Need HELP With Rescue

[rachaelmarie73]

Hi everyone - I'm new to the site but am in desperate need of some help with the new baby BP I've recently acquired from a friend. It is seemingly turning into a rescue & I am beyond worried. Here's what's going on;

I got the little guy while he was in shed, milky eyes and all. I immediately noted him being underweight, in an insufficient enclosure considering the low temps, that yellow, woodshed bedding you usually see rodents in in pet stores, and zero moisture.
I immediately switched him to 100% cypress mulch bedding, have kept his humidity levels above 50%, temps above 80 degrees, been in contact with a breeder due to his inability to shed, and have successfully force fed him this previous Thursday on account of him not eating in 3 weeks (his previous owners fed him 1 week prior to giving him up). I've also been doing soaks, which have previously helped, but now only seem to stress him out.. He is in a 20 gallon tank, I have a 75 watt heating bulb in, and I have the mesh lid covered to retain moisture.
His eyes have been clear for over 1 week, though he is dull and still looks as if in shed. After the force feed of only a pinky the little guy has been tilting his head back either staring or rolling back, he has been increasingly lethargic, and has been failing to even attempt to get the shed off. I also don't think the pet store owner who force fed him for me harmed him, as they are more experienced than me with problematic BPs.

I am so worried about this little guy and hopefully I've provided enough information about what's going on. I'll try to post pictures asap. Any advice would help me greatly, because this new BP mommy is beyond discouraged and upset..
Thanks you guys!

[DVirginiana]

The head tilting is the most worrisome bit... When he does it is his nose pointed upward? If so, that can be a sign of a respiratory infection. Have you noticed any wheezing/clicking/mucous? Also, what do you mean when you say rolling back? That... might be a little more worrisome. Can you get a video of the behavior?

Stop the soaks. That's just going to stress him out more. BPs don't ever need to soak, and if done at the wrong time during the shed cycle it can actually remove oils that help them shed. Just keep his humidity around 70% and give him a humid hide (put wet sphagnum moss in a hide) and he'll get the shed off on his own. I'm a bit confused... has the shed started flaking off any he's just not doing anything about it, or has he just not started to shed yet?

Pictures would be helpful, but just how malnourished is he? Force-feeding is EXTREMELY stressful and should only be done as an absolute last resort, after trying multiple methods of feeding including live (without pics we can't tell if he's at that point yet). How many different ways have you offered the food, and are you feeding the same thing in the same way as the previous owner?

It's difficult to tell for certain without pics and a bit more specific information, but I have a feeling you might need to plan a vet visit.

[rachaelmarie73]

Yes, his head is pointed nose up at either a 90 degree angle or more. I did not hear clicking last time I held him, but I can check tomorrow (I'm house sitting for the night so I am not home). I started the soaks because my initial issue was his lack of shedding - his eyes went from milky to clear, and his scales are dull, as if he couldn't shed off the skin, or didn't have the energy to. There is also zero flaking.
I'm not sure how to upload pictures on this website, but I can send them immediately via email. I feel like he is definitely underweight. He looks flat and boney, perked up the day after the force feed, then went down hill. I offered him a pinky a week after I got him (his eyes were clearer) but he didn't take it.

[Monty's_Mom]

It can be days for the skin to actually shed after the eyes go from milky to clear, especially when the humidity improved only after you got him. Stress and health problems also cause shedding to be longer. Soaking or assisting with a shed should only be done if there is a lot of old stuck shed skin all over the body. He doesn't need that. A better way to assist with shedding is to use a pillow case with a moist small towel in the pillow case and put the snake in that for 30 minutes. Of course, make sure it is the right temp of about 90 deg.

Even a very young juvenile can wait if its last meal was 3 weeks ago. The poor conditions, the soaking and the force feeding has created a lot of stress for him. I hope this isn't a RI but be prepared for it.

Now for the most important piece of advice. Inhale, exhale and repeat. Read and follow the stickied thread on making the enclosure you have as perfect as possible. Glass tank, plastic tub, whatever you use, get his tank right and this reduces most of the stress a snake has. A stress free snake will eat, shed and stay healthy largely without influence from humans.

A pinky mouse is likely too small. A live hopper mouse for his next meal in a week AFTER not touching him at all helps with appetite. Repeat in 5 days. Stay with live until his weight is up, he is healthy and has a couple good sheds. Waiting for a couple sheds means he is obviously growing. Then, you can try switching to F/T if you choose.