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deleted
8 Posts |
 Posted - 08/01/2010 : 21:39:35
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Hi All,
For my Son's 11th birthday my son wanted a corn snake. So we got the small plastic box (sorry can't remember the tech name for it) Heat mat and all the required gear.
Now for the bad news, after 4 day's the snake just died, one minute it was happy then a bit later it was dead ! We took it back to the specialist, who explained it can happen due to shock and replaced it free of change.
Now after the same amount of time this one has died too !
As far as I can tell he has done everything right, heat mat only covers 1/3 to 1/2 of box handles it regularly, didn't handle the new one it for 48 hours after it had eaten (feed by the shop).
At the moment he is crying and asking why they keep dieing, can you tell me if this is common with Hatchings or is he just unlucky or are we missing something else ?
I'll call the shop in the morning, but I need to put he's mind at rest.
Cheers
Baz
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reptiledanny
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1809 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 21:54:04
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| did you leave the snake 7 days without being handled or fed. that is wat u are meant to do. leave the snake for 7 days, no handling and afeeding, only water changes. |
1.1 royal pythons 0.1 hog island boa 1.0 corn snake
sig made by stapey |
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tinamiles
Hatchling
United Kingdom
255 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 21:59:35
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| agree with the above post...BUT (and im definately not an expert on this), i doubt that would kill it. Only thing i can think of, right now half asleep, is have you tried going to a different shop?? im assuming you've read the care sheet for corn snakes, but you ideally need plenty of hides, water, correct temps and dont handle your snake for 7days after you get it (which was hard enough for me, never mind your son!)...if all of thats ok, id say try buying your hatchlings elsewhere?? Just a thought though! |
1.1 Cornsnake: Fluffy and Blaze
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa: Falcor
0.1 Bearded dragon: Chilli
1.1 Cats: Jackson and Mia
1.0 Fiance: Ade :) |
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deleted
8 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 21:59:53
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Hi No we were told to handle them after a day or so, but the 2nd one was over 48 hours at it had just been fed, it was fed on Sunday, but still no sign of poo is this right?
Cheers |
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Blackecho
The Corn Snake Admin
United Kingdom
4379 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:05:38
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Was it a sibling of the first one that died? - Also, if they were ever in close proximity in the shop or you used the same tub without a good disinfect they may have passed disease from one to the other.
Yes I would recommend not touching for a week, then offer a feed and only 2 days after they feed, actually handle, but as above, it wouldn't have killed them.
What temperatures have you got in the tub, how are you measuring them and how are you controlling them? |
 
www.theroyalpython.co.uk/forum
Location: Rotherham
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HannahB
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
5491 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:09:16
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what are the temps and what substrate are you using?
am really sorry you have had such a bad time with new hatchlings, the only thing i can think of is that something in the viv is affecting them such as substrate or similar.. dont give up on getting a new one - we will help you sort it as much as we can
if you have any pics of the setup at all then please post them - might be useful  |
2.0 Normal Royal Pythons - Q and Little One
1.0 Chihauhaun Mountain Kingsnake - Simba
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8 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:11:36
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It was the same tub, the shop removed some of the old aspen, but didn't recommend that we clean it out, he was of the opipion that it was stress that killed the 1st one.
He has a heat mat at one end of the tub (no thermostat) the temp was about 27c
Not a sibling as far as I'm aware, both had differant names (don't ask me what they were !!) both were albino thou |
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8 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:13:11
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| Substrate is aspen, I'll try ad get a photo, think my son took some photos |
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kdlang
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3556 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:22:01
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| Hi bazaboy. Sorry to hear you are having such a rotten time of it. You and your son must be so upset and frustrated. I'm afraid I cannot help as I am new to snake keeping too but I have found the people on here to be extremely knowledgable and friendly. I'm sure they will help you to find out what has gone wrong and become successful in the future. Big hugs. |
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
www.support-dogs.org.uk |
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deleted
117 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:33:13
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So sorry to hear about your son's upset. Pic's would help so I hope you'll be able post them. Don't give up with corn's, he's had an upsetting start but when he gets a corn that is ok he will get so much pleasure from the hobby. If your set up is ok and you cannot account for the loses any other way then I would suggest maybe just asking for a refund from the shop and try buying elsewhere.
Where are you based, we may be able to recommend someone. |
 
1.0.0 Hypo Corn - Syd
0.1.0 Normal Corn - Charley
1.0.0 Amel Corn - Shorty
0.1.0 Golden Retriver - Jinx |
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deleted
8 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:34:16
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OK it's late and I can't find how to add photos !!
Thanks for your help and kids words.
