My Garter Died Don't Know The Reason (Grapic Pics D-up W)

[KITKAT]

Well, I know how bummed you are, and I am sorry for your loss...

I am pretty bummed now too, because Trinity (red sided garter female baby) is still missing, and it has been a couple of weeks now.

There is an up side to keeping pets, and a down side... and any time you keep a pet, you will experience both at times.

[drache]

I'm so sorry, Natalie
I've had snakes die unexpectedly and it's awful
that hole does look like something caused by a parasite
it looks so defined
if it was caused by the festering of an internal injury, I think it would look messier

[Charlet_2007]

yeah i agree.. this has left a hold in my heart... maybe with time ill get another one but right now i dont know...

[anji1971]

Oh Natalie, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Very sad.

[tikichick]

I am so sorry for your loss! That hole looks like a worm or some kind of parasite to me. I read an article last month about frogs giving snakes parasites, so I'm thinking that was the culprit. Regardless, RIP little dude

[adamanteus]

In Europe, toads are sometimes parasitized by the 'Greenbottle' fly (Lucilia sp), in a condition known as 'Toad Fly'. I don't know if this occurs in the US.

The eggs are laid on the toad and the larvae burrow into the flesh (usually on the back) and eat away at the toad until it dies. Perhaps a maggot of this type would be able to burrow it's way out of the snakes' gut. Lovely!

[Stefan-A]

L. bufonivora, yes. I considered the possibility of a relative that would attack reptiles, but didn't find any. Even we have our own parasite, Cochliomyia hominivorax.

I don't think it's likely, though.

[adamanteus]

I was thinking of Lucilia bufonivora, swallowed with a toad, burrowing it's way out of the snake, rather than a similar species attacking the snake directly.

[Stefan-A]

Yes, I understood that.

[adamanteus]

Indeed, you're correct, the snake appears to be preparing to slough. But the 'beautiful blue green colour' mentioned in the first post is a natural phenomenon associated with death.