Snakes keep dying

snakesir · 05-14-16, 02:00 PM

Hello...
Sorry to just barge straight into the Help thread. But I need help. :P
Eh... I'm a 4-time ball python owner, all babies, all normal morph. All just gotten from the same pet store, treated the same, taken care of the same - plastic bin with paper towels as substrate (we're dirt poor, heh heh) and fed frozen-thawed prekilled pinky mice... WHEN they eat of course.
Thing is... they've all died. Inexplicably, with only one of them showing any sign of illness previously! I'm fearing I'm just a bad ball python owner, but I love the little things so much. I don't want to keep bringing them into the home only for them to die! T_T
Can you point out what I'm doing wrong?

I'll happily put up any info you need - including, with some difficulty, a photo of the newest snake "Caillou"...

pet_snake_78 · 05-15-16, 02:27 PM

Need more info, first off I'd buy from a breeder not a pet store. Second what are the details of how you're keeping them.... what kind of heat, tstat, substrate, how often do you change the water and clean the cage, etc. I'd throw those plastic bins and anything that had contact with the snakes out and get new ones. What temps are the rooms, any possible drafts sitting next to heater, etc?

snakesir · 05-15-16, 03:00 PM

Breeder/pet store: We do not have enough money. The only way we've managed to get any snakes is reptile rallies.
Large, I'd say 3ft by 2ft by oh 2 feet deep? Tupperware-style plastic bin, modified paint strainer grid (never used) screwed into the lid of the bin, which latches on both sides. Paper towels laid sideways and folded over as the best substrate we could get. Water is from a filter on our tap and we drink the same water, we put it in half an Olive Garden takeout container and I try to keep it full. As for lighting, I don't know exactly how to say it, nor do I know the specifications... It's a metallic lamp fixture set on top of the metal grid part of the container. I will check the bulb later but it is what the manager recommended (and she owns like 3 or more full grown snakes).
The house, which all the snakes seemed to enjoy, is a half of a smaller Olive Garden takeout container with an entrance cut out. Ever snake would immediately slither back in there when returned to the tank. <3 And... that's about it. First two snakes came home with mites but that was quite easily taken care of, submerged everything but the snake itself in bleach for an hour and covered the snake itself in light organic vegetable oil except for his nose, adorable little thing loved it... and never saw mites again.
The second snake showed some signs of distress prior, but it was only the occasional little squeak that I didn't like, that my first snake did not do. He was the only snake that was belly up when we found him...
Oh. And feeding. Pinky mice, frozen/thawed and prekilled. -_- Only the first snake ate. Ever. Stupid little things, what do they want, a perfectly seasoned mouse... but I'm sure you guys know THAT pain.

trailblazer295 · 05-15-16, 03:32 PM

At the risk of sounding like the harsh one if finances are as tight as you imply then pets in general and specifically reptiles might not be the best choice.

travesty · 05-15-16, 04:20 PM

If you never fed them anything but pinky mice I'm sure they all starved to death. I bet they don't even recognize that as food since that's so small. The meal needs to be about the size of the largest part of the snake, not just what you think will fit in their mouth.

serpentgirl123 · 05-15-16, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travesty

If you never fed them anything but pinky mice I'm sure they all starved to death. I bet they don't even recognize that as food since that's so small. The meal needs to be about the size of the largest part of the snake, not just what you think will fit in their mouth.

I can't believe I missed that--pinky mice for a bp??? Those poor snakes.

I agree with you--probably starved to death and/or other issues. I would seriously reconsider getting another snake/animal until you can properly care for it (aka making sure to do tons of research in that particular animals' husbandry/care), being more financially ready, and probably looking into a breeder vs a pet store.

Albert Clark · 05-15-16, 05:53 PM

Wow, didn't they lose wight if they even ate those mice pinks? If so, that would be a sign of illness. Or at least a failure to gain any weight?

macandchz · 05-16-16, 09:30 AM

dear snakesir; before you attempt another try at snake raising, check out all the info you can on how to raise them-temps ,humidity, feeding, etc. when you think you are ready to try again, only buy 1 at a time. if you get it at a pet store, make sure their vet gives it a good bill of health. i bought mac at petco. he had mites and i wouldn't accept him until they got rid of them. cleanliness is everything. financially, this may not be the pet for you. it takes a lot to keep them healthy. think it over before you try again.

**Aaron_S** · 05-16-16, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snakesir

Hello...
Sorry to just barge straight into the Help thread. But I need help. :P
Eh... I'm a 4-time ball python owner, all babies, all normal morph. All just gotten from the same pet store, treated the same, taken care of the same - plastic bin with paper towels as substrate (we're dirt poor, heh heh) and fed frozen-thawed prekilled pinky mice... WHEN they eat of course.
Thing is... they've all died. Inexplicably, with only one of them showing any sign of illness previously! I'm fearing I'm just a bad ball python owner, but I love the little things so much. I don't want to keep bringing them into the home only for them to die! T_T
Can you point out what I'm doing wrong?

I'll happily put up any info you need - including, with some difficulty, a photo of the newest snake "Caillou"...

