Strange and disturbing mass death of babies

[d_virginiana]

Watch out what bottled water you're using. Lots of it has sodium bicarbonate and/or sodium chloride added "for flavor". Use unadulterated spring water or if you don't live in an area with a lot of air pollution, collected rainwater is fine too.

Walmart brand spring water is fine. I used to buy gallons of it and use it for my frog, and they're way more sensitive to water quality than snakes.

[ConcinusMan]

I know you're probably not saying it does, but brand makes no difference. Spring water only comes from a finite number of sources so water from the same spring can have many different brand labels. Spring water is just that. It can't say spring water on the label unless it is bottled at the source with nothing added, and it comes from natural springs fed by snow melt. Just make sure you read the label. If you don't use spring water, distilled drinking water is so pure that there are no minerals in it at all. Probably safer for snakes than most tap water.

[d_virginiana]

I know you're probably not saying it does, but brand makes no difference. Spring water only comes from a finite number of sources so water from the same spring can have many different brand labels. Spring water is just that. It can't say spring water on the label unless it is bottled at the source with nothing added, and it comes from natural springs fed by snow melt. Just make sure you read the label. If you don't use spring water, distilled drinking water is so pure that there are no minerals in it at all. Probably safer for snakes than most tap water.

Yeah, I was just specifying since a lot of times people will avoid Walmart brand because it's not the highest quality but it's cheaper than most of the others.
Is distilled okay for snakes? I've never used it for mine, but I know you can't use it for frogs because it will leach minerals out of their system.

[guidofatherof5]

I think the distilled water question came up about a year ago. I'll see if I can located that thread.

No luck finding that thread.

[Greg'sGarters]

As bad as it may sound, it gives me a sense of relief to read this post, as in that I am not the only one who this has happened to. In July, I had caught a garter snake. She seemed fat and was breathing through her mouth, very heavily. Until one day I found exactly a dozen babies in the tank. So I isolated them and fed them a guppy once every 3 days. Once a week, 1-2 would die. Now they have all died. One of them is posted in my profile picture and my avatar. They were all extremely healthy, but one day they would just lay out, roll on their back, and die. They started to also get gray eyes, but not as if they were shedding, but as if they were tarnishing silver. Just letting you know that you're not alone. Is their mother healthy? ALWAYS keep them hydrated, I once went on a 3 day vacation over which their water bowl dried up, and I lost 4 in those 3 days. Hope yours have a happier ending than mine did! Good Luck!

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, I was just specifying since a lot of times people will avoid Walmart brand because it's not the highest quality but it's cheaper than most of the others.
Is distilled okay for snakes? I've never used it for mine, but I know you can't use it for frogs because it will leach minerals out of their system.

Well, I know that snakes often drink water droplets off of vegetation, either from dew or rainfall. It doesn't get much more distilled than that. Amphibians and fish are different since they don't actually drink water. It's absorbed through the skin by osmosis. This explains why it's not a good idea to use distilled water for amphibians and fish: Osmoregulation in Fish

I would think that it's OK for snakes.

[Dracorex5]

I live in a nasty area for rain water, but ive checked the brand of water i used. If it worked for triop breeding its safe for a good number pf critters. Those triops die at the slightest hint of chemical. And this tin of calcium is only about three weeks old, but they keep dying. Im also sure this is a different brand too.

[d_virginiana]

I live in a nasty area for rain water, but ive checked the brand of water i used. If it worked for triop breeding its safe for a good number pf critters. Those triops die at the slightest hint of chemical. And this tin of calcium is only about three weeks old, but they keep dying. Im also sure this is a different brand too.

Maybe still stop using the calcium supplement for awhile. It won't hurt them. It's unlikely, but there could be some sort of contamination in it. At this point you might as well try it..

[Dracorex5]

Im so sorry about all your babies... Its so strange and it really is just flat out disturbing to watch. I have one right now who i turning the green shade. Im keeping an eye on hos actions. I just want them pull through to at least springtime!

[Dracorex5]

Update: I've changed the temps to be a little higher, I've stopped using supplements of all sorts, and I have separated all the snakes into separate bins. I believe it may have been the supplements at this point.... They are eating more viciously and baby who was starting to green has stopped greening entirely. Any idea if the sups could have had NA in them causing the quick decay? The deaths were rarely after feedings, but it's very possible. I used Zoo-Med's reptile calcium without D3 about every three feedings, and just a bit (not enough to full cover). Has anyone else ever used this supplement with baby garters and had this issue?