tragic death need help

[CuttsCustoms]

i gave my friend a exoterra heating pad. his snake passed away. presumably from the pad. i'm wondering what the signs of electricution are, parasited etc. he was fine the other day put the heating pad in and he died. could burns have done that so quick?

thankyou and please check my want add for one three ft long bci tame.. please help me out.

sincerely , dustin

[pinoiballer01]

maybe its too much heat in the cage. is he using anything to regulate the heat?

[dr greenlove]

Originally posted by CuttsCustoms
i gave my friend a exoterra heating pad. his snake passed away. presumably from the pad. i'm wondering what the signs of electricution are, parasited etc. he was fine the other day put the heating pad in and he died. could burns have done that so quick?

Just a few points, an animal that has been "burnt" looks, well...burnt. I have seen injured reptiles (caused through burns) and it is a very obvious form of damage (not very pretty either).


A reptile kept in to hot an environment would (i should imagine) show no signs of damage...but be dead nevertheless.

Electrocution would (i should hope) be impossible, the voltage used by heating pads is very low.

A parasitised animal would show many signs...but the death would be a longer process, it probably wouldn't just "happen".

The person best qualified to determine the actual cause of death would be a vet.

[paulsreef]

The heat pad should go on the outside of the enclosure where it is dry. The heat pad should be plugged into a thermostat or a dimmer to regulate the heat.

[maritimExotics]

depending on ventalation and siz of enclosure it would be easy to "cook" a snake... they can't get away to a cool side to regulate themselves temps over 100F for a duration of time as little as 6hours (depending how high) can kill the snake. Sorry to hear about the loss and it does happen, but can easily be prevented as far as tics....you would see the massive amt of tics on him along with scars..white patches...irratated belly scales etc.. internal would need to be cut open i would think if there is a recent defication sample in cage you can get a fecal float done at your local vet....

Ryan

[knight45]

I find it very hard to believe that the animal was killed by electrocution. Even though voltage is not what causes death, rather the amperage. It only takes 1 20th (.05) of an amp to kill an adult human, which would mean that the heating pad would have suffant amperage to kill the snake. But heres the kicker, it is necessary to have 300 volts in order to create the 1 20th of an amp to enter the nervous system in normal conditions. However if the snake were to be wet and sufficiently grounded it could possibly create a situation that could kill the snake. BUT
there would have to be allot of very particular events taking place
1. there would have to be an area of the heating exposed in order for the electricity to short in the snake (assuming it was wired safely and a wire from the switch could not come in contact with the animal)
2. Given the low voltage of the heat pad, it;s my guess the snake would have had to be wet
3. The snake would also have to be suffencly grounded in order for electrocution to take place.
although possible, (and i am sure it has happened before) if you rule out equipment malfunction and ensure wiring was done correctly. i seriously doubt that all these things could have taken place
i feel that electrocution is not the cause, and if you do a little inspecing, it will be very easy to rule this out