Rip

[Reptiliancousin]

Bobbie just died a few moments ago. I can't even begin to express how much hurt I feel. How can such a happy, alert, active little baby suddenly just die? I was looking forward to having Bobbie for a long time. Watch him grow up.
Did he have to much worms? I only fed him two. Just before he died he oozed a yellow musk-like substance from both his cloaca and mouth. Specks of black were also in the ooze. Does anything sound familiar? I desprately want some answers! Was it something I did? Or was he just one of the babies who don't survive? He was so happy this morning. My heart is breaking. :(

[katach]

Oh, I am so sorry. This is never easy. My heart goes out to you.

[ProXimuS]

I'm very sorry to hear that. I'm in shock with you, especially after reading his feeding post.

Was he the one that was 3 days old when you bought him? I wonder if he was just too young, and just one of the nonsurvivors like you had stated?

Again very sorry. Bobbie is in my thoughts:)

[Reptiliancousin]

Yes, he was three days old when I bought him.


I'm very sorry to hear that. I'm in shock with you, especially after reading his feeding post.

Was he the one that was 3 days old when you bought him? I wonder if he was just too young, and just one of the nonsurvivors like you had stated?

Again very sorry. Bobbie is in my thoughts:)

[Mommy2many]

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. The young ones can go any time without reason. Please rest assured it was nothing you did/did not do and it was meant to be. RIP little one.

[Selkielass]

Sorry for your loss. Little ones are so fragile, but losing them still hurts.

[Stefan-A]

Sorry to hear it.

[Reptiliancousin]

Thanks everyone. I'm thankful for the nine days that I was able to have him. I've never lost a snake before.

[guidofatherof5]

That is such a shame. Sorry to hear about Bobbie's death.

Do you have the seller's information? Maybe they will work with you on a replacement if you want to work with them again.

In your first post you mentioned a yellow fluid/mucus coming out the mouth and cloaca/vent.
Red worms produce such a color toxin. I know you've answered some questions before with regards to the baby worms you purchased at Walmart but I think we need to look further at them.
Can you post a photo of the container the worms came in and a close-up, well lit photo of the worms? Maybe one or two of them placed on a white piece of paper.
I remember getting a shipment of night crawlers in from DMF Bait and finding a red worm in the mix.
You could also take one of the worms out and pinch it or possibly poke it with a sharp object to see if it produces the toxin.
Sorry to go on like this but I know you want answers and the retired deputy sheriff in me wants to investigate this incident.

[Invisible Snake]

Sorry about your loss :(

[chris-uk]

Sorry to hear this. :(
It could just be a case of a young snake not being fit for the world, but I agree with Steve about taking a look at the worms to see if there is a problem with them - at the very least they will prove to be fine and you can get some peace of mind knowing that it wasn't anything to do with the worms.

[Reptiliancousin]

I do have the seller's info. I took two of their business cards at the expo. I'll get a picture of the container and of the worms as soon as possible.


That is such a shame. Sorry to hear about Bobbie's death.

Do you have the seller's information? Maybe they will work with you on a replacement if you want to work with them again.

In your first post you mentioned a yellow fluid/mucus coming out the mouth and cloaca/vent.
Red worms produce such a color toxin. I know you've answered some questions before with regards to the baby worms you purchased at Walmart but I think we need to look further at them.
Can you post a photo of the container the worms came in and a close-up, well lit photo of the worms? Maybe one or two of them placed on a white piece of paper.
I remember getting a shipment of night crawlers in from DMF Bait and finding a red worm in the mix.
You could also take one of the worms out and pinch it or possibly poke it with a sharp object to see if it produces the toxin.
Sorry to go on like this but I know you want answers and the retired deputy sheriff in me wants to investigate this incident.

[Invisible Snake]

If the worms weren't the issue, then I believe the seller owes you a refund or at least another snake.

[katach]

I don't want to bad mouth, but selling a baby snake at only 3 days old seems a bit too young in my opinion.

