Need help badly!

[Fazer72110]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the forum and ball pythons AND I'm in desperate need of some help. The other day I picked up a female pinstripe and a male pastel from a couple on Facebook. When I met to get them in a dark walmart parking lot I could see the pastel had a long streak of brown on his belly. It was apparent the skin was coming off, but I did not see any raw wounds. He insisted it was not a thermal burn but a bad shed that was died by the wood chip substrate. He was very convincing and took advantage of my ignorance. So, I walked away with a burned snake.

I contacted him the next day once I inspected the snake and found obvious burn wounds. No response of course. So, now I need some burn treatment advice. Also, do you guys think he's even a pastel? He is in shed, and his markings seem to match the pic in the listing, but he is very dark.

This is my current treatment for the burn:
Twice a day I soak him in warm water, flush the wound with hydrogen peroxide, put silver sulfadiazine cream on the burn, and change the paper towel substrate. I also wipe down the tub, and clean/change his water bowl.





Pictures were taken the morning after purchasing him.

Thanks in advance!

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[Scottywelsh]

I'm pretty sure that's a normal ball python I'm afraid
I haven't had any experience with burns first hand but because you don't know what conditions he was kept in I would see a vet strait away before Infection sets in. You might be doing everything right but he could have already picked something up from previous owners.

Not sure where your from but if I had bought that snake I would send picture and any details you have about the previous owner to the RSPCA to make sure they know what they have done/are doing is wrong.
Good Luck

[Fazer72110]

I'm pretty sure that's a normal ball python I'm afraid
I haven't had any experience with burns first hand but because you don't know what conditions he was kept in I would see a vet strait away before Infection sets in. You might be doing everything right but he could have already picked something up from previous owners.

Not sure where your from but if I had bought that snake I would send picture and any details you have about the previous owner to the RSPCA to make sure they know what they have done/are doing is wrong.
Good Luck

Thank you for your reply. I agree a vet visit is probably necessary as he may need injections for those reasons. There is a local vet that will see reptiles, but I don't think there is a reptile specialist in the area. Hopefully he is experienced enough.

I would like to report them, but I'm not sure who to report them to. I live in Indiana, USA. I have the chat log from both the bf and gf, and it shows them reading my messages about the condition of the animal and ignoring them. I sent them the same pictures I posted here. I quickly searched RSPCA and it looks like that's a European organization?

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[PitOnTheProwl]

That is a burn from yet another idiot that is running an unregulated heat source.

Keep it clean, keep him on paper towels and it will take a lot of time for it to heal.
If there is no puss or odor just KEEP IT CLEAN.

You are doing good for it but I would not add the extra stress of soaking twice a day.
Every couple days is enough as long as the enclosure stays clean.
The silver sulf will help with healing but time is what is needed.

[Scottywelsh]

I quickly searched RSPCA and it looks like that's a European organisation

It is yes. I live in the UK but there will be something where you are to. A Google search should come up with something I would imagine
I would definitely keep everything and use it. People like that should not be a lowed to keep animals !

I hope everything goes well. Good luck.

[PitOnTheProwl]

People like that should not be a lowed to keep animals !

Like who? The ones that don't know or are uninformed? I would bet it wasn't intentional but due to ignorance it happened and the sale of the animal was the out.
I just wish people would get informed BEFORE they make a purchase, any purchase.

[bcr229]

As long as the burn doesn't get infected your current regime will help him heal up. Are you disinfecting the tub every day with something like F10 or chlorhexidine?

[Scottywelsh]

Like who? The ones that don't know or are uninformed? I would bet it wasn't intentional but due to ignorance it happened and the sale of the animal was the out.
I just wish people would get informed BEFORE they make a purchase, any purchase.

For the guy to make a story like the bad shed changing colour and what not and he said he was very convincing so I bet anything that he new exactly What he was doing
I'm not saying he held the snake down and burnt it ! but I bet anything he new what he was doing and the risks of doing it
Also people who burn there snakes and then sell them as perfectly healthy should NOT be owning any animals. That's the sort of people I'm on about! Not new people who are uninformed

[Fazer72110]

For the guy to make a story like the bad shed changing colour and what not and he said he was very convincing so I bet anything that he new exactly What he was doing
I'm not saying he held the snake down and burnt it ! but I bet anything he new what he was doing and the risks of doing it
Also people who burn there snakes and then sell them as perfectly healthy should NOT be owning any animals. That's the sort of people I'm on about! Not new people who are uninformed

Yes, he knew exactly what he was selling me. He went on and on about his experience with snakes, even bragging about one of his burmese pythons being on display at the Indianapolis zoo. He told me that I could reach him for advice whenever I needed since I am newer to BPs. He named off a bunch of people I shouldn't do business with in the area, but he forgot to name himself obviously. I trusted him because he took the time to talk to me, and made comments about things such as the importance of reputation in the hobby.

He and his girlfriend both read my messages regarding the condition of the animal the following day. Neither has responded in the last three days. They should never own animals, you are correct. Which is why I did not press them to return the snake after my first message. At least the little guy has a chance with me.


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[Fazer72110]

As long as the burn doesn't get infected your current regime will help him heal up. Are you disinfecting the tub every day with something like F10 or chlorhexidine?

I need to get a hold of some chlorhexidine. Where do you normally buy it? And do you dilute it?

I have been using peroxide, water, and then letting it ventilate before returning the snake to the tub for now. Not sure if that's as beneficial.

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