Picking up a female from CL this weekend...advice?

For $50, I couldn't pass this girl up! I'll be picking her up Sunday, and I'd love some step-by-step advice as far as what I should check for. I'm still pretty new to this hobby, and I want to make sure I don't mess up and get a sick snake! She looks a little thin to me, but I don't know if I'm being overly worried.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Thunderbun/d.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Thunderbun/c.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/Thunderbun/a.jpg

I know I should listen for wheezing, what else should I be looking for?

What do you think? Pretty snake, right? XD They don't know her weight, but she is 4.5' long.

She looks a little thin and it seems like she has a stuck eye cap.

You want to check the mouth for any signs of an RI and check for mites.

Make sure you quarantine her away from your other snakes for at least 30 days, 60-90 is better.

You're also going to want to check that she is in fact a she. :)

Thanks, I thought her eye looked weird but I assumed she was in shed. That will fall off when she sheds if my humidity is good, right? XD Definitely going to quarantine. I don't have a rack yet, so everyone is separate anyway. And I'm hoping to get her probed either at one of the local exotic shops, or the (only) herp vet back home.

To check her mouth....I know this is going to sound weird, but how do I get her to open her mouth? XD And what am I looking for, just bubbling?

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Originally Posted by ShockBunny

Thanks, I thought her eye looked weird but I assumed she was in shed. That will fall off when she sheds if my humidity is good, right? XD Definitely going to quarantine. I don't have a rack yet, so everyone is separate anyway. And I'm hoping to get her probed either at one of the local exotic shops, or the (only) herp vet back home.

To check her mouth....I know this is going to sound weird, but how do I get her to open her mouth? XD And what am I looking for, just bubbling?

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The eye cap should come off the next time she sheds, if it doesn't put her in a damp cloth bag/pillow case for an hour and secure it. They usually rub the eye cap off while trying to get out.

To check mouths, I hold their head and use my thumb to pull the bottom lip down a little. You want to look for bubbles, keep in mind they do have saliva so if she struggles a lot it could create bubbles in the saliva, or signs of mouth rot.

Also check the belly for any signs of scale rot or burns. :)

And mouth rot will be that fun chunky gooey stuff, right?

Thanks so much for the help, I feel much more confident now. :)

Yup, mouth rot is the chunky gooey stuff. I've also heard it described as cheesy.

I hope she turns out to be completely fine. She's very pretty. :)

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Originally Posted by ShockBunny

I'm hoping to get her probed either at one of the local exotic shops, or the (only) herp vet back home.

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Make sure you have a plan for "her" if she turns out to be a he. I wouldn't expect the CL poster to be willing to give your money back if you find this out after completing the sale.

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

Make sure you have a plan for "her" if she turns out to be a he. I wouldn't expect the CL poster to be willing to give your money back if you find this out after completing the sale.

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For $50, I'll take the chance. XD If it does turn out to be a male I'll keep him for a while to get him healthy and get his weight up, then find him a proper home.

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Originally Posted by ShockBunny

For $50, I'll take the chance. XD If it does turn out to be a male I'll keep him for a while to get him healthy and get his weight up, then find him a proper home.

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Sounds like a good plan. :gj:

Pretty snake! Love her blushing and pattern.