Rook is gone :( What could have caused this?

[Stefan-A]

One theory that does make the most sense, animals that are kept in "sterile" environments from birth have weaker immune systems than snakes that have had exposure to parasites and pathogens throughout life.

On the other hand, it shouldn't present any sort of problem until you expose them to parasites and pathogens. Or carriers.

[Sid]

Very sorry to hear of your loss.

[infernalis]

On the other hand, it shouldn't present any sort of problem until you expose them to parasites and pathogens. Or carriers.

That's exactly the point Stefan, without microscopic inspection of every food item, how could we know what exactly is in the food we feed them.

Example, I have heard of more than one incidence of pre-packaged frozen pinky mice that "smelled funny" indicating that at least once the package had thawed out and was re-frozen.

Scott Felzer told me he had snakes die from eating earthworms! I asked if they were red wigglers, and he said absolutely not.

Some owners have lost snakes from feeding toads, yet in the wild Garters dine on toads all the time.

That same batch of "tainted" fish that wiped out 3 of my most expensive morphs was consumed by all the WC snakes with no ill effects.

Freezing food is no guarantee that parasites or bacteria will be dead, most just "hibernate" until better conditions are presented.(like a nice warm snake under a basking lamp)

I know that one first hand from eating ice once when I was younger

[reptile3]

I am sorry for the loss of Rook!!! I know how is feels to loose one. I lost my ball python- SImba back in 2004. She is buried in the backyard