eaten yet, but I was not worried, as they do take awhile to wake up. His two mates are perky and fit. They have not eaten yet. But this is not an issue, as everybody does begin to eat within three weeks of coming out of brumation.

Yesterday he seemed lethargic, flaccid, and had a bit of blood from his vent. I have never seen this before. He has only ever been fed mice, no lizards. His gut had been cleared well before brumation. I maintain strict hygiene, so it would be unlikely he would have caught amoebic dysentery or some other bug or parasite. I would do a necropsy but just don't have the expertise.

Baby pic of little Blaze
RIP
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Bummer, sorry for your loss Bob

My condulence for your loss...

Have no idea what had happen to your Blaze.

Thank you.
I have one idea as to what may have caused his death; he may have still had food in his gut even though he had not eaten for over two weeks prior to brumation. He had defecated, too. Others had the same time length between last meal and brumation and are fine, but maybe he was slower at digestion, with a residual bit of fecal matter still in his gut. Next fall I will wait a whole month after last feeding before brumating.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Thank you.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Sorry to hear about his Bob. Really sucks. Happens quite often, we loose one or two every year in brumation it seems.

Joe

Thanks, Joe.
As I said to another, I think he may have had a bit of residual feces in his gut that killed him, even though I thought over two weeks was enough time to clear the gut. From here on out it will be a month to clear the gut.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Bob, after having something like this happen to me two years ago, I now give at least three weeks for them to clear everything out. I agree.

Joe

At least it is some comfort to have a possible explanation, and one that is easily preventable in the future. I will try to not beat myself up, but move on and learn from this.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Sorry the one died Bob.
I really like that pyro pictured with the heavy crossovers. There so even down it's body that it gives it a really unique look.
I got rid of my mountain kings, including my pyros several years ago and miss them. I'm starting to think it's about time to get a few pairs again.
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Randy Whittington

Thanks, Randy.

This is Zappa (from Gerald Merker) who is in great shape, coming out of brumation and feeding fine. He is the closest thing I have to the one who died. Blaze was my favorite. I am going to contact the breeder (Herb Ashton) who produced Blaze and see if he has another one like him.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Sorry about your losing that little guy, Bob. And for the rash of losses going on right now with others too.

--Dennis

Thanks, Dennis.
I was not aware that others have recently had snakes die, except for all the fires of late.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Very sorry to hear that, Bob. Havent seen what others are saying about a cause, but with you doing the samething with all the other pyros I would have no idea...Are you really at 19 pyros? I've seen the trio and last years clutch, but have you been adding more? Again, sad about Blaze...Dave.

Thanks, Dave,
I think what may have killed him was a residual bit of fecal matter in his gut prior to brumation, even though I thought enough time had passed between the last feeding and brumation. Plus a few others had the same amount of time between last meal and brumation and they are fine. From here on out I will wait longer between last meal and brumation, just to be on the safe side.
I have
2.2 '08s
0.2 '09s
2.5 '10s
3.3 '11s
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Sorry to hear that Bob! It always hurts.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

Thanks, Jorge.
Having to lose my favorite one, too. I hope the breeder may have another one like him.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Man I'm sorry for ya. Poor little guy.

Thanks.
Yeah, I feel very bad that he had to suffer most likely just because of human error.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Sorry to hear about that, man. It always sucks, especially if you have big plans for them.
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Thanks.
I had hopes of getting more just like him, with the mega bands..
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.