I’ve had snakes for years (mostly rescues) and had some die, but I had decided to invest in some higher-end snakes and breed them to sell babies.
This really has shaken me, and I’m considering selling them, because I don’t think I can handle another loss like this (emotionally or financially).
I get that feeling
I’ve been working really hard at my job and gotten some promotions/raises before this whole COVID-19 stuff happened.
I had some money saved up and decided to invest it in quality snakes instead of having it sit collecting minimal interest in my bank account.
No, I don’t know why she died. That’s why this is really sickening me.
Back when I would rescue snakes, I’d get a snake, for instance, that didn’t eat regularly, according to the former owner.
I would provide it with an appropriate environment, and it would eat regularly for me, but then die. I guess it just hadn’t gotten the nourishment it needed, so my good care of it was too late to make a difference.
Those rescued snakes would be free or a small dollar amount, but this snake was a LOT of money. The previous owner had her for a year or more, she was a 2018, and he said she was eating regularly. She didn’t seem underweight and she ate fine the two times I fed her (I was told she ate every other week).
I have a boa named Kai. I bought him at a pet store and later found out that he has a spinal kink
She was a bit touchy, but never struck. I didn’t handle her much - just gently but swiftly transferring her to a tub so I could clean her cage.
was she a morph type?
Oh yeah, I saw your post about that here. I saw the photo too.
I’m sorry that happened. Does it affect him?
Yeah, a goldeneye het T negative.
If I buy another snake like her again, I’m buying direct from a breeder.
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no not really he has some trouble shedding
she was going to be a wornderful pet and breeder
Again I am sorry for your loss
I feel that life can througt some stuff at us that we don’t see coming, or expect
I will pray for you if you don’t mind
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Wow I can only imagine the feeling of losing a snake so unexpectedly like that. So sorry you’re going through this.
Firstly and most importantly 
, I’m sorry you have had to experience this. It is a horrible situation and one that unfortunately most breeders will go through at some point or another, sadly yours happened so early into your investment.
Dealing with a loss can be extremely difficult at the best of times, especially when you have more than just a emotion link, in this case financially.
Do your best to keep calm and take any opportunity you can to go for a walk at some point today. Find somewhere close by with a bit of history that you can research or just anything to clear your head for a hour while your out. It will help.
As for what to do with the actual snake, you can check out this thread that has some suggestions… How do you deal with a loss
Please please dont let this discourage you though, by the sounds of it you have been doing a amazing job rescuing animals for years, the reptile world still needs you.
If you would like to talk privately, even about anything off topic, I’m only a message away. We are here for you
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I’m so sorry that you lost her. I can imagine how you feel. I think if I find one of my snakes ( or any animal) dead i will cry my eyes out. She really looks beautiful and your plans sound really good.
Just give it some time to settle. I hope when the first shock is gone you can see some light again. Unfortunaly all living creatures can die and it really sucks big time, but do not give up because most of the time everything goes well and our snakes live for a long time. That’s one of the benefits of keeping reptiles, al lot of them can grow really old. I know it’s difficult now but try to see some light on the horizon. Your other snake is still fine and a future one might also live until you’re ready for your own retirement, or at least for may years.
One of the most shitty things in live is that there is dead, but sometimes that is also the thing that make you appreciate live more. I know it’s difficult now but don’t forget the beautiful side of keeping these great animals, because once you really know them how can you ever go without?!. I just know better times will come and one day this will be a bad memory among thousands of good ones because that’s how life is. Now matter how serious the storms in your life are, one day sun will still come. And one day you will find an other beautiful blood python that will live for long and gives you gorgeous babies.
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I’m so sorry that happened to you, and I truly know how you feel. Just a couple of weeks ago one of my snakes escaped (entirely my own fault) and I unfortunately found him dead on Saturday. He was my first snake so it was particularly hard to cope with, especially knowing that I could have prevented it.
I hope you’re okay, grief is an awful thing to be trapped in but there is also nothing wrong with feeling that emotion. Take some time to do things you enjoy, and perhaps just sit for a while and focus on your breathing. In time you’ll feel better about it, I promise.
I’m so sorry this has happened to you. I understand you must feel shaken and shocked.
There are a few practical things that you can do, which might uncover why this has happened and help you feel more in control. Please understand that this is NOT YOUR FAULT. It seems as though you are an experienced keeper who looked after her well.
Firstly, I would completely clean out and disinfect her vivarium. Even though it might look clean, there could have been something microbial or fungal in there, which is hard to see, that could spread to your other reptiles.
Secondly, would you be able to take her to a vet who specialises in reptiles for a necropsy? This is like an autopsy, for animals. Your vet may be able to tell you why she died, which can be helpful for prevention in the future or uncover an pre-existing problem with the snake which you may not have been made aware of.
I hope that this helps you to combat the feeling of helplessness that comes with the death of an animal.
xxx
Thanks to all for your sympathy, kind words, suggestions, and prayers. I really appreciate everything.
I am feeling a little less shock, and am leaning towards keeping my remaining snakes. I still have her intended future mate, another male, a ready-to-breed female, and a yearling female, of which three are also high-end morphs. I can always hope to find (or maybe produce) another like her.
That’s the thing about animals - nearly all will live much shorter lives than their human caretakers. For that reason (among others) I’ve had multiple pets whenever possible. They give me a reason to keep going. I once pretended to joke to a friend about my dozens of “emotional support animals”.
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I am happy to hear that you are feeling a little better, I with still be praying for you though. 
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