Sudden death; any ideas?

[d_virginiana]

I went into my reptile room today to see that the flame female I suspected to be gravid had suddenly died today. When I checked on them this morning, I noticed she didn't seem to feel well, but it wasn't bad enough that I thought a vet visit was necessary or anything.
This snake has always compulsively soaked in her water dish; staying there for hours and hours sometimes but with no sign of mites. Additionally she was always a poor eater, never eating more than one good meal in a row, which we put down to the stress of being moved. Quarantine included she had been with my parents or myself about four to five months.

I am currently very miffed as it is obvious that we received a snake that was already ill in some way; my main concern now is whether or not whatever was wrong with her is contagious as I have two males that were in with her during the breeding season and have been using the same tongs to feed everyone (once again, she passed the 90 day quarantine with no obvious 'symptoms' other than soaking more than a garter normally would which we just figured was a personality quirk of hers).

[Tommytradix]

sorry for your loss my erythristic is the same way she soaks for one whole day a week and is a poor eater too i hope this isnt her fate too and she seems to be more stressed than my other snakes im interested to see if anyone has any insight on why this is

[d_virginiana]

Thanks. I think this may have been some sort of organ failure since there were none of the typical signs of anything like parasites or an infection. Excessive soaking may also just be a reaction to stress or a personality quirk so I wouldn't necessarily worry; maybe just make sure she has extra hiding spots to keep stress down.

[EKS56]

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry to hear about your loss. Sounds like there was something going on before you started her care.

[d_virginiana]

Sorry to hear about your loss. Sounds like there was something going on before you started her care.

Thanks. That is what I think too. I guess I just wasn't meant to get this breeding project going since something always seems to happen to derail it.

[Albert Clark]

Thanks. That is what I think too. I guess I just wasn't meant to get this breeding project going since something always seems to happen to derail it.

Firstly, don't blame yourself or derail your project. Second, some things are just out of our control and the best breeders and keepers lose animals all the time. If I were you I would pick up where my plans went awry and continue on. Oh, and I am very sorry for your loss. In prehospital care and medicine there is a condition known as "sudden death" and nobody has control over that except GOD. Keep pushing and stay in peace and not pieces. We need you to keep your plans going. Get another flame female and lets get busy. Hope this helped.......

[EKS56]

[d_virginiana]

I'm not giving up on breeding, just probably putting this particular project off for a couple years unless another really good opportunity comes up. I don't think you've been on the forum long enough to remember this, but my last flame female died suddenly in almost the exact same situation; given, she had been sick previously, but I had gotten the okay from the vet to breed her.
I may get a female or two from Scott Felzer to raise up and breed in a couple years.

[joeysgreen]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss virginiana. You did well with the quarantine period and it's unfortunate this one slipped by. Hopefully it isn't contagious, but I'd recommend a necropsy to assess the level of concern for your other snakes. If this isn't possible, place your entire collection on a 90 day quarantine... no new animals in, none out. Separate all enclosures with separate tongs (or soak them in bleach, wash, rinse inbetween) in case some have received a disease and others have not. Do a round of fecals to see if anything has popped up. And of course observe your animals for anything abnormal.

I hope all goes well!

Ian