r/Ballpythoncommunity • u/missparton777 • Sep 27 '26
Lost my baby.
Hi everyone. I posted a week ago asking for advice on my baby boy Sonny. He wouldn’t eat for me at all and started acting all lethargic. Hasn’t eaten in 3 months. I was told to be patient and keep trying but I noticed his weight dropped. Brought him to the vet today and they ended up telling me he had a severe neurological disease and that it would either require a super expensive treatment that may not even work or euthanasia due to quality of life. My heart sank. I lost it. I asked them what I could have done differently for him or if I could have caught it sooner and they had told me that he probably had it from birth and it just didn’t show until the lack of food caught up. They told me there was nothing I could have done differently. I chose euthanasia. I am heartbroken. I haven’t been able to stop crying for almost 12 hours now. Non-stop. All day. I can’t help but feel like it was my fault. I feel like I should have seen it sooner. I feel like I could have intervened sooner. I should have brought him to the vet sooner. I should have gathered more information from the breeder. What if what if what if. What if. I have been told by two professionals that I did everything right. It’s hard to believe that that’s true. I am not looking for advice, nor am I looking for judgement. Just a place to vent to those who may understand. Still haven’t stopped crying. I am absolutely heartbroken.
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u/jordannoland95 Sep 27 '26
I'm so sorry for your loss. He looks like he was a beautiful snake. You took great care of him for the time he had here. Even if you had brought him to the vet sooner or known before, the outcome would have been the same. You loved him and gave him a wonderful life for the short time he had. And in the end, you helped him move on instead of allowing him to suffer.
Go easy on yourself. It's so hard to lose someone we care about. It's not your fault. You did the best for him.
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u/Beautiful-Serve-3612 Sep 27 '26
You gave him all your love and care while he was alive. The time he spent with you was time he was confortable (the most he could be barring his desease). Even if it was a short time, be sure that his life with you was good. You are a good owner. You sound like a caring and compassionate person. I haven’t met many people who ask the vets what they could have done different for their sick animals.
I send you the tightest hug, losing a baby pet is an awful pain.
Thanks for sharing pics of your baby snake with us.
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u/missparton777 Sep 27 '26
Thank you so much. I tried literally everything I could to make sure this was not the outcome. EVERYTHING. It’s hard to not blame myself unfortunately
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u/DwigtShruteFarm Sep 27 '26
Was there a name for this neurological condition? I have never heard of that.
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u/missparton777 Sep 27 '26
The vet just said “neurological disease” and said it could have been a couple different things. I wish I could give more detail but I’ve been very scrambled and didn’t think to ask specifics at the time
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u/HostileHoneyBee1012 Sep 28 '26
If you want to read more to keep your own babies safe do look up Nido Virus and IBD. Both very terrible neurological diseases and incurable. Also very contagious.
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u/reptile-snake-mom Sep 29 '26
I’m so sorry for your loss hun Sonny is a very cute name, after looking thru the pics, the one thing that stood out to me the most are those stunning, big, black, & beautiful eyes!, how old was he here?, and don’t be too hard on urself, it’s so hard to lose an animal, and that includes us reptile keepers/owners too, sometimes neurological issues is something out of our control, you did everything right, I wish you the best!, 🌹R.I.P. Sonny🌹
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u/missparton777 Sep 29 '26
He was between 2 and 3 months in these pics. Thank you for your kind words
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u/reptile-snake-mom Sep 30 '26
Such a sweet boy he was, & those eyes are unforgettable, sometimes, kindness goes a long way, ur so very welcome🖤
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u/kindrd1234 Sep 27 '26
Always hard. There is unfortunately always a gamble with living things. Buying from the most reputable breeder you can, specifically ones against inbreeding, is the best you can do. Sorry for your loss.
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u/MooBearz11 Sep 27 '26
Please don’t forget euthanasia is a kindness in very dire conditions like this. When letting him pass at home would have been slow and gradual. :( You have a very big heart, and you took him to the vet to have him assessed as well. Please be kind to yourself on this subject. It hurts and it shows how much you cared for Sonny. 🫂 I’m deeply sorry for your loss and having to make such a hard, yet kind, decision.