[guidofatherof5]

I don't want to bad mouth, but selling a baby snake at only 3 days old seems a bit too young in my opinion.

Indeed it is.

[Invisible Snake]

I don't want to bad mouth, but selling a baby snake at only 3 days old seems a bit too young in my opinion.

Yup I totally agree with you.

[Reptiliancousin]

Here are the worm pictures. I hope they're sufficient. I can take more if you need. Normally I would find dumping out worms a complete delight.
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[guidofatherof5]

Thank goodness they are night crawlers.

[Dan72]

Sorry for the loss. I wake every morning and do my head count hoping everybody is just like I left them the night before. Knowing this day will come but hoping not any time soon I feel for your loss. The meal of two worms were fed how? Cut up or whole? To the forum, and in seeking answers not to add to any grief, I've never delt with a snake so small if two worms were the meal should the worms have been cut into tiny head size bites compared to feeding whole with larger snakes?

[guidofatherof5]

In the wild they would be eating whole worm.

[Reptiliancousin]

Do I also need to show a picture of Bobbie's body? I noticed his chin and a small portion of his neck was regular colored cream but the rest of his body was a blueish tint. I don't know if that's normal and I just never noticed before, but I looked him over as much as possible trying to figure out what had happened and any obvious symptoms. The blue tinted belly was one, then of course the yellow ooze. Even after he passed, ooze continued to flow whenever I would gently squeeze his body. Mostly it dripped from Bobbie's mouth. As he was dying he would jerk his head every so often and open his mouth as wide as possible. To me it resembled dry heaving. Very frightening and hurtful sight.

[guidofatherof5]

I think a photo would be helpful.

[Reptiliancousin]

You can't see the ooze, the drops were so little. I closed his mouth before taking the picture but it was wide open.
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[Invisible Snake]

As he was dying he would jerk his head every so often and open his mouth as wide as possible. To me it resembled dry heaving. Very frightening and hurtful sight.

I've witnessed this behavior once before with my snake, mine was regurgitating a meal.

And with regards of the blueish tint on his body, that's completely normal for a Thamnophis sirtalis similis, that's why they call them Florida Blues or Florida Blue Striped garter snakes.

[ProXimuS]

If I'm not mistaken did you say he ate a dried guppy by accident? Other members: If so could that have any play in this?

[guidofatherof5]

If I had to guess I would say it was a case of over feeding. Not that this type of feeding would always cause a problem but I believe some babies can't handle a big meal at the developmental stage they are at.
That might be the case here. In that case there would be no way for you to know this.
It's always best to not let them stuff themselves until later in life.;):D

[EasternGirl]

I am so extremely sorry for your loss. First off, let me say that, as others have said, babies are fragile and sometimes they just don't make it. I love my little scrubs dearly and would also be heartbroken if I lost one...but I do always have in the back of my mind that they may not make it. I also do a head count and when I can't locate one, I always fear the worst. Especially with my new concinnus that I purchased at an expo...not knowing the conditions she was kept in and how she was fed and so forth...I have to be prepared that she could pass at any time, unfortunately. Again, as others have said, because you want answers and not to put any blame on you of course....did you feed Bobbie on substrate...could he possibly have ingested substrate causing an impaction? An impaction would cause regurgitation like you witnessed...and if he wasn't able to pass the obstruction then it could explain what happened. It happens to the best of us...snakes get obstructions. So, if this is the case...don't be hard on yourself...you learn from it. Again, I am so sorry for your loss...you are in my thoughts.

[d_virginiana]

Sorry for your loss... When they're that young so many things can go wrong that you have no real control over. :(

[kueluck]

:( I'm so sorry to read about your little Bobbie. Rest in peace little man, rest in peace.

[Reptiliancousin]

Thanks everyone. :o

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

This is very sad news. So sorry :(

[kerensa]

I'm very sorry to read this thread. Even more sorry for the loss to you and the little fella.

[EasternGirl]

I hope that you are hanging in there...the loss of a pet can be very devastating. I still cry about my lab that died over a year ago. My thoughts are with you during this time.