Thamnophis Christmas Curse

[Aundrea]

Ohh gosh Kyle im so so sorry about your loss!! That is just such sad news

[Stefan-A]

The problem with the idea of "optimum conditions" is that it doesn't exist in the wild. In the wild half the snakes can die during brumation, so brumation does beat the crap out of the snakes in the wild, too.

Not much of this has anything to do with what happens to our snakes in captivity. We can, at least in principle, control the humidity and the temperature, draft, access to water, we can influence the parasite load, the diet and to some extent the general health of the snake (we can't do anything about the genes, though), just to name a few of the factors that are bound to influence the snakes' chances of survival. Still, there are always things we could do better.

[adamanteus]

The problem with the idea of "optimum conditions" is that it doesn't exist in the wild.

Such conditions do (or should, at least) exist in a captive situation though.

[infernalis]

I think that we (The snake loving people) are just now beginning to take Thamnophis seriously enough to actually study them.

There are countless "experts" on Boids and Corns/milks out there, since they have been perfecting their craft for years.

Only within the last decade have Thamnophis gained admiration and respect enough that people will seriously study all aspects of their existence, and with a "new" audience to share findings with, research is already taking place, both by experts and armatures alike.

Only a few years ago, Garter snakes were viewed as "disposable" pets that we got our kids on their tenth birthday and fed goldfish.

[Stefan-A]

Such conditions do (or should, at least) exist in a captive situation though.

We should definitely try to create those conditions.

Of course, I find it mildly amusing that one would try to create the optimal conditions for something, that is characterized by less than optimal conditions. Snakes brumate because that's the only way for them to have even a slim chance of survival.

[Snake lover 3-25]

so sorry kyle!!!!

[drache]

this epidemic of deaths is kind of freaking me out
last year I had a several deaths in my collection around the same time and ended up feeling that even if I didn't know what it was there still had to have been something I did wrong
now that this many people have lost snakes I feel like I've been spared
we don't know - brumation is probably one of natures way to sort out the strong from the not so strong and perhaps "not so strong" is all it takes

[Sid]

So sorry about your loss, Kyle. It really sucks! My favorite male Eastern escaped while in burmation....hoping he will show up.

[guidofatherof5]

Kyle, very sorry to hear about your loss. It's always a tough thing but at this time of the year it's even harder.

[gregmonsta]

Really sorry to hear that.