My beloved Blood Python died last night.

[BullJones]

My beloved Blood Python died last night. She was only three years old. I am at a loss to tell you why she passed and am hoping that someone here can give me a clue. We are in no way new to the keeping and care of reptiles. My wife & I operate Chaos & Critters, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt exotic animal rescue, and have saved & re-homed literally hundreds of creatures over the last four years.

I had had 'Sanguine' since she was a mere 14 inches in length. She was 4.5 feet and very heavy bodied at the time of her passing. She ate with gusto every week, taking frozen/thawed rats. She had annual vet checks and had been wormed. There was never a sign of any external parasites. She always had a great appetite and a very good attitude for a Blood Python. Sanguine had a history of clean and perfect sheds. I examined her body this morning and found no sign of tumors, or impaction. In fact, she had just defecated two days ago.

The only change in her behavior seemed completely normal, save for one. Over the last couple of days she had spent more time in her water and had turned pale. Both things were normal just before her shed which I was expecting. The one 'odd' thing is that she refused her food for the first time ever. I should have took her to the vet right then, but I attributed it to an approaching the shed as all of our other snakes are prone to do.

She was kept in a large tank with all the 'bell & whistles'. A great water feature with circulation via a waterfall, under tank heat strips and overhead heat via a heat emitter kept in check with a thermostat, (all checked this morning and operating perfectly). Thee was a good heat gradient and excellent ventilation. Humidity was excellent. Her substrate was a mixture of damp Eco-earth & jungle bark chunks. A few stones in a corner gave her something to rub against when in shed.

I'm at a complete loss to explain this untimely death and sincerely hope someone here can point me in the right direction. I have retained her body in our freezer so that our vet can conduct a necropsy next week. Until then I'll just worry.

Sadly yours,
Bull*

[Wolfus_305]

Aww.
I'm so sorry to hear of Sanguines passing. I know how hard it can be to lose something (whether it be a pet, family member or critter that you rescued) that you have bonded with.
I'm really not sure what could have caused such a sudden death. I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you.
When you find out what happened please be sure to let us know.
Thanks and best wishes,
Kenny

[Smilts]

Sorry to read of her death. It sounds like you were doing all you could and should do.

[citysnakes]

im sorry for your loss. i hope the necropsy can provide you with the answers you are looking for.

[Kmef07]

Sorry for your loss. I hope you can have some closure with the necropsy and please let us know that outcome.

[Chu'Wuti]

Oh, Bull, how horrible! It sounds as if you had gone to great expense and trouble to give Sanguine a perfect home! I wonder what could have happened? Especially since it seems that this was pretty sudden! I have no suggestions to offer, either. But I do offer my condolences; I know how much it hurts to lose a good pet friend.

[siz]

Sorry to hear that Hopefully you will get some answers soon.

[KiNgJeStEr]

Very sad. Has any one heard from Bull as to the cause?

[gonesnakee]

Any new Boas to the rescue recently? Boas can carry IBD forever & not be affected by it, but if a Python is exposed to it they don't last long at all (a week or 2).
I don't think they can perform a proper necropsy once the specimen has been frozen. I think it limits some of the testing they can do. Sorry for your loss, Mark

[Will0W783]

BullJones, so sorry to hear. It is always devastating to lose an animal friend. My condolences, and I hope you can figure out what happened. It sounds like you were doing a wonderful job of giving her the best life.

[carciady]

Sorry to hear of your loss, its a hard time when you loose a pet, I hope you find out what caused the death.

[BP_okay]

Losing one of snakes is one of my greatest fears, as I am sure you feel the same. I have no kiddos, so I feel their are my sweet babies. I am so sorry for your loss and I hope you find out what the cause was. Just know you are in my thoughts and prayers.