Ball Python rescue animal needs help

I'll admit, I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to ball pythons. I had two corn snakes until my friend called me in a panic saying that her friend was about to dump a baby ball python out in the Texas heat to die. I'm the only person she knows that has a love and passion for the scaled pets. I told her to give me the address for the snake so I could pick her up. I picked her up not even an hour later and she's in pretty rough condition. The owner said she was 6 months old, but she was only 53g when I brought her home. I thought that for sure she was a lot younger. She is skinny and her skin is patchy...retained skin? I've had her for about two weeks and I'm trying to mist her cage every morning to keep the cage around 60% humidity to help with the skin issue. She did each a peach fuzzy mouse (I didn't want to give her too big a meal for fear of regurg) on the 12th (I picked her up on the 6th). Today was the first day that I saw her moving around her cage outside her hot hide. She had dropped weight and weighs in at 44g today. Any tips on how to get her up to a healthy weight and help with the shedding issue?

Just to note: the day I got her, I went out and bought three books on ball pythons and read each one cover to cover as well as some internet research. She also isn't being handled at all except when I change the newspaper in her cage and offer her meals. I'm trying here...

Instead of a tank, I'd put her in a secure rubbermaid type box with some holes drilled in for releasing excess humidity. Lots of hides or crumpled newspaper to help her feel secure.

Weekly small meals if she will take them. In a bin rather than a tank, it will stay more humid for her easily. The non-clear sides will also help her feel more hidden.

Be aware that if she's been starved over a period of time(the old owner might have been 'trying' to feed her but she just wouldn't eat, which happens way too often with new babies in less than ideal set ups), she may have irreversable organ damage, like liver or kidney damage. So you just have to do your best, but be prepared for the worst, you know?

Whatever you do, don't try to push too much too fast. Slow and steady, it's good you gave her a small meal. It's all too tempting to try to shove food down a starved baby immediately.

I would not worry about the shedding at ALL right now. Retained sheds will probably come off on her first good shed after she has a couple meals in proper humidity. Right now, no additional stress would be better than fixing the stuck shed pieces. You can always deal with that later on, if she hasn't gone ahead and she herself a new shiny hide.

Feed her on a 5 day basis a meal that is about 10-15 % of her body weight. I would say 10% of her weight seeing as she is way underweight for her first couple meals. Keep doing what you are doing for the humidity but the stuck shed will most likely come off during her next shed.... You could give this a read and double check all of your husbandry too! :gj:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...thon-CARESHEET

I would try to feed her a fuzzy every five days to get her weight up.

For the skin I would add moss to the hides and mist it each day when you mist the tank. This will create a micro clim in the hide making it more humid than the rest of the tank. I regualrly keep moss in my hides for my healthy bp and have great sheds. If may take a few sheds for the skin to really come back.

Be patient and good luck.

Good rescue!

Thank you all for the advice! I've done similar things with corns, but not with a ball python. I've always wanted a ball python. Guess I got my wish, eh? I'll go up to the store tomorrow and try and get a plastic tub for her. I'm not sure where to acquire the moss (the nearest pet store is over 45 miles away) but I'll figure out a way to get it up to my house. Worse case, I'll make a trip up there this weekend. I'm trying to keep her as stress free as possible. I was really surprised she ate for me to begin with. I'll try to feed her again in a couple of days. I would show a picture, but I've been leaving her alone and don't have any decent ones. Here's one from the day I got her. It was a quick shot from my phone, so I apologize for the horrible quality.

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/416/fluffyw.jpg

Also, anyone know what morph she is? I'm assuming normal for now.

I used to live in Huntsville but never went to this place. The reviews said he has alot of snakes so I would assume he has some items for snakes. Maybe you will luck out with some moss. He is on Ave M. Here is the Google link.

https://plus.google.com/117918929942...40885724/about

Go to any local nursery and get sphagnum moss.

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I didn't even know that place existed! I'll run by there tomorrow and see what he has.

Thanks again everyone for the advice! I did pick up some of that sphagnum moss and a 28 qt tub. The humidity is already up to nearly 85%. That worked wonders! I'm a little worried about her getting out though. That sucker is taped/pressed down so hopefully she doesn't find a way to escape from it.

Did you drill holes in it? At most during shed you need 70%. 85 is way to high. Regular range is 40-60.