Good Bye Big Big!

[guidofatherof5]

The way she came to us was weird to say the least. Two early winters ago my daughter Gabby came to me and said she tried to catch a big snake but that it got away. I thought this was weird since very cold (20 degrees) weather was due that night. It was in the low 40’s at the time and I didn’t think we would be seeing any more Garters until spring. I laughed at my daughter and asked her where this big snake was. She took me to the former garden area. I say former since I’ve planted wild prairie grass in some areas and planted trees in others. She pointed to the edge of the prairie grass and said it went in there. I looked and could see the tail of this nice sized Radix. The snakes head was under a leaf and she appeared to be sunning herself. I walked over and picked her up. She was rough looking to say the least. She had two areas along her back where it appeared the vertebra was fused. She had a great attitude and immediately took to the family.

In my opinion this was her last summer. There were no places near where she would have been protected from the freezing temps.
When I switched my scrubs over to pinkies and fuzzies she seemed to have a new lease on life. She always did a lot of eating but 8 fuzzies on average was a lot. I had noticed even though she was eating a lot she wasn’t putting on any weight and was having even more trouble moving around.

Tonight, when I went to feed that enclosure I noticed she was having major problems. Since her last feeding she had lost a significant amount of weight. She looked very skinny and was in convulsions. I knew this time would come for this old girl and now it was here. Last year she gave us 5 beautiful babies. All of which still live with us. She always greeted us when the enclosure was opened and had a wonderful attitude.
I didn’t want her suffering so I put her down. I’m sad but also happy that this old girl spent her last couple of years with us. Good bye “Big Big” you will be missed and never forgotten.

[ssssnakeluvr]

sorry....at least she won't be suffering. sounds like old age was catching up with her....when they eat well and lose weight that's a good sign of her being old...

[adamanteus]

That's sad. Bye bye 'Big Big'.

[reptile3]

awww Steve... sorry you had to put "big Big" down.. wHAT lovely snake she was!!

[count dewclaw]

Sorry she had to go, but at least the last couple years were good for her.

[olive oil]

So sorry Steve.
What a terrible lose.

[infernalis]

R.I.P. Big Big.

Slither on in that great big big viv in the sky

[guidofatherof5]

She mated up with our boy Scar. 4 of the baies look like their dad and have their mother's attitude. The 5th looks like mom and has the fire of their dad.
Today has been a busy day for us. Scar, Red and Lucky all wanted to chill out in the frig. My daughter Gabby isn't happy that her girl is in the frig. To be honest I'm not happy that they're in there either. I think I'll give them a month and a half to cool off then get them back out. Will do weekly weight checks to make sure their doing okay.

[Stefan-A]

Sorry for your loss.

[drache]

sorry about Big Big going byebye
it sounds like you had a bit of good life together