Just acquired a rat mualed BP last night - Advice pls!

[sisble50]

Hi all, I am new to the forum and to reptiles. So, HI lol and some background (sorry kinda long): I've been interested in herps (and all animals in general) since I was a kid, but was never allowed to own much more than a newt, cats and dogs. I'm now 35 with a renewed interest and had been planning on adopting a snake within the next year after my husband finishes school, gets a job…blah blah. Anyway, I have recently began a second job at my local pet store which has only added more fuel to my fire of wanting a snake. So, understand that my snake/herp knowledge is very rudimentary as I've only really been researching for a couple weeks.

Snake acquisition: I use craigslist quite a bit to sell things I no longer need. I also use it to judge my local "economy" for pricing things I may buy or sell. Well, I went snake price shopping and found someone trading their ball python for a stereo (which I happened to have for sale). Long story short, I had talked to some people who were very interested in purchasing the snake, and I want the enclosure for my future snake. My possible buyer was aware that this snake may possibly need to be rehabbed temperament wise. The snake's story as told by the previous owners: The got the snake from a guy who handled it as if it were a wild poisonous snake...new owner stated that the snake bit him once when he first got it, but became friendlier as he handled it more. He said that after a while, their 10 year old daughter handled her with ease. But with busy schedules came loss of interest and the snake hadn't been handled for about two years. They blew up their stereo, needed a new one so decided to trade the snake. I get there and the house is a loud frenzy of people and pets. The snake is in an enclosure, made from a modified desk and has the spatial volume of a 65 gallon aquarium. The snake was understandably tightly balled around a branch. It was kind of dark and smoky, so I couldn't see a whole lot, not to mention we just wanted to leave because it wasn't the nicest neighborhood. lol Previous owner stated they fed live, medium rats on the 10th of every month. They were also told that the snake was female. From the storyline, the snake is about 3-4 years old and appears to be 3'-ish. Transport of the snake consisted of moving the enclosure to the bed of our truck.

The reveal: We get the snake home and place her in a cleared, quiet spot in our garage. We are planning to keep her in the garage for awhile because it's quieter with a more stable temperature and humidity. In the light, I immediately notice a dried wound on her back and I could see what appeared to be muscle fibers (the hole is the size of my pinky finger tip). After a few hours of fresh air and solitude, we saw the ball loosen and her head appeared. I saw her mangle face and my heart sank . I felt so bad for her. Her lip on one side was raised from swelling and pinked with inflammation. A rat sized bite wound now clearly visible. As the night went on, she loosened more and more and just laid there, mouth slightly open. I put fresh water in her enclosure, wet the tip of my fingers and lightly stroked her. She tensed, but made no move to strike or hiss. This morning, much of the redness was gone, swelling seemed to have lessened and she was quite a bit more active and stretching out to test the new air coming in from the door. I gently stroked her for a couple minutes and cradled a coil to get her use to human touch again. The closer I stroke towards her head, she just moves away. She doen't seem to be agressive, but given her condition, how much should I try to handle her? My intended goal is to get her out and to a vet to avoid a resp infection or treat it if she has one. In short, though I was intending on selling her and getting a different kind of snake, I'm thinking about keeping her.

On a side note, do both sexes have spurs?

[BrianaK]

Poor baby Good thing you brought her home. I don't know much about rehabilitating snakes, but yes, both sexes have spurs. Good luck with her, I hope she turns out alright. I would probably bring her to a vet and handle her as little as possible.

[BLMinFL]

if she will let you get close enough, get some neosporin on her. Give her about a week before you try to handle her just to get used to being someplace new. Even though she is in her same tank, its still different smells.

I would recommend taking her to a good herp vet, not for the potential of a RI, but because the inflammation on her face could be because of a growing abscess.

Be prepared that she might be tank shy with her food for a while too. Basically it sounds like the people who owned her before were irresponsible and left a live rat in there when she didn't want to eat.

