Snake died during hibernation (photos!)

[reptileparadise]

One of my snakes, a 2,5 year old thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis with a good weight died during its hibernation.
It happens...
But when I took a closer look, I noticed something strange.
Here are some pictures. Any one an idea?
Blood around its mouth...But as far as I can see, no rott.



Small pox on his belly?
Only two of them. His entire body was okay, except for these two spots.

[Stefan-A]

Stomatitis? Lower temperature - weakened immune system - death?

Sorry about the loss, by the way.

[reptileparadise]

That was the first thing I thought off. I have never seen any signs of it though.

[GarterGuy]

That sucks.....sorry about that. Yeh, I was also thinking Stomatitis, could have been that he always had a bit of it, but like Stefan said, the lowered immune system of a brumating snake may have allowed it to go totally systemic and just run through the poor snake.

[anji1971]

Sorry about your loss.

[ssssnakeluvr]

sorry for your loss....not sure why it passed. it's not uncommon to lose a snake or 2 during brumation....I have lost a few over the years, all appeared healthy going into brumation and just died...it sucks....

[reptileparadise]

Thanks everyone...
This is the first snake I have lost during brumation and sadly, I'm going to lose another one. My male radix looks like he is gasping for air, with a strange bend in his neck. He acted normal when I woke him up, but now, about 4 hours after waking up, his condition is very very bad.
man...what a way to start 2008 :s

[zooplan]

Sorry for your loss, Sjoerd.
Are your snakes still in brumation, or have you started to warm them up?
I´ve lost a female ´parietalis last year without any visible reason.

[adamanteus]

Sjoerd, I'm sorry to hear your bad news. I wouldn't like to guess on the cause of death on the cyrtopsis. It doesn't really look like stomatitis, does it?

[reptileparadise]

@ Udo: Yes, I warmed everyone up today.
Hibernation ended!

@ James: I wouldn't know. I thought I would have seen something if he ahd it before he went in hibernation. But I have never noticed anything. He was even eating fine before he went to sleep...