Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I did everything as perfectly as I could - the right temps and humidity, a nice tight hide, a damp sphagnum moss hide, clean substrate, clean water, covered the glass sides with dark paper to reduce stress, covered most of the screen top with plexiglass to avoid humidity loss...I'd tried twice to feed the little guy (at night with the lights off and everything quiet); the first time after a week of acclimation with no handling, and the second timefive days later. Both times the little guy had showed no sign of interest. i just feel so terrible...

I came home today to find my poor little baby curled up, dead, in the corner of the tank. I was horrified to think that it might be my fault, so my boyfriend convinced me to take the little guy to the local pet store, where the reptile guy (who's quite knowledgeable and not the typical pet store moron) might be able to tell me what happened. so I went, crying all the way, and the guy at the pet store found a cut near the tail that was surrounded by discolored skin. He said that he was certain that this was the cause of death and not my husbandry practices, and that the cut was much older than my date of purchase. I've attached a picture of the injury. I can't believe I didn't see it earlier, but I guess my newbie eyes just weren't experienced enough. This picture was taken about an hour after I found the snake dead.

I can't stop crying

I'm terribly sorry about your baby...

From what you said about your setup, I seriously doubt that it was your fault that your snake died.

About that 'cut'...Soon after I got Daphne, I noticed the same thing on her belly and I worried about it a bit, but she has never seemed ill...in fact, she's over a year old now and quite healthy. I figure it's something like a belly button but I don't really know...

I don't know why your snake died, but I feel safe in saying that it wasn't your fault.

I've lost several baby turtles and I asked a turtle breeder that I know what I had done wrong and he told me something-
Have you ever noticed that most animals produce multiple offspring? This is for a reason: most of the young will not survive into adulthood, and not just because of external factors such as predation and disease, but also sometimes because of internal problems: something that we are helpless to control.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be sad because of your loss; however, don't be discouraged. Take comfort in knowing that sometimes these things happen and that it is natural and you can't always control it.

I'm sorry...but don't take it out on yourself...

hope this has helped
-----
.Owen.:.

"We don't even care as restless as we are. We feel the pull in the land of a thousand guilts. We poured cement, lamented and assured to the lights and towns below, faster than the speed of sound, faster than we thought we'd go beneath the sound of hope." ~The Smashing Pumpkins

"That Owen kid...man...he really loves that snake of his." ~Owen

I am sorry for your loss.

Owen Hit the nail on the haed with everything he said. That "cut" is not a cut but actually were the egg yolk attaches and is then absorbed by the snake in the egg. nothing abnormal It takes multiple sheds for this "scare" to correct its self.

I also Agree with Owen's second statement that not all babies born are born equipt to make it. This could be the case here.

best of luck and don't be afraid to try again with snakes they make grand pets
-----
Kevin
I am lost w/o spell check
"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."-unknown

Thank you for the input. It's easier on me to think that it's the yolk sac and not some injury that I overlooked. The thing that gets me is that I'd already signed up on a waiting list to see the only exotic vet in town to get my little guy a once-over - but he just didn't live long enough to make it to the vet.

im also fairly new to the snake thing... dont feel bad, not all babies will make it... thats nature. im not any kind of expert but maybe thats where the yoke sack was attached, and maybe it never completely closed up, and got infected.

keep your chin up, im the same way when i lose a pet. i have tattoos and piercings and im a mechanic with some pretty big forearms...but when i lose a pal im right there cryin with yeah

Sorry to hear about your loss. The "cut" appears to be the opening from which the egg yolk is absorbed and typically heals up after a couple weeks post hatching. Some baby snakes depart the egg with some yolk attached and absorb the remainder of the yolk outside the egg. Sometimes, the opening which is their equivalent of a belly-button does not heal up and their internal organs are exposed to the outside. It is difficult to say whether that contributed or a congenital problem (ie poorly developed heart, lungs, etc) was the problem.

Take care and I hope your next experience is far more successful and rewarding.