Quote:

Originally Posted by snakesir

Breeder/pet store: We do not have enough money. The only way we've managed to get any snakes is reptile rallies.
Large, I'd say 3ft by 2ft by oh 2 feet deep? Tupperware-style plastic bin, modified paint strainer grid (never used) screwed into the lid of the bin, which latches on both sides. Paper towels laid sideways and folded over as the best substrate we could get. Water is from a filter on our tap and we drink the same water, we put it in half an Olive Garden takeout container and I try to keep it full. As for lighting, I don't know exactly how to say it, nor do I know the specifications... It's a metallic lamp fixture set on top of the metal grid part of the container. I will check the bulb later but it is what the manager recommended (and she owns like 3 or more full grown snakes).
The house, which all the snakes seemed to enjoy, is a half of a smaller Olive Garden takeout container with an entrance cut out. Ever snake would immediately slither back in there when returned to the tank. <3 And... that's about it. First two snakes came home with mites but that was quite easily taken care of, submerged everything but the snake itself in bleach for an hour and covered the snake itself in light organic vegetable oil except for his nose, adorable little thing loved it... and never saw mites again.
The second snake showed some signs of distress prior, but it was only the occasional little squeak that I didn't like, that my first snake did not do. He was the only snake that was belly up when we found him...
Oh. And feeding. Pinky mice, frozen/thawed and prekilled. -_- Only the first snake ate. Ever. Stupid little things, what do they want, a perfectly seasoned mouse... but I'm sure you guys know THAT pain.

I'm sorry these snakes have passed away on you.

I'd like pics of your set up please if possible. It sounds okay from what you've described.

You're going to need to invest in a couple extra instruments though. The first is a temp gun or digital temp reader of some sort. You need to spend the money here as the cheap ones may not give an accurate reading and throws everything off.

Next you're going to need to keep your hands off the snakes until they eat regularly in their own enclosures. It will not make an aggressive snake, I assure you.

Then, once the temps and everything and set you will offer a rat pup once a week until it's eaten 3 times in a row. Make sure it's either frozen/thawed or live. Whichever the snake is already used to. If frozen then make sure it's fully thawed out then I run the tap hot and stick the head under it for 10 seconds to warm it up. I use tongs to feed all of my snakes.

My guess is that your temps are off and the snakes aren't comfortable eating in their enclosures. Your bins may be too large for the babies to feel secure enough to eat. You will need multiple small, tight fitting hides for one. Also only keep 1 in each bin. Do not group house them.

smoothie4l · 05-17-16, 07:54 AM

Honestly, if you say you're "to broke" to buy a healthy snake and instead to waste money buying more and more sickly snakes from the same pet store.
You shouldn't be buying more.
Get a little piggy bank going to save up some real money and in the mean time look up husbandry, it appears your problem lies in what you have been attempting to feed them. Maybe try a frozen thawed rat pup(?)

MDT · 05-17-16, 09:44 AM

this has got to be a troll post...

SnoopySnake · 05-17-16, 12:32 PM

If you can't even afford buying from a proper breeder, how are you going to pay for any vet bills that come up.....

How long did you have each of them before they died?

serpentgirl123 · 05-17-16, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

this has got to be a troll post...

I have begun to the think the same thing. The person hasn't come back since the post was made nor made any attempt (yet) to clarify what happened or discuss any of the advice/concern that has been offered.

snakesir · 05-17-16, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by serpentgirl123

I have begun to the think the same thing. The person hasn't come back since the post was made nor made any attempt (yet) to clarify what happened or discuss any of the advice/concern that has been offered.

For your information, my mom has cancer and we have been dealing with THAT.

I have post-traumatic stress disorder and the snake really helps me. I am calmer and have less flashbacks on the days I have held the snake.

And I should have known all I would get if I came to a forum like this is people shouting I should not have a snake. By the way, now I finally understand why they were not eating - thank you. Never again do I trust a saleswoman, it's led me wrong too many times.

Regardless of how unkind your answers might have been. I will now try to provide the best care for one possible -_-, the first one by the way I had for several months.

**Andy_G** · 05-17-16, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snakesir

For your information, my mom has cancer and we have been dealing with THAT.

I have post-traumatic stress disorder and the snake really helps me. I am calmer and have less flashbacks on the days I have held the snake.

And I should have known all I would get if I came to a forum like this is people shouting I should not have a snake. By the way, now I finally understand why they were not eating - thank you. Never again do I trust a saleswoman, it's led me wrong too many times.

Regardless of how unkind your answers might have been. I will now try to provide the best care for one possible -_-, the first one by the way I had for several months.

Although you may feel some of the comments to be quite harsh so far, I think everyone here has actually been quite easy on you. You must recognize where everyone is coming from. It's a bit unfair to expect to have everyone entirely dismiss the deaths of these animals and help you because you failed to make any considerable effort to look into why things happened after the FIRST one died....you've let it happen 3 times and only now are you seeking what you should have before you purchased your first. Come on.

None of this is our fault, neither is it the fault of the individual who sold you the snakes, nor is it the fault of the snakes. It falls on you, but you have taken a great first step here and are on the right track, but please follow the advice given and although I understand that your keeping of snakes grounds you and helps your PTSD, please consider everything mentioned here. Think hard about whether a pet snake of any kind is truly the right choice for you and be sure to also consider your situation and the health/welfare of the animal before you take anything else on as well. Is it fair to get an animal that you can't care for properly (whether it be finances, personal, or otherwise)? Maybe it would be better to find somewhere that you could volunteer to take care of animals? You could learn in person how to do things correctly while also easing your PTSD.