First Rescue

[jeepjunky]

So im checking craigslist like i do every day and i come across an ad 3 ball pythons need new home, so i call and she tells me she has a 6 year old male and 2 females 4 and 2 years old i ask her the standard questions, she tells me she just needs a new home since she is moving.

i tell her ok ill come by after work and check them out, needless to say i had to take them out of feeling sorry for them all three were in one tank about the size of a 30 gallon, the male and older female looked ok not healthy but not sickly either, the biggest problem was the "2 year old female" who is smaller then my year old het pied and even smaller then my 8 month old i adopted from a gal who just couldnt take care of him anymore, my first thought was there is no way this snake is 2 years old it just cant be, she proceeded to tell me she only eats 4-5 times a year i held my tongue in fear she would change her mind and not let me take them, she also stated she had other setups which consisted of a 20g bare tank with a bowl in it.

there were no UTH's no heat tape, no che, no rep lights, they were using a halogen shop light, no hides at all. I got the male in a tub with a hide and bowl and he instantly went in the hide and looked out a few times then settled in .

the 4 year old female who is also a tad small did the same thing and they seem to enjoy there new tubs, the few times i have checked on them they will peek out at me flick a tongue a bit and go back in. i will get weights on them as soon as they have had some alone time for awhile.

the small female i put in a very small tub with 2 hides and a bowl and i took a chance even though she was in a new and unfamiliar place and put in a few pinkies she took them right away! Crossing fingers i can get her on the right track, i will take pictures when they have settled in better and get some input on the size of this "2 year old female" and see what you fellow herpers think about this age/size thing.

Should i keep giving her pinkies as long as she will take them? till i can get here some bigger prey? i only have med and large rats nothing small but leftover pinks, she is a bit thin but not danger thin, im just worried about if she is really 2 years old.

Sorry this was so long any advice or tips would be appreciated.

[mrshawt]

You are extremely kind to take them in so they can have a proper home. I wish I could do the same thing, but most people on craigslist near me charge a lot of money. Plus, I travel frequently so one snake is enough trouble as is haha.

Yes, I would move up the prey size. Shoot for 10-15% of the snake's body weight. I'm glad you got the small female to eat something. However, you might want to wait a couple days for her/them to settle in to their new surroundings. While they are the proper husbandry setup for a bp, it's a big change for them.

I wish you luck! I can't wait to see pictures.