Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

viper_183 · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 8:15 pm Post subject: Any suggestions

I have had a bit of a shock today and was wandering if any one had any thoughts.
My first shock was when i got up this morning and discovered that my male butter corn had passed away. He was active last night and other than he refused to feed last week has been fine, but this morning he was dead with his mouth wide open almost as though he was gaping.
Then this evening i discovered another one of my males had done the same, this one had only been active a couple of hours before hand and other than refusing to feed the last couple of feeds (which wasn't unusual for him funny eater) he again was fine but found with his mouth wide open.
Both snakes were in different Viv's and one was upstairs and the other downstairs. I have done nothing different and can't think of a reason for this so i wandered if you guys had any ideas.
Thanks
Viper_183 Very Happy

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9.9 Corns
1.0 twainese beauty
0.1 Columbian Rainbow
1.1 Royals
3.6 Leopard Geckos
1.1 Water Dragons
1 Dog
2 Cats

Snowy · Contributing Member Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 179

It would just be wild stabbing in the dark for us to try and guess. The best bet would be to pay for an autopsy to be done, even more so as it has now happened to two snakes in different enclosures. Autopsies are not cheap but in relation to the value of a collection to find out if it is something contagious then it works out as a good deal.

Have any household sprays been used recently? For example fly spray, flea spray etc. It could be just one of those things, it could be genetic, it could be something wrong with the food, it could be any number of things. Though I must admit not an area of my knowledge.

If you have any other snakes it is time to impliment "sterile" handling techniques. All water bowls should be washed in boiling water (I use stoneware bowls designd for pet water bowls and have two sets with one set getting boiled while the other is in use), your hands should be cleaned between each snake (I do this part anyway using those hand steralising gels), and nothing should be swapped between enclosures unless it has been steralised.

I am sorry for your loss.
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23/07/07 RIP Mousey a furry companion of 15 years.

viper_183 · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 8:57 am Post subject:

Hi thanks for the advice snowy, i do the sterile handling procedures and things anyway. The others seem to be OK this morning.
viper_183
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9.9 Corns
1.0 twainese beauty
0.1 Columbian Rainbow
1.1 Royals
3.6 Leopard Geckos
1.1 Water Dragons
1 Dog
2 Cats

Ailurus · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:38 pm Post subject:

oh dear i am sorry to hear about your losses, i hope your others are all ok.

i agree with snowy
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Tom

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Lizards: :Rhacodactylus: :Pogona: :Goniurosaurus:

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peaches · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 10:58 pm Post subject:

I agree with snowy and I think your best bet is to contact the vet about an autopsy, with two deaths with no known reason it's very worrying.

There are different levels of autopsy, and see if they do a basic one, some rep vet can usually see why without sending off for numerous pathological reports....unless it is a really odd one.

I don't mean to sound all doom and gloom but I find this does help.
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www.ratsnakefoundation.org

viper_183 · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:55 am Post subject:

Hi everyone,
Thanks for all your advice, it's been really helpful. I have kept them both in the freezer to have an autopsy done, the others still appear to be fine today and no signs of anything.
_________________
9.9 Corns
1.0 twainese beauty
0.1 Columbian Rainbow
1.1 Royals
3.6 Leopard Geckos
1.1 Water Dragons
1 Dog
2 Cats

Snowy · Contributing Member Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 179

That's good news about the others. Not much consolation yet but I hope the autopsies show nothing that could affect your other snakes.
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23/07/07 RIP Mousey a furry companion of 15 years.

viper_183 · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:40 am Post subject:

Yeah me to.
Well the others are due for feeding today so i will see how it goes, seeing as with the other 2 that have passed away the refused feeding and the position they ended up in are the only links between them, so hopefully the others will feed fine.
It will certainly raise my hopes if they do.
_________________
9.9 Corns
1.0 twainese beauty
0.1 Columbian Rainbow
1.1 Royals
3.6 Leopard Geckos
1.1 Water Dragons
1 Dog
2 Cats

quasimodo · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject:

Please keep us updated as to whether or not they do feed, and what the vet finds in the autopsy. You must be gutted, but finding out what caused the deaths will help to protect your other snakes. All the best,

SUE

peaches · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:26 pm Post subject:

Yes all the best with the results and fingers crossed the others feed for you.
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www.ratsnakefoundation.org