What to do when your snake dies. - Page 3

**Aaron_S** · 08-15-16, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

LOL! Only if I don't want to get hauled off for insurance fraud

Which I don't

Well I suppose you have a receptionist do it for you but it's so weird considering I've spent 31 years just showing my health card.

serpentgirl123 · 08-15-16, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM1

Hi,
Just stumbled on this thread. What if the animal in question is decades old and was your first pet? No worries, my Hispaniolan (or Haitian, or Dominican) Boa, Rudy is still going strong and healthy; at 34 years old. I have thought once in long while if it would be better to just remember through photos, or preserve some part of him in some way (skin, stuff, etc.).

I have one that is getting up there in age, though not that old (34yrs--Congrats!) and thought about this myself. I personally think it depends on the person. For me, I would rather just have memories through pictures and the ashes (like I do for my furry pets).

Though I was hoping to keep him "alive" through one of the offspring, but that is not going to happen as I am 90% sure my boy is sterile. He has never left sperm plugs or anything nor showed interest in anything besides eating, making a mess, and sleeping lol.

bigsnakegirl785 · 08-15-16, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Got sucked into that bull crap world called Facebook...

Ugh yeah I know the feeling. It can be really bad there, glad to see you here again, though! Hope you're coming to stay.

Quote:

Originally Posted by serpentgirl123

I have one that is getting up there in age, though not that old (34yrs--Congrats!) and thought about this myself. I personally think it depends on the person. For me, I would rather just have memories through pictures and the ashes (like I do for my furry pets).

Though I was hoping to keep him "alive" through one of the offspring, but that is not going to happen as I am 90% sure my boy is sterile. He has never left sperm plugs or anything nor showed interest in anything besides eating, making a mess, and sleeping lol.

What species and what age is he? I had a breeder tell me once his male boa constrictor didn't start leaving sperm or breeding until he was 7 years old. They can certainly take their time!

I also would prefer remembering them through pictures, as I tend to take many of them. lol

serpentgirl123 · 08-15-16, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Ugh yeah I know the feeling. It can be really bad there, glad to see you here again, though! Hope you're coming to stay.

What species and what age is he? I had a breeder tell me once his male boa constrictor didn't start leaving sperm or breeding until he was 7 years old. They can certainly take their time!

I also would prefer remembering them through pictures, as I tend to take many of them. lol

He is a "common" normal BI/BCI and pushing on his 17th year. Also he is a big boy and I no longer have a suitable female of that size any more (gave her away a few years back). He is a touch over 8ft long and so finding a female of similar size if not longer/bigger (if he were interested lol), not so easy.

I was lucky in the size department as his mother was close to 10.5ft and his father was about 8.5-9ft and unfortunately died in a fire at the store about 10yrs back.

travesty · 08-15-16, 07:33 PM

When my snakes die they will be preserved as wet specimens or otherwise. I've got a couple from DOR's already and it's not hard to do. It seems like the logical thing to do when it comes to being somewhat sentimental.

bigsnakegirl785 · 08-15-16, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serpentgirl123

He is a "common" normal BI/BCI and pushing on his 17th year. Also he is a big boy and I no longer have a suitable female of that size any more (gave her away a few years back). He is a touch over 8ft long and so finding a female of similar size if not longer/bigger (if he were interested lol), not so easy.

I was lucky in the size department as his mother was close to 10.5ft and his father was about 8.5-9ft and unfortunately died in a fire at the store about 10yrs back.

That's so weird, and you've had him sexed? Females average about that size, it just takes a long time to grow them that big, so people aren't too willing to give up their females of that size. An 8' male would definitely be hard to breed, though, you wouldn't be able to use a 4-5 year old female for sure, and that limits your options, or increases your wait time by several years.

serpentgirl123 · 08-15-16, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

That's so weird, and you've had him sexed? Females average about that size, it just takes a long time to grow them that big, so people aren't too willing to give up their females of that size. An 8' male would definitely be hard to breed, though, you wouldn't be able to use a 4-5 year old female for sure, and that limits your options, or increases your wait time by several years.

That is why at first I didn't think much of it, given most males don't get that big, but he is definitely male.

He was sexed three (technically 4) times. He popped female as a baby (I didn't do it--reptile shop keeper did) but I got him rechecked after he had surgery (minor infection on his nose) and his hemipenes came out. The vet is the one who called me about it and got to see him sexed myself when I came to get him. She sexed him right then and there 2x with a probe to be sure.

Since he never threw plugs or shown interest in any of my females (one who was his size but aggressive as all hell--had since she/he were 1 month old), I have a sterile/unwilling male. Oh well lol

My other younger males (under 7) threw plugs since 2.5yrs old (never bred any of my snakes as of yet) even just being near the females' cages. So I am even more willing to bet, my older male probably is sterile.

Even if he did breed, less people would want boas that had genes to potentially get over 8ft+ and being just a normal (my favorite of the collection), not much call for him/his genes.

bigsnakegirl785 · 08-15-16, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serpentgirl123

That is why at first I didn't think much of it, given most males don't get that big, but he is definitely male.

He was sexed three (technically 4) times. He popped female as a baby (I didn't do it--reptile shop keeper did) but I got him rechecked after he had surgery (minor infection on his nose) and his hemipenes came out. The vet is the one who called me about it and got to see him sexed myself when I came to get him. She sexed him right then and there 2x with a probe to be sure.

Since he never threw plugs or shown interest in any of my females (one who was his size but aggressive as all hell--had since she/he were 1 month old), I have a sterile/unwilling male. Oh well lol

My other younger males (under 7) threw plugs since 2.5yrs old (never bred any of my snakes as of yet) even just being near the females' cages. So I am even more willing to bet, my older male probably is sterile.

Even if he did breed, less people would want boas that had genes to potentially get over 8ft+ and being just a normal (my favorite of the collection), not much call for him/his genes.

That last point is probably pretty true, especially since boas average 20-30 babies a litter, and I've heard of them being as big as 60....

On the other bright side, at least you're not having to clean up sperm plugs left in random places. haha

serpentgirl123 · 08-15-16, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

That last point is probably pretty true, especially since boas average 20-30 babies a litter, and I've heard of them being as big as 60....

On the other bright side, at least you're not having to clean up sperm plugs left in random places. haha

True lol. But he is such a sweet animal and laid back, I wouldn't have minded too much lol