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8 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 22:37:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Yorkshire_Dan
So sorry to hear about your son's upset. Pic's would help so I hope you'll be able post them. Don't give up with corn's, he's had an upsetting start but when he gets a corn that is ok he will get so much pleasure from the hobby. If your set up is ok and you cannot account for the loses any other way then I would suggest maybe just asking for a refund from the shop and try buying elsewhere.
Where are you based, we may be able to recommend someone.
I'm in Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire, we used somewhere that is well established and recommended by my son's friend , and I must admit I've been impressed with them, they even made my son answer questions before he could have one |
Edited by - n/a on 08/01/2010 22:55:14 |
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devilsmistress
Yearling
United Kingdom
829 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2010 : 23:09:34
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The shop recomended not cleaning the faun out??? I would completly disinfct everything!!! Also you need a thermostat to controll the heat mat temps or you will end up with a crispy snake!!!
As for the sudden deths im really sorry to hear about that and I really cant help in that respect. The only thing I can think of is the shop has had a sick snake and its spred to the rest of the stock? Id try buying elsewhere! |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 04:15:19
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Barrie, I am so sorry for you and your son. To lose one snake is hard enough, but to then have the same thing happen again is awful and must be so hard to handle.  I have a 12yr old son and can just imagine the state he would be in if he had suffered this.
I agree with what the others have said. Although you did handle within the usual one-week settling in period I cannot see how it can have caused the deaths in any way.
It does make me question the reptile shop you are using  , as does the other info you have been given by them. They should have told you not to handle them for a week, and they definitely should have told you to totally disinfect the faun you had the original snake in. They are not giving you vital information and it sounds as though they are not checking whether you know what you are doing before selling you the snake.
I am assuming that the 'specialist' you took the first dead snake to was from the reptile shop?
It would definitely be good to know your full set-up....all the 'required gear' that the shop sold you. Size of faun, substrate, heatmat, thermostat, hides etc. I know you have given some of this info but would be good to get full description.
I would certainly have some concerns about shop and getting another hatchling from there. Maybe a hatchling isnt the way to go after the traumatic experience you and your son have had. Have you thought about getting an older snake...one that is a proven feeder and shedder. Many people find an older snake a good place to start if they are new to corns...because there are less issues to deal with like feeding and teaching them to be handled. It is just a thought.
Once again, I am so sorry for you and your son. I do hope we are able to help you and I also hope that you both decide to get another corn, because you do get such joy from them.
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893 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 12:45:31
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Really sorry to read about what happened.
The shop where you bought the snakes is NOT reliable, buy elsewhere. I'm saying this because they SHOULD have told you to disinfect the faun, and they SHOULD have told you that you need a thermostat. I wouldn't trust them at all now on anything.
If you still have the second snake, you can take it to a vet to find out why it died. It will put your mind at rest and if it's disease you can then claim a refund and possibly compensation from that shop.
No, it's not very common for something like this to happen, and I can't see how the mere fact of moving from the shop to your home could have killed it unless it was handled roughly on the way and was hurt somehow. But twice? Chances are too slim.
Oddly enough, something similar happened here when a snake I bought for my 10 years old died within days of coming home. I then got another snake, identical in looks, only from a different breeder. My boy is now happy. I hope your son is still willing to give it yet another go, only this time from a different shop.
Please let us know what you decide to do and how your son is doing.
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Blackecho
The Corn Snake Admin
United Kingdom
4379 Posts |
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8 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 21:20:14
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Hi All,
Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. It looks like it was a faulty heat mat, the specialist thinks the snake was dehydrated and it still had Sundays feed not even half way down. The new heat mat seems better and the tub or Faun as you call it :) has been moved well away from any other heat source.
I got my son to clean out it out and use new Aspen, and he is not going to handle the snake for 5-7 days.
The shop is a specialist and has been used by some of my sons friends with out issue, I just assume he didn't think it was disease that caused the deaths.
My son now has a new snake and fingers crossed it will be with him for sometime !
Can anyone suggest a thermostat to use with a heat mat? I forgot to sort one out at the shop !!
Cheers
Baz
P.S. any know how to post pictures ???? |
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876 Posts |
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2010 : 23:31:39
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| You must get a stat as soon as possible, by not having one you are running the risk of cooking this new snake. I have 2 Habistat mat stats and a Microclimate ministat 100. Both work as well as the other, and cost around £20-£25. |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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Blackecho
The Corn Snake Admin
United Kingdom
4379 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2010 : 10:05:54
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Well as long has he didn't think it was a disease I'm sure it can't have been....
If the heatmat was overheating a thermostat would have cut it out. Hence them being an essential piece of kit. |
www.theroyalpython.co.uk/forum
Location: Rotherham
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Help I have a very sad son
