Stefan's garters

[Stefan-A]

Judging from the picture it seems as though the dead haven't been dead for very long. Any stillborns I have got in the past were almost always born first, but fully developed and normal looking. As if the sac broke early and they suffocated inside the mother. Any theories why this happens? Why many still borns look like they died mere hours from birth?

As for the total number, that's weird. Unless she's holding more and they are dead too.

Those two were lying on top of the heat pad, underneath the paper towels in the birthing enclosure. Hence the speculation that they might have been killed by crushing and/or heat shock.

Not a bloody clue as to what the cause might be.

[Stefan-A]

Again, the weekly update.



The weight is almost back to normal, I'd say she's finished now.

My prediction seems to hold, to some extent. Found the rear half of a dead, possibly partially digested baby today and the front half underneath the paper towels.

My apartment smells rotten.

Presumably expelled at separate occasions, from which end I do not dare to speculate. Recorded the finding of the carcass. The footage might end up on YouTube at some point if I ever get everything edited.

[gregmonsta]

Bad momma, bad! I hope you've given her a good telling off!

[ConcinusMan]

Not necessarily eaten. I've had WC gravid females "give birth" to just mushy decomposing parts of young. I could even speculate that perhaps one rotting dead inside can spoil the rest. Too bad about the crushing incindent, if that's what really happened. Maybe next time more thought can be applied to the birthing quarters. When I knew the time was near, I removed EVERYTHING from the quarters besides an inch or two of clean substrate and the mother and she was given 3 square feet of space. Only overhead heat was provided in a corner. I did that because I did experience some earlier losses due to newborns getting under layers of paper or other objects such as water dishes. They are sticky. They get stuck and/or smashed. The room was usually around 80 degrees but under the heat was around 90. Mother tended to stay away from the light, while the active young congregated under the light. Of course, nothing beats diligent supervision by the owner to intervene in case young are in danger. As soon as a few newborns were actively crawling around, I separated them from the mother. She was so big and heavy. They were so tiny and delicate.

Seriously stefan, it looks like those babies were dead a few days before they came out. I really don't think she ate them. but of course this is just speculation. First birthing experience I was shocked to find another snake eating babies but he went for the afterbirth with as much enthusiasm. I think that's what he was after.

When mom was finished, she partook of the afterbirth and a few stillborns that looked fresh, not rotten. I saw no harm in letting her do so.

[Stefan-A]

Seriously stefan, it looks like those babies were dead a few days before they came out.

No, I'd say they were dead for a couple of days before I found them. A couple of days on the heat pad does wonders.

[ConcinusMan]

Point taken

[Stefan-A]

Well, she just squeezed out another rear half of a baby. Something strange is definitely going on here.

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like what my Speckle did. Almost a month after giving birth she was still passing stillborns. They came out in pieces, but didn't smell like they were putrid. It had me very worried.
She seems fine now and even mated a couple weeks ago. She's eating like a pig and really putting on the weight.
Keep us informed and best of luck with her.

[Stefan-A]

This one is acting completely normal, eating and all.

[ConcinusMan]

Well, she just squeezed out another rear half of a baby. Something strange is definitely going on here.

OK, why is that strange? she could be passing dead babies for a week or two. Seen it before. The thing is, the mother is at risk. She could become septic and die. Are they mushy and smell like death? RED FLAG.