Strange Death of Two Pythons

[natpython]

HI

I lost a diamond python and my father lost a black headed not long ago in a strange way that we had never seen before. Both snakes became a little bit lethargic and when found dead were swollen up to three times the size, very floppy and a maroony coloured fluid blood or something had come out of their mouths, quite alot of it. Both pythons were eating well and healthy. These snakes have never been together (naturally). I was wondering if anybody has heard of this or had this happen to any of their snakes. Some info would be great.

Thanks

[Fuscus]

Have an autopsy performed on both snakes - exspecialy if you have other snakes.

[spottedpython]

sorry i haven't had this happen but it does sound werid

[Splitmore]

natpython,
Usually lethargy is the only sign of a sick snake and often by this stage it's too late to save the animal.I've had some of the healthiest looking pythons just head down hill and die within a week for no apparent reason. Even had autopsies done that really didn't show anything up.
The swelling and fluid coming from the mouth is just the snakes starting to decompose.If a snake dies on top of the heat source this can start to happen after only a few hours but usually takes a day or two to reach that stage.
Regards,
Splitmore

[Bryony]

it sounds like internal bleeding but its a long shot with out an autopsy i've seen similar in other animals after poisoning

[ether]

How can you tell if tour snake is lethargic? ie what are the symptons. This would be great to know for future experience.

Ether

[natpython]

thanks splitmore, so is the heat what possibly keeps them soft and hard as apposed to stiff and hard after death,

To ether, Usually when the snake is lethargic, they tend to hang around the bottom of the enclosure alot and there movement may be alot slower than normal

[sxereturn]

Do you guys use the same food source? I know of entire collections that have been infected through their food source...

[instar]

Originally Posted by ether

How can you tell if tour snake is lethargic? ie what are the symptons. This would be great to know for future experience.

Ether

darn good question, given they dont normally "get jiggy wid it" anyway!
love to hear that explained. :wink:

[Bryony]

i have heard of dodgy rats and mice b4

[rodentrancher]

Dodgy in what way please Bryony??? I know you aren't aiming the comment at us, but would be interested in hearing about crook mice or rats. Cheers the RR's

[Bryony]

dodgy in the sence = wild caught with possible poisons or bacteria and rats if they are wild caught they have to potential of several zoonotic desieses and can kill your pythons and make you very sick
good old ratsac is the other but these days the chemicals used in stuff like that can vary and i have heard of people doing the home made version and thats really bad stuff

[Fuscus]

Bryony is 100% right in that you must ensure your food supply is from known sources, the main risk with wild rodents is chemical contamination.

And I still think you should have an autopsy otherwise you will near be certain as to what killed them and it may occur again. Anyone else agree/disagree?

[earthmother]

So sorry to hear Nat.

Yes, If they were fed with feeders from the same contaminated or wild source, that could be the problem.
Yes, Afric I agree. For peace of mind if nothing else. If you call NPWS they will pick the Snakes up from you and take them away for a necropsy.

Em

[natpython]

The food source was from the same breeders i have used for a long time. I would never feed any of my animals with any type of foreign or wild caught rodents. i think maybe splitmore may have hit the nail on the head as both died in their boxes which were on heat mats. I don't think whatever it was is contagious as the diamond python was sharing space with another and that one is doing very well