Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A year ago Eric brought up a young female couperi that I purchased from a person in Missouri (a big thanks to Eric for making the long drive up). From the get go this snake struggled to thrive and this is the same snake that I have made several posts about incomplete digested meals and in rare cases, regurgitation. Despite negative after negative tests, and treating for internal parasites (just to be safe), this snake never really turned the corner. She thrived at best.

Well, this afternoon, when I was checking on all of the snakes, I saw her half in and half out of her water bowl. Her head was completely submerged....dead. No rhyme or reason....it could just be as simple as a wild animal that was not supposed to make it. Whether it was genetic or something else we don't know. A full necropsy will be done to see if we can determine what went wrong. This snake was kept in quarantine the entire time and was never bred. What a bummer.

Sorry to hear that....I always hate to hear about an Indigo passing away. You did the best you could for her. Sometimes these things just can't be helped.

Rob,

I am truly sorry to hear this news, & wish I had never notified you when this snake came up for sale!!
Please keep me up to date.

ERic

A sad loss... Sometimes they just don't listen when we plead with them to survive...
Frank

Rob,

Sux, no matter how you slice it. As was said before, sometimes it's meant to be whatever the reason...

Regards,
J.

Sorry for your loss of this magnificent animal. Please post the discovery after autopsy. It is just sad every time one of these beautiful animals passes.

Rob,

Sorry to hear about this tragedy. Sometimes, by SHEER NUMBERS alone, some of them just dont make it. I often wonder how many of mine would have survived in the wild, especially the ones with feding problems(i.e. "Dont look at me while Im eating or Ill drop the mouse and hide" Im sorry to hear about this snake, I have had similar things happen to me, but not with Easterns, I know it is heartbreaking. Please post the autopsy reports when you get them. Take care.

Fred Albury
Aztec Reptiles

I, too, came to the conclusion that it just wasn't meant to be for this animal. Whether the problems started with the previous owner (I purchased her as a young adult), or, was just a part of natural selection, we'll wait to see what the necropsy says. I'll report back once I have more information. THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR KIND WORDS!

Hi Rob – I know you really like those indigos; I’m sorry this one didn’t make it. I’m a big booster of getting necropsies done whenever possible. Even with advances in reptile medicine and husbandry, I often consider snakes “black boxes” as far as what’s REALLY going on with them sometimes.

I recently had a blood python die – an animal I had bred years ago that had suffered with a chronic respiratory condition for a very long time. I didn’t consider his death imminent, but when I found him dead I assumed I knew what he would look like inside – at least his lung and trachea. Boy, was I wrong!

Sometimes you end up with more questions than answers, but I hope the necropsy on your couperi solves the mystery for you.

-Joan