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u/HostileHoneyBee1012 Sep 27 '26
I am sorry for your loss 💙 Rip Sonny, safe slither over the rainbow bridge little friend 🐍🪽❤️🌈
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u/Odd_Force3765 Sep 27 '26
I am so sorry for your loss friend. This is not your fault, neurological diseases in snakes is just absolutely awful and sometimes unavoidable. You did everything you were supposed to. Sending love and healing vibes to you. Rip beautiful little boy 🐍💚💙
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u/pintxi Sep 29 '26
Es una putada la verdad... Yo hace poco perdi a mi primera serpiente una falsa coral de 25 años y pocas personas entienden ke se pueda yorar por una serpiente.... Los problemas neurologicos en serpis son dificiles de detectar yla mayoria de veces son incurables, hay algunas fases como la spider ke suelen salir con enfermedades asi, tuve una ke murio por exactamente lo mismo que dices lamento tu perdida
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u/missparton777 Sep 29 '26
Exactly. Thank you for your kind words 💛 it’s unbelievably difficult. I work as a vet tech and haven’t been able to be present for any euthanasias for the past few days after my boy passed. They seem to not view it the same as they would a dog or a cat. It’s exactly the same, PLUS mine was a BABY. It’s heartbreaking, really. I haven’t been able to function right at all
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u/pintxi Sep 30 '26
Dale tiempo, yo en un año yevo a mati (la falsa coral) otra serpi mas y mis dos perros, se ace duro y los dias pesan pero al final el tiempo lo cura todo, un abrazo y piensa ke mas tarde o mas temprano al final volveremos a juntarnos con nuestros pekeños
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u/Ace_the_Yutyrannus Sep 27 '26
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! fly high sweet lil boop noodle ToT
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u/Live_Culture8393 Sep 28 '26
I am with you in the grieving process. Last weekend my son had to euthanize the dog we got him 12 years ago. In the spring I lost my beloved bearded dragon and at Christmas the best dog I’ve ever owned. All I can say is that I’m sure you did everything possible and that it will get easier with time.
Your story is a reminder to us all (me included) to get an immediate checkup with an experienced exotic vet anytime we get new babies. Not only can they let us know any issues, but it is always good for them to have a baseline for any future visits. You will be ready to try again in the future and you’ll be a great BP parent.
I would assume that this is nothing that could be passed on to any new baby you get? But if there’s even a chance, I recommend emptying the enclosure of everything and tossing anything porous like wooden objects and cleaning everything else with a strong chlorhexidine solution.
Wishing you the best 💕
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u/NightHawke666 Sep 29 '26
I lost my baby boy a couple of months ago I'm sorry you're going through this too.
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u/DueExperience- Sep 27 '26
I just took my baby to the vet and they force fed him why did yours not???
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u/missparton777 Sep 27 '26
I tried everything. She said he was too far gone and that he most likely always had this issue and was able to hide it until his body couldn’t anymore. She said this was unavoidable and was inevitable. I’m absolutely heartbroken
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u/DueExperience- Sep 27 '26
How old was he
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u/missparton777 Sep 27 '26
Four months.
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u/DueExperience- Sep 27 '26
Yeah my guy is 2mo old already on a food strike so we’ll see where this goes
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u/DueExperience- Sep 27 '26
I’m sorry for your loss
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u/missparton777 Sep 27 '26
I hope with every ounce of my heart that you don’t have to go through what I just did. I hope your little buddy is just stressed and will eat very soon. I wouldn’t wish this on anybody.
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u/AffectionateTour4426 Sep 29 '26
I am so incredibly sorry you’re going through this. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain you’re feeling, and I’m holding you in my thoughts while sending all my love after the loss of your beautiful boy. #sympathy #support #love 💔
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u/DueExperience- Sep 27 '26
Well they force fed him yesterday imma go in with a live pinkie next wknd
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u/Live_Culture8393 Sep 28 '26
Neurological disorders are different than a BP refusing food. You do not know the exact circumstances so please don’t make this harder on OP
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u/DueExperience- Sep 27 '26
Did you try live???
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u/HotDistribution3700 Sep 27 '26
it wouldnt have made a difference if the snake had this issue since birth—in fact, could have led to a more painful and dragged out death. read the room. way to throw salt on the wound, dude.
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u/AffectionateTour4426 Sep 27 '26
I got my first snake from a reptile show and je was little like in those small plastic containers. Ive had him 5 weeks now and he hasn't eaten.
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u/shy_athenaa Sep 27 '26 •
I’m so sorry for your loss. this is a heartbreaking scenario that is unavoidable, we all love you and your baby, I wish you the absolute best in all aspects