Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Snakes > 2 corns died

2 corns died

22 15:37:23

Question
QUESTION: I've had 2 small corns just up and die for no reason over the past few months. Both ate well, and shed well, and then without warning I found them dead. I have another ( separate cage ) that is marvelous for the last 2 years. Do you think breaders are pumping these species out so fast they are producing bad product?
ANSWER: Hi there, were the corns housed together? What were the temperatures and husbandry like? So sorry for your loss

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: No they were in seperate rooms. Exact temp setups. The one that is thriving was bought as a miami albino the other (2)that died were standard corns. I have no idea about the husbandry, they were bought at commercial pet stores. Each lived about 4 months. They ate well, they shed well, but each had at one time regurgitated their food. I waited a good 2 weeks before re-feeding and they ate well at least twice before expiring. Both of the corns that died didn't exhibit anything abnormal. I checked on them daily and one day they were in perfect health and the next day - poof, dead. Very strange.

I simply believe this is the result of over and in-breeding this particular specie.

Theory and/or question: I have a cat that liked to sit on top of the cage and annoy them. I can hardly think that this caused stress and often covered the cage after eating and closed the area off after eating. Could this cat behavior caused them stress. The other albino who is thriving seems to have no problem with it.

THANKS for your time.

Answer
Did they both die at the exact same time or was it at different times? What were you measuring the temperatures with? What heating did you use? Young corns are very prone to stress, did they have plenty of hides? Would keep the cat away in future as they may have been stressed by it