Warning, dont overheat your snake

[Feederwarehouse]

So, I have just recently gotten into snake keeping and deceided to get a rat snake as they are aboriel (which appealed to me as I like plants and natural vaviuriums to) and wanted something different to a corn snake which is a little tricky to get hold of in Cape Town, I have 2 corns already. So any way, went and collected my new baby, very exited. The breedes where only 15 mins away but when I got home something didnt seem right , mouth was open as almost looked like it was choking for air, put a water bowl in but alas it died . So just a warning it was +- 30c outside and I don't have an aircon in my car and 30 min later my new baby died . I am really heart broken over this and feel like the worse pet owner in the world, but have learn't a valuable lesson, if you dont have an aircon in your car and you are sweating then it's to hot to transport a snake. My car was probable a few degrees warmer then the air temp.
I really feel terrible about this but thought I would share to warn any one else.

[monopeltis]

Was it in direct sun? 30C should not kill a snake especially in that amount of time.

[Feederwarehouse]

I think it might have been as he was on the floor of my car and it does sometimes get direct sun but didnt notice until it I got home. Can only think he overheated unless there are other ideas as he was fine when I first saw him.

[nvlooi]

Was it in direct sun? 30C should not kill a snake especially in that amount of time.

I've seen snake dies within minutes due to overheating...


H

[monopeltis]

Was it in direct sun? 30C should not kill a snake especially in that amount of time.

I've seen snake dies within minutes due to overheating...


H

At 30C ????

[Qball]

If it was on the floor, perhaps you put it directly above the exhaust? I know in my bakkie, the floor gets a bit warmer where the exhaust runs.

[PythonRegius]

How long did your car stand completely closed up in the sun before you put your snake in? Even though you open up all the windows immediately afterwards, the car will still be very hot inside and you can feel all heat radiating from your dash for instance.

Did the snake have access to enough water before you collected it? Not blaming anyone, just trying to figure out what the conditions were. Perhaps even though he looked fine he was a bit thirsty (dehydrated) and that coupled with the heat sent him over the edge.

It must have been a lot hotter than 30C though.

Regards

[sega]

Today it is about 35c where i live so i unplugged all my heating pads,luckily my snake room stays cooler than the rest of the house on hot days.
Sorry for your loss.

[Smeegle]

Don't beat yourself up, I agree with monopeltis. 30c aint overeating, especially for that short period of time.

Thimk we are missing something here...

[Rodwraylva]

So, I have just recently gotten into snake keeping and deceided to get a rat snake as they are aboriel (which appealed to me as I like plants and natural vaviuriums to) and wanted something different to a corn snake which is a little tricky to get hold of in Cape Town, I have 2 corns already. So any way, went and collected my new baby, very exited. The breedes where only 15 mins away but when I got home something didnt seem right , mouth was open as almost looked like it was choking for air, put a water bowl in but alas it died . So just a warning it was +- 30c outside and I don't have an aircon in my car and 30 min later my new baby died . I am really heart broken over this and feel like the worse pet owner in the world, but have learn't a valuable lesson, if you dont have an aircon in your car and you are sweating then it's to hot to transport a snake. My car was probable a few degrees warmer then the air temp.
I really feel terrible about this but thought I would share to warn any one else.

You mean corn snakes are tricky to get or rat snakes, because both are quite easy to find at most petshops, do not leave anything alive in a warm car for any ammount of time, and you make it sound asif you did not have a waterbowl in. Sorry for your loss, we learn from out mistakes and from others, it just feels a little weird the way you say things, hope you will get your pets home safely next time.

[Jamster]

What size was the container? Did it have good ventilation? Sorry for your loss bud

[gartersnake]

Jamster, I just wanted to ask the same thing, also, was the container cleaned at all and if so with what?
Overheating can happen yes, but what you are telling me, doesn't sound right, where in the car did you keep the snake during transport?

[Rishaad]

Considering it was a hatchling it would have heated up much quicker than a larger snake. I have had medium sized spotted bush snakes, brown house snakes, etc die within minutes on very hot days on route to release spots. I have noticed that snakes that die from heat exhaustion always do so with their mouths open. Sorry for your loss.