Friend neglecting my BP

A little back ground. I had to leave my ball python with a friend for a while. I couldn't take her where I was moving because of rules of the place. She is about 3 yrs old almost 4 now. She was sleek and happy and looking awesome when I left her. I did tell them that when I was able to move back here I wanted her back. I sent money for food and substrate for her. I saw her for the first time in almost 2 yrs a week ago and she looked awful. She had some stuck on shed hadn't been fed, no water, her "cage" looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a year or longer and she didn't have any heat. I have been trying to get her back for over a week now. When I got food for her I even bought food for their snakes. We decided last Friday I would be able to bring her home and get her cleaned up. All the snakes were fed on Tuesday except 1 wouldn't eat. After me asking on Friday if I could go get her they got the one that didn't want to eat fed. I asked them at like 8 in the morning. They fed this snake at 11 and I was told no you have to wait now because this one just ate. I asked again today and was ignored. How can I get my girl back so I can get her back in good health? This BP was a bday present from my husband and the people that were "taking care of her" were suppose to make sure she was taken care of. They were teaching me how to care for a ball because they have had them for so long. If I had known that this is how they would take care of her I would have just hidden her where I was living and kept her with me. Evidently the money I sent for her care went to feeding their snakes and other reptiles. You can see her back bone well defined and she isn't so much round as a nice triangle shape now. Before I left her she was round with a little back bone showing like a healthy ball. I had her whole set up to where everything was perfect for her. She hasn't had humidity evidently for a good while and there are mineral deposits caking her water dish which is not the one I had in there when I left her. Also her hides were given to other snakes and now she has 1 half log that is way too big for her. Old poop, shed skin, and junk all over the sides of the tank. Yes I said tank. I had her in a 20 long because she wasn't quite big enough to move up to the next size enclosure. she is now in a 30 tall with out anything except dirty substrate, a mineral caked water bowl, and a half log.

I have no advise other than find better friends. Good luck getting her back.

That is horrible. She sounds like she is in a bad place.
Do you have pictures of her before and now? Any emails that shows that they'll properly care for her and give her back when you came back? That could be used as evidence if you were to take legal action if they continue to refuse you.


You can move a snake 24-42 hours after it eats. If she was fed on Tuesday, then she can be moved now. I would try to get her ASAP.
I would be so angry if anyone did that to my animals. You paid for her care, so it is unacceptable that she was neglected so badly.

If you text them and they continue to ignore you, I would just knock on their door. "Hey guys! I sent a few texts, but never heard back. I had time, so I came to pick up my snake."

She's a normal and my husband only paid like $50 for her. He wouldn't let me take the legal road. I just want my girl back. I was able to pick her up when I saw her and she was as sweet as can be to me. As soon as she smelled and saw my friend she tried to strike at him. I had to really hold onto her. I am really mad about this. I asked when her cage was last cleaned and he said I don't remember. Ive been playing my computer. None of the snakes or other reptiles had water. One he makes sure has food but not my girl. Shes my very first BP. She isn't anything special except to me. Shes sweet enough that I could probably take her for show and tell at an elementary school and not have her bite anyone. She has never struck at anyone before him, not even when she was hungry and it was feeding day. She could smell the rodent and would go right for it but not for me. I would also put her in a separate container for feeding and hold the rodent well to make sure it couldn't get her. Yes I feed live and am very careful. He just through the last rat in with her. Thank goodness she was really hungry or it could have hurt her. I am still so mad about this. When I get her back she will stay in her travel carrier for a while so I can sterilize her enclosure and make sure I get it clean before putting her in it. She never had a dirty cage before going to them. It was clean, didn't smell or anything. Now I am afraid of her having mites.

Most of us feed live rats with no issue. Nothing is wrong with it.
Just make sure the rat is well fed and watered, calm, and an appropriate size (not overly large. Large live rats are dangerous). Do not leave it unattended for extended periods of time. The most snake-rat related injuries are from people forgetting feeders in with their snake for hours to days and the rat gets hungry and goes for the only other thing in the cage (the snake). Rats rarely just attack for attacking.
I like to keep a chop stick in hand and stick it into the rats' mouth if it's in a position to bite during a coil.


Good luck!
Keep us posted. I hope you can get her back soon.

I use to have really long forceps I would hold the nape of the rats neck with then let her grab it. I would also continue holding it till it was unconscious. It was safer for her I never left the room till she started eating it. That way I knew she wasn't going to get bitten. Like I said shes my first and I was very careful with her. I was talking with my husband last night and he said if they don't give her back then start saving my money and get the morph I want. I want her though lol. She is dark with very pretty blushing and very crazy pattern. The sweetest little girl. I worked hard to make and keep her sweet. You could even mess with her mouth without her moving and getting mad. I did finally get a text evidently really late last night saying they would bring her back. Thinking of going later this morning to see if they really let me. I am going to soak her and bleach the crud out of that tank. They have all of my reptile stuff. Except her carry container. I wonder what condition that stuff will be in.

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Originally Posted by Phantomtip

I am going to soak her and bleach the crud out of that tank. They have all of my reptile stuff. Except her carry container. I wonder what condition that stuff will be in.

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Just get the snake...forget the equipment. Get her new equipment. Based on what you said, all the equipment is going to be filthy anyways.

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Originally Posted by 200xth

Just get the snake...forget the equipment. Get her new equipment. Based on what you said, all the equipment is going to be filthy anyways.

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I agree I know its expensive but if they are being difficult in regards to you getting the snake back I would try and make the process as quick as possible. Look on CL for tanks see if you can get one after work today, grab the snake and go.

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I have looked on CL and they had 10 gal but nothing else. I did get new substate when I got the rats and I don't get paid till Friday. I can't get anything till then. So I need some stuff from them to start. I am going to ask if I can get her this morning because we are supposed to get some nasty weather this afternoon. I do have my heating pad for my back I can place under her carrier so she stays warm and going to keep her in the bathroom till I can get her in a permanent cage. That room is warm and humid. I will also after getting her installed in a fresh clean cage feed her Friday night. Then not mess with her for a while. I can't afford to feed her and their reptiles, plus all