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alexbruxa
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
 Posted - 11/06/2012 : 22:51:22
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My 2 yo male corn snake, Butch Cassidy died today. I'm trying to figure out where did I go wrong, I'm devastated as I watched him suffer and there was nothing I could do. It happened so fast, I only managed to find a website and a phone number for a vet and Butch died within minutes. It was so random and weird, I hope that someone can help me to determine what could have happened to him. I got him 4 months ago from a friend who has a few other snakes, he's never had any health issues and was a good eater. He was my first and only snake.
This morning it looked like he was trying to throw up. He had never done this before. His behavior was far from normal, i.e he rested all day on the cold side of cage, swirled and stretched his body in a wavy kind of way, was very active later in the day, it seemed like he could not sit still, and had his mouth wide open for minutes at once. I asked for advice the experienced guy in my local reptile shop, and he said not to worry as he probably just needs to throw up half digested meal. He said to try to put him in a little lukewarm water in the bath. I went back home, put him in the bath but took him out after a minute as clearly he looked more stressed. At this point I started to cry, as he went lump in my hands and I knew something was terribly wrong. At about 6pm he started to move his body in such a terrifying way indicating to me that he was suffering;swirling, turning on sides, moving constantly. He then discharged a bit of a white, bubbly liquid from his mouth. I thought that maybe he will finally throw up. He kept on moving for a bit, then was gasping for air, turned upside down and died.
The worst thing is that in the past week I bathed him twice, believing it will help him defecate as it happened before when he was constipated. I now think it killed him.
He's been feed 10 days ago, and defecated once (usually it takes two times for him). I feed him frozen thawed mice. His viv temp average s 23-24 C, aspen bedding, hides and water provided. I clean his viv regularly and change the water daily.
Thanks for anything you can help me with. |
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paulie78
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2331 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 22:55:39
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| what heat source were you using as 23-24 is fine for the cool end but they need a warm spot of around 28 to be able to digest their food ? |
6.8.0 Corn Snakes http://buzzsprehistoricpets.yolasite.com/
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0.2.0 Chinchillas
1.1.0 Cats
1.1.0 Birds
0.0.2 Fishtanks
0.0.1 Cali Kingsnake
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alexbruxa
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:06:27
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Hi ,
I was using a heat mat, which was what the guy I got my snake from was using for his snakes. I was always told he was fine being kept in 19 - 20C with his previous owner. Was this just to cold for him? I reckon there was about the temp indicated by you right on the mat (which was on the half of the viv), and my snake usually rested there. Only for the past two days I always found him on the stones on the cold side. |
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paulie78
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2331 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:09:18
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| 19-20 would be far too cold for him to be able to digest any food at all did you ever check the actual temperature at the warm end was it statted ? |
6.8.0 Corn Snakes http://buzzsprehistoricpets.yolasite.com/
1.1.0 Royal
0.2.0 Chinchillas
1.1.0 Cats
1.1.0 Birds
0.0.2 Fishtanks
0.0.1 Cali Kingsnake
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Edited by - paulie78 on 11/06/2012 23:12:30 |
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eeji
The Morph Master
United Kingdom
4335 Posts |
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paulie78
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2331 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:16:16
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quote:
Originally posted by eeji
sorry to hear this :(
It sounds like either too low a temperature or a swallowed piece of substrate, but the only 100% way to know for certain is a post mortem at the vets.
Hates seeing theese kinda threads breaks my heart id be absolutely distraught if it happened to me :-( |
6.8.0 Corn Snakes http://buzzsprehistoricpets.yolasite.com/
1.1.0 Royal
0.2.0 Chinchillas
1.1.0 Cats
1.1.0 Birds
0.0.2 Fishtanks
0.0.1 Cali Kingsnake
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alexbruxa
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:16:45
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| Yes, I have a thermometer which is hanging in the air in the viv, usually indicating from 21 to 25, a few times I put it right on the mat and it was at about 27-29. Previously he was kept with the other snakes (pythons), does this matter? |
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paulie78
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2331 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:19:44
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| 27-29 at the warm end would be kinda perfect temp really was the mat statted though as without a stat it wouldnt permanently stay within that temp range blimey why would anyone cohabit corns with pythons sounds dodhy to me im not sure what the health implications might be but i certainly wouldnt ever do it |
6.8.0 Corn Snakes http://buzzsprehistoricpets.yolasite.com/
1.1.0 Royal
0.2.0 Chinchillas
1.1.0 Cats
1.1.0 Birds
0.0.2 Fishtanks
0.0.1 Cali Kingsnake
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alexbruxa
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:28:33
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No, not statted always same temp on it. Sorry, one of his snakes is boa and another one is a python. They seem fine to me, good eaters and no health problems. This is all my fault, maybe it happened because I changed his feeding routine? He usually, with the previous owner, had 1 big ish rat once a month. I have been told to feed him a smaller mice, every 10 to 14 days. And that's what I did. I'm devastated.
Is it really possible that he could have swallow a piece of substrate? |
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Sta~ple
qeeun speler
United Kingdom
6129 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:30:42
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No offence if your friend told you to keep at that temp and it lived with a python, your friend is a numpty and that's putting it nicely! Why do you think the bath may have killed him? What temps were the baths and did you put anything in the water?
