This was a hard one...

[Mommy2many]

This evening, within the last hour or so, we lost another of Stewie's girls for some unknown reason. I went to feed the bunch and noticed that she didn't look right. I picked her up, she was limp. I brought her out to my kitchen where there is more light, thinking she had passed. She was curled up in my hand and then I saw her tail move. Just a little curling, ever so slighty. It was almost like what you would expect from a puppy. Her breathing appeared to be very shallow.

The tragedy here, is that this was my daughter, Erin's favorite snake. Erin was in the shower at this time and I was trying to get her to finish up because it didn't look like Brownie would be with us much longer.

Sadly to say, she passed in my hand while I was waiting for Erin to finish. As I type, Erin has been holding her snake for the past 45 minutes. When she is ready, I will take Brownie and let her join her sister and Mom until spring.

Another unexplained death and a very hard winter here in Connecticut.

[guidofatherof5]

Very sorry to hear about Brownie's passing.
Hang in there Erin.
These mystery deaths are so hard to take. We try our best to give them a good home but we can't see inside of them. Developmental issues. Genetic issues. Even illnesses.
Garter snakes like most animals hide illness until it's too late.

[Mommy2many]

Thank you for the kind words, Steve. It is easier to understand as adults, as we have experienced loss within our lifetimes. It is much harder on an 8 year old. She did handle it well, considering; but I know it hurts alot.

[ConcinusMan]

So sorry Le Ann. Yet another passed? One is a mystery, two unlikely, 3 and I would be suspicious and try to find a possible common factor.

[Mommy2many]

They have shown no symptoms of illness, distress, etc. Their Mom, appeared old to me.She was wild caught, so I had no idea of her age. That just could have been old age. So that aside, it has been two of the girls. They both ate well, I just don't know what could be going on. The boys in the tank next to them are fine. all eat well, just like the girls did. The only difference I saw was that the boys seemed to eat more often during the winter than the girls. Maybe that has somehting to do with it. Still, all in all, they have all been eating quite well over the past 45 days. All have shed, so there has been growth.

[zooplan]

Sorry for your loss and a hug for Erin.

Some protozoa cause no symptoms untill death.
Do you have vet, or at least a friendly biology teatcher to check the feces with a microskope?
I normally do that on my own.

[Stefan-A]

Sorry to hear it.

[gregmonsta]

Sorry for your loss :(

[indigoman]

It's so hard when we don't know why. sorry for your loss, my thoughts are with you.

[mustang]

sorry to hear it :( is there some her-p-athogen?)

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Oh Le Ann, this is just so horrible :( My heart is broken for your little girl. It is the worst for the kids. Hugs all around.

[EasternGirl]

Oh, I am so very sorry. You have had a lot of loss recently...my thoughts and prayers are with you and your daughter. Death is very hard on kids because they can not conceive of it fully. My son is also eight, and we are still mourning the recent loss of our dog, Kaela. Losing a pet is losing family. It's particularly difficult when you have no explanation. That is when I turn to my faith and believe that we all have a higher purpose and calling and that we all go on beyond this world.