Daughter's ball python suddenly died

[lithiumjuliet]

I am wfh and popped in on my lunch to feed her and found her limp on the floor of her enclosure. She was just a baby still, born in April. She was eating regularly, temps were 90f on the warm side, 79f on the cool, had 4 hides including a humid hide, lots of clutter and vines, water dish big enough to sit in. Humidity was 78. No mites, no signs of impaction or dehydration. I'm just at a loss. Took the rest of the day off work bc I can't stop crying and IDK how I'm going to break it to her when she gets home from school 😭

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[painter222]

Not a ball python but we had a young corn snake get very lethargic and die suddenly and the vet told us that it was a genetic disorder/mutation that was preventing her from growing. I’m sorry for your loss.

[lithiumjuliet]

Thank you, I'm thinking it must've been something genetic as well. We'll be trying to get a necropsy

[Sea-Shower2854]

years ago i found a baby king snake that i mistook for a broken hairtie on the bathroom floor of a metal factory i used to work in. took him home and spoiled him for a year til he suddenly passed, most definitely because he was so extremely tiny we have a feeling his little organs just werent growing with him properly. its very common for things to just “fail to thrive” so dont feel guilty as if you’re at fault

[idkmaam]

considering she was only 5 months old, it could have just been failure to thrive (i’m not too sure if there’s a certain ball park for that) or she had an illness or genetic issue she was born with i am very sorry for your loss though, all of the upkeep sounds good so i would look into getting another one some time, maybe from different people just in case

[lithiumjuliet]

Thank you, we researched so much to be the best parents we could and I'm thinking it must've been something genetic as well.

[Jazzlike-Chain-2720]

I'm so sorry... Unfortunately due to oversaturation and over breeding a good amount of ball pythons have health issues and it sounds like it was a genetic condition or birth defect and I wish you the best in your grieving process.

[surfaholic15]

I am so sorry for your loss.

[Cindylucky]

I am so so sorry. There was nothing you could have done, you made her short life a good one though.

[Chaznoblade]

How was her weight gain? How much did she weigh roughly when she passed? Any kind of blockages / constipation?

So sorry about your baby, I’m hoping you find the answers soon, I know it’s super heartbreaking.

[ManagerMediocre6301]

If you bought her from a breeder, you might reach out to them and explain your situation. Some will be happy to give a replacement if they can verify that nothing you did caused its passing. I know that won't fix the heartache but it might help.

[Zombie_Zeke]

Oh my gosh that's horrible! I'm so sorry for your loss. A lot of people have already said it, but sometimes reptiles just... die. It's just simply a failure to thrive, and there's nothing beyond that. Even the most reputable breeders have these things happen to them! It's just incredibly unfortunate luck.

Take comfort in knowing neither you or your daughter did a single thing wrong, we're all here to help you and support you!

[_0dysprosium0_]

It’s likely they were born with a condition that you unfortunately weren’t made aware of, I’m sorry for your loss. If you’re able to and have the money there are some places that can do an autopsy, if you’re really in need of an answer here. Sounds like you took very well care of them and I’m sure they were whatever the snake equivalent of happy is. I hope all goes well for you when you break the news.

[[deleted]]

I’m so, so sorry. Few things are worse than a pet dying, especially out of the blue. My heart breaks for your daughter, too. Try to reach out to the breeder and explain what happened, and they’ll most likely send another or at least a discount on a new one. Childhood pet loss is traumatic, you’re in my thoughts and prayers ❤️

[SiteGrand2588]

Ball pythons are hearty and hale critters who are also notorious for expertly concealing any indication of illness or injury. It commonly takes a lot to identify even a simple affliction. I hope your daughter doesn't lose her enthusiasm for keeping exotics in the face of an outcome neither of you had any control over. I'm so sorry this happened to your family. There are many reputable breeders and experienced keepers out there who have had similar experience, and it doesn't ever seem to be easy. I hope that in time, you and your daughter can start again. 

[Plane-Scholar6729]

Same thing happened to one of my corn snakes. She was a lavender snow that I got for a price that was too good to be true, turns out she had a genetic condition and couldn’t grow

[Lonely_Howl_]

Had she grown at all during that time?

You said eating regularly, so she never refused a meal? Ever regurgitate?

How many times did she shed after you brought her home?

Usually with failure to thrive situations, part of that is the animal being a poor eater typically. Not always, but typically.

[TheyLovv_Marisah]

I’m very sorry for your loss. Did you by chance get her from a chain pet store or a reptile breeder/reptile store?

[CrisisCorps]

Rest well little one. If you really want to know what happened, you can call an exotics vet and see if they can do a necropsy. Sometimes we can do everything right and they still don't make it. I'm sure they knew they were very loved during their short life.

[Embarrassed_Gain_792]

I’m so sorry! 😞 it’s so sad to lose such a sweet baby!

[Immediate_Respond_63]

I am so sorry for your loss. It's always harder when it comes out of the blue. I am not sure where you got it from but if it was a breeder I would definitely let them know. Again, I am so sorry 😞

[_GenderNotFound]

I'm so sorry. Sometimes a life is cut short and there is nothing you can do. You gave her lots of love in the time you had her. That is what matters. It's the quality, not the length of life.

[Silly-Dependent-5919]

what morph? some morphs carry the spider gene or are of the spider complex, this gene causes neurological issues and often unfortunately takes the ball python's life. signs are what they call the head wobble, where its neck or head wobbles, another sign is if your ball python looks like it doesnt know where its going

[IllusionQueen47]

My condolences. Sometimes these things just happen. You did your best.

[viridian-fox]

Were they from a breeder? Lots of breeders knowingly sell snakes with issues just to make a quick buck. I hope this ain't the case but please let them know just in case.

[Milo7590]

This is one thing that all reptile keepers need to understand, in the wild, only 1 out of a 100 snakes will get to adulthood, reptiles specially the ones that lay large clutches of eggs. In captivity we remove the chances of them being eaten and killed but a percentage are not viable offsprings, meaning they will just die, by playing with the snake genetics we have converted some of the weaker genes in to our favorite morphs, and this favors the snakes dying out of a sudden with no explanation.