Let us know how she is doing!! Good luck

[sisble50]

Tank shy with her food? Sorry to bee such a n00b, but I want to make sure I get it right....I think she's been through enough already.

[BLMinFL]

Tank shy with her food? Sorry to bee such a n00b, but I want to make sure I get it right....I think she's been through enough already.

Basically she might not want to eat and try to get away from the rat if you try to feed her. its not always the case, but its a possibility.

[llovelace]

Welcome to BP.net, make a vet apt. to get a complete checkup to rule out mouth rot, RI, parasites etc., check for mites and treat with Provent-A-Mite (available on line).

[wolfy-hound]

If her mouth is agape, it could be something more serious than even a wound, so you should probably plan a vet visit so it can be checked out. It'd be a pity if she had a broken jaw or something. If you can take some pics, people might be able to tell you a bit more, but a vet is usually the best thing.

The bite on the back could have debris stuck to the wound, rather than have muscle fibers sticking out. Again, easier to tell with a pic. You could soak it with a warm wet cloth, so not to stress her by soaking her completely. Just wet a washcloth with warm water and lay it over her, see if she'll sit still long enough to be able to clean it off.

Neosporin WITHOUT PAIN RELIEF can be applied to minor wounds. The mouth gape could be the injury, a more serious injury like a broken jaw, just a misaligned jaw, or RI. Once you know for certain, you can have treatment lined up. Keeping where it's quieter is a good idea.

When you do get to the point of feeding her, I'd reccomend starting with smaller prey, like rat pups or slightly larger, so she won't feel threatened by it. You can always up the prey size if she doesn't have issues with it. I'm glad to hear she's out of the bad situation, and hopeful that you'll get good news at the vet so you'll soon have a happy healthy pet.

[sisble50]

K, I just went to check on her and she moved around again so I could get to her wound. GOOD GIRL! It doesn't appear to have any debris, but is dried out quite a bit. I gently touched and stroked around the area, she tensed at first but relaxed with continued gentle stroking around the site. So I place the warm, moist cloth on there and she tensed then quickly relaxed while I tucked it around her. I'll let it moisten the tissue then I'll place the neosporin on...if she doesn't move. lol

In the garage without her light or heat on, the gauge inside says 82F. I have the light off thinking she would feel more secure, in effect making her entire enclosure a hide. Also when I turn the light and heater on, the ambient temp got up to 94F. Anything above 85F and she opens her mouth. 82F lights and heat off she seems relaxed with mouth closed. Her head is at the other end, otherwise I'd take a pic.

If she does have a broken jaw, how is that fixed?

[sarahlovesmiike]

If I was you, I'd go to walmart and buy a 34qt tub with a small cat litter pan, a ceramic water bowl, and an accurite indoor/outdoor thermometer. Those temps are fine for now, but if you're going to nurse her back to health I would recommend buy a heat pad and a THERMOSTAT to regulate it. Have a look at the caresheet. That big enclosure it simply too big and I highly doubt that the poor snake will eat in it, hence the bite wounds. I know a tub isn't pretty, but it's practical and the snake will love you for it.


I rescued two balls a little over a year ago and they both had RIs and one had mouth rot caused by a bite to the tip of the upper jaw, right on her snout. What you are describing sounds like she may have mouth rot. It's easily taken care of. She was put on Baytril for the RI and I applied some neomycin (prescribed by the vet), to the wound. The Baytril cleared the RI and the mouth rot up within a week.


I wish you the best of luck with the poor girl, and you'll probably like a lot once she's all set up and healthy again

[stevepoppers]

I would get a plastic storage tub and keep her in that on paper towels. Basic "hospital" environment. Put holes in the tub for some airflow.

82 is a bit cold for digestion, but won't really hurt her. Get a heat pad or a small bit of flexwatt to put under the tub for a hot spot in the low 90s. Use a thermostat or at least a lamp dimmer.

Have you read the caresheet?

Good luck with the poor girl. Some people...

Edit: lol, beat to it.