my snake just died and i cant sleep thinking why????:(

[Natalia]

I really need some assistance here..my blonde spotted python has died today or yesterday and I'm awake at nearly 2am thinking why he died....he was 2 months old when I bought Lucifer from the snake show in feb. He has been eating all up until 2 weeks ago. He had a shed but had some skin on his nose..but he has refused to eat in the last 2 week's. I went to feed him today and he was entwined in the skull ornament a place he rarely went in.I am absolutely devestated that my beautiful boy is hone I can't explain but been reading many forums and I'm thinking maybe he got a cold, or the skin sufforcated him...I did notice 2 lightglobes were blown out of the 4 is that why he died??? I'm absolutely heartbroken that I lost my slithery friend who gave me kisses on my face...what snake does that?:( can anyone pls offer any advice or thoughts to help put my mind at ease? What an intro to a new forum:(

[infernalis]

I am sorry for your loss.

I can not offer a lot of insight, however you do have my condolences.

Numerous factors could have been at play here, and without a competent necropsy, anything would be speculation.

I see you live in Melbourne, so environmental factors like a blown out lamp did not kill your snake, 2 weeks without eating did not kill your snake, If anything there may very well have been underlying medical issues that were not outwardly apparent just yet.

Reptiles can function for many months with malfunctioning kidneys, livers, etc. The toxins build up slowly (those are filter organs) and suddenly it all hits terminal levels and it's over quickly.

Again, my condolences.

[formica]

Sorry to hear, RIP Lucifer

Some snakes do die young, it doesnt happen often, but sometimes you can do everything right and they still die, long life may not have been in his genes

skin over his nose could reduce his ability to breath, but opening his mouth would solve that, there are other possible complications from doing this, and retained/stuck shed, but as infernalis said, its pointless to speculate really - but regarding the retained shed, this indicates a humidity issue in the enclosure, when you are ready for a new snake you can find plenty of help here to ensure that sheds come off in a single clean piece by providing the right humidity levels

cold can kill, but not usually quickly, and definitely not quickly at 'room temperature', to much heat is a more frequent killer - regarding heating, heat mat + thermostat is the best way to provide heat for a snake imo, esp nocturnal species

give yourself a little time and find a new snake to make friends with, stick around on the forum and you'll find plenty of guidance and support for whatever species you choose :)

[Natalia]

Yes, i have been reading alot of forum pages for hours last night trying to find the answer...but Im still not at peace. I was going to get an autopy done, but that would have cost $100...not that i mind paying, with me and animals, its not about the money, you will always come up with something financially to fund with your animal....It was more the fact of I cut my losses and preserve him so today I took him to the taxidermist to make him beautiful, as i didnt have the heart to bury him, not cremate him...And if i got him opened up, he wouldnt be preserved in the way i would have liked him to.... So now I must wait 4-5 month to get Luci back home....
I really appreciate the kind words, i feel that noone understands the loss of such a beautiful creasure as a snake until I came on here and here i find understanding and heart with snakes....i need speculation to keep my mind at peace....to make me believe i did nothing wrong....I know it wasnt the not eating, now i believe it wasnt the light globes....perhaps he did get a cold...and his body gave up....the house feels so empty right now without him, I dont have the heart to even clean out his cage.....
But you both are very kind...and I will keep reading on other peoples sad experiences and perhaps second guess his death...which makes me cry when i think of how he used to kiss my face, i mean, seriously what snake at 10 months old kisses a human? ive never heard of it before....i would like to get another snake, perhaps one that looks very similar to Lucifer and perhaps sell his old tank and get the new one another tank, oh i dont know, the grief for something you love so dearly it unbelievable, esp when you havent had long with it......:(

[MizCandice]

My sympathies Natalia, it is never easy to loose a member of the family but especially when its so unexpected. ((hugs)) In time you will find a new scaled friend and you will know hes the one.

[Natalia]

Thanks Miz your words are comforting...and yes, it was very unexpected...i had the whole 8 years mapped out with him, perhaps my expectations were somewhat high, considering it was a new venture to care for a cold blooded mate whom i love with all my heart.

[thinkbig317]

Very sorry for your loss Natalia. NEVER easy loosing a pal! ;(

[alessia55]

I'm sorry for your loss of Lucifer. It is never easy to say good-bye to a friend, even the scaly ones.

[sharthun]

Sorry for your loss!

[Jim Smith]

I'm very sorry for your loss. It's amazing how quickly and totally we get attached to our pets and I really understand your sense of loss. Like others, there is no way to tell for sure what caused his death, but I do have a question. What substrate were you using in his cage? There are some substrates that can cause serious even life threatening problems. I wouldn't want you to have to go through this again if you can find a possible cause or even a contributing factor to his untimely death. Just a thought...

[Deva]

I am sorry for your loss. It is hard to say sometimes even for a vet why a snake dies. I say this from experience. My snake was over a year old when it just didn't shed anymore. Then it just went downhill from there.

Again, sometimes we just don't have the answers.

[mrgrimm]

I feel bad for you, but try to remember that everything happens for a reason even if we don't find out what that reason was until far down the road. When something bad like this happens it always gives an opportunity for good things to emerge in one way or another. I think it's great that you cared for the snake so much, at least he was loved while he was alive!