I am sorry for what has happened though :( |
   
A very special super, duper thanks for K :3 |
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alexbruxa
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:31:56
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| Any idea where in London I can get a post mortem done? I have to know what killed him, not planning to have another snake for a while as can not stop thinking that I caused his death. So until I know what I did wrong I can't have another one to die on my hands again. |
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alexbruxa
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:35:52
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None taken, but his snakes are in perfect health, really. I visit him often and never heard of any trouble.
I don't know, I guess I just could see that he didn't like being bathed. I never put anything in the bath aside water, about 20 to 22 C. I always rinsed it well with hot water in case of some soap residue. |
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paulie78
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2331 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:44:56
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quote:
Originally posted by alexbruxa
None taken, but his snakes are in perfect health, really. I visit him often and never heard of any trouble.
I don't know, I guess I just could see that he didn't like being bathed. I never put anything in the bath aside water, about 20 to 22 C. I always rinsed it well with hot water in case of some soap residue.
Just because you never heard or saw any incidents doesnt mean there werent any i dont think i know anyone who would advocate insperspecies co habitating cohabitating corns is one thing but mixing boas pythins and corns eek now that is most definately a recipe for disaster |
6.8.0 Corn Snakes http://buzzsprehistoricpets.yolasite.com/
1.1.0 Royal
0.2.0 Chinchillas
1.1.0 Cats
1.1.0 Birds
0.0.2 Fishtanks
0.0.1 Cali Kingsnake
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alexbruxa
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:51:56
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| I understand, but my snake was with me since february and I'm so upset about his death I can't even begin to tell you. Just trying to find out what did I do wrong, right now not thinking about my mate's mistakes, just about my own. Do you reckon the fact that he was kept with other snakes had some impact on his health, and eventually death? |
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alexbruxa
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:54:16
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[quote]Originally posted by eeji
sorry to hear this :(
It sounds like either too low a temperature or a swallowed piece of substrate, but the only 100% way to know for certain is a post mortem at the vets.
[/quote
Thanks. I'm so upset. Any idea where in London I can get a post mortem done? I have to know what killed him, not planning to have another snake for a while as can not stop thinking that I caused his death. So until I know what I did wrong I can't have another one to die on my hands again. |
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alexbruxa
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2012 : 23:55:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Sta~ple
No offence if your friend told you to keep at that temp and it lived with a python, your friend is a numpty and that's putting it nicely! Why do you think the bath may have killed him? What temps were the baths and did you put anything in the water?
I am sorry for what has happened though :(
None taken, but his snakes are in perfect health, really. I visit him often and never heard of any trouble.
I don't know, I guess I just could see that he didn't like being bathed. I never put anything in the bath aside water, about 20 to 22 C. I always rinsed it well with hot water in case of some soap residue. |
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lotabob
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
4334 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2012 : 01:18:11
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Sorry to hear that your snake has died so young, I can only echo really what has been said before, there area few things mentioned in its past care and a few things mentioned in your care that are not what is recommended and could have contributed to the snakes death in as much as a weakened immune system possibly leading to illness. Your feeding routine is absolutely right, a big rat would have put his digestive system under a lot of strain.
Your temperatures been un-regulated and incorrectly monitored could have contributed to weakening the snake.
If the snake was warm at the time putting him in tepid water could have caused shock as the body rapidly cooled.
If it was struggling been put in water could have caused it to drown.
Bathing them is stressful, it could have contibuted.
These are all ifs and coulds though, you wont know for sure until you get a PM done, it could be an illness contracted from the other snakes that has taken its time to show signs, usually a sick snake will only look sick as it dies the rest of the time it just carries on as normal the best it can unless you are hawk eyed and spot the signs.
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kdlang
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3556 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2012 : 08:14:34
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I am so so sorry to hear about your snake. Please do not beat yourself up about it. It really sounds like you have been given bad advise which may or may not have contributed to his death. It may just have been one of those things and he was suffering from something that you could not have known about.
Please do not let this put you off getting another snake. Now you have found us we can help you to make sure that your set-up is right and advise on any problems. |
4.1.0 corns - Izzy (Carolina) Alice (Amel) Peanut (Butter Motley) Swayze (Ghost) Carmellia (Butter Motley)
0.1.0 cat - Kizzy
1.0.0 Dog - Dobbie
Location - Chesterfield, Derbyshire
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smart bunny
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
5091 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2012 : 09:04:07
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Sorry for your loss :(
Don't let it put you off getting another, just make sure you read the care sheet - and the sticky 'setting up a hatchling corn snake' is excellent, that way you can be certain your setup is definitely correct next time. |
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Edited by - smart bunny on 12/06/2012 09:04:38 |
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kev 5
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3065 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2012 : 09:23:28
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| sorry for your loss. try not to beat yourself up to much, you we're obviously given bad advice |
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marc_sg
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1504 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2012 : 10:10:08
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| Where about in london are u there isca reptile vet near me in romford dorry to hear about ur loss |
0.1.0 Amels (sid) 1.0.0 carolina stripe (simon)0.1.0 ghost (silva) 1.1.0 diffused/bloodreds (scarlet and samson)
1.0 staffy x beagle
soon to have female pin royal
R.I.P SHELLY
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my corn snake died unexpectedly
