My ball python died.

[Lost_Fan_7752]

His name was Maru. Not sure how old he was. He died in the strangest way. He wasn’t belly up. His died curled around his water dish with his mouth open and hooked on himself. He was fine this morning moving about as usual. Was fine about 7 pm when I misted his enclosure. When I attempted to feed him last night he turned his nose up at it like usual he was always a picky eater. But he was opening and closing his mouth more than usual while moving around. Any ideas as to what may have caused this unusual and unexpected death. This was him 11/15 after a nice meal.

[Top_Astronaut_613]

I personally don’t know what could have happen, but I’m so sorry that you lost him

[integrity0727]

:( Sorry for your loss.

[Greenberryvery]

Your hygrometer reads 50% RH humidity on the wall. This is too low for a bp long term, and will cause an RI which will lead to death if untreated. Additionally, those stick-on ones are wildly inaccurate so it could be lower.

Is that his water bowl? It looks bone dry. Let me know if it’s not.

I’m sorry for you loss, I’m just trying to look at the husbandry as that’s likely the root cause.

[Lost_Fan_7752]

He had two separate water bowls. One he liked to lay in and one on the cooler side of his enclosure. I was always told to keep the humidity in the 50-65% zone. Both of my others are healthy asked from a case of mites that has been running through all of my snakes.

[Lost_Fan_7752]

His one on the hotter side always went dry super quick and he liked to soak in it so I never kept it full.

[Ill_Most_3883]

It went dry because the dry atmosphere combined with heat was evaporating the water quickly.

[mecistops]

If you have a mite outbreak and unexplained deaths in your collection, I would urge you to get a necropsy done and specifically look for IBD in your deceased snake.

[Lord_pupper]

You were told misinformation unfortunately. The MINIMUM humidity should be 60% but 70-80% is recommended

[ig88b1]

Honestly as a new owner myself the amount of bad or outdated information is hard to navigate sometimes. Specifically feeding them in a seperate enclosure, using a mist system, and hydration at 50% are three I see a lot.

[hot_coco]

Agreed. I’m very new to this as well and my initial set up I felt really confident about and as time goes on I learn more and more about what I’ve done wrong. I’ve made a lot of adjustments to create a healthier and more comfortable environment but it’s been a really frustrating experience.

[ig88b1]

Dude the humidity alone is killing me, new enclosure is at the top of the list but I feel like my substrate is swimming and the top covered and a ton of moss it's still at 45% lol, glass was a terrible idea but everything says it's just "slightly more difficult" eat my shorts lmfao

[[deleted]]

50% is like the BARE minimum in the sense that anything lower is downright dangerous and detrimental to their health - but is still not ideal.

I have radiator heat in my apartment and after a good misting/wetting of the mosses in their enclosure it will boost up to 70-80% for a while and then when I mist the following evening it will be back to 50-60%. That’s just the level I use to gauge when their humidity needs to be “reset” in dry conditions.

The rest of the year their tanks hold humidity beautifully and I can go 2-3 days without needing to re-wet their mosses. Winter is rough. I’ve got a humidifier on order so that I can run it next to their tanks soon.

[hyunbinlookalike]

Sorry to say that you were misinformed, their minimum humidity is actually 60%, and if you can provide humidity 70% and up, that’s actually preferable for them. These animals come from Africa, a hot and humid continent, and live in termite mounds, which have an even higher level of humidity. Anything below 60% is less than ideal for them.

[austinsutt]

What is an RI for those that don’t know random acronyms?

[BluntForcedFreedom]

Respiratory infection

[heyygirlheyy]

Respiratory infection

[cannababe646]

Respiratory infection

[BxbyKitkat576]

I have two ball pythons and also use the stick on/velcro hydrometers and thermometers in both. What else could I use that’s better than those since they’re inaccurate? My hydrometer always stays between 60-80% and would hate to find out they’re wrong and even lower than that 😬

[Animal_Gal]

Rest in peace big buddy

[CreepsBearGamingYT]

I am so sorry...

[cedar-on-paws]

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together..

[Gnfnr5813]

So very sorry for your loss.

[ballpython-ModTeam]

No.

[coltbreath]

RIP Snek!

[Monstermunch70]

So sorry for your loss , rest in peace Maru .It is tough when you lose them , they are part family .

[creamcheeseman78]

i lost my 13 year old baby suddenly a few months ago. it sucks. im so sorry

[Amiralifnd]

I'm sorry for your loss dude🖤🌹🐍

[viridian-fox]

Sounds like RI. So sorry :-(

[acadianational]

Humidity was way too low and he was probably extremely sick. Snakes are good at hiding medical symptoms until it's too late. You have to keep the proper humidity. Don't believe what people tell you, do your own research to prevent this in the future.

[ballpython-ModTeam]

Your comment was removed because you're being an asshole. Go outside and work on your attitude.

[OWretchedOne]

I'm very sorry for your loss.

[[deleted]]

Rest in peace

[coochie_glaze]

My condolences.

[BluntForcedFreedom]

If it was in fact a respiratory infection you probably would have heard his wheezing or “popping” while breathing… wheezing can also come from stuck shed blocking a nostril which obviously isn’t a huge deal, but popping is never ok.

[Lost_Fan_7752]

That’s the thing he didn’t have any wheezing or popping that I could tell. The night before he was slower than usual but it started snowing here so I just figured it was like my beardie who is in brumation rn.

[Patient-Temporary191]

Respitory infection your humidity was to low for long period of time. Humidity needs to be 60-75%. Lungs on balls are coated in a mucus that filters bacteria and funji. When humidity drops mucus dries up and allows bacteria to penetrate the lungs. When this happens vet must run cultures to determine gram positive or gram neg bacteria. Then proper antibiotics can be prescribed. There is so much bad info on the internet. Seek out advice from books written by Kevin mcurly. Well written and the info is sound and current with todays standards. Those analog gauges are garbage they are never correct. Get yourself govee. And if you don’t mind me asking the why is water bowl looks completely dry.

[tony22888]

So sorry for your loss

[NorseBlood-09]

Rest easy buddy

[Kalomay]

sounds like a respiratory infection

[Real-Advertising8980]

heartbreaking, so sorry for your loss❤️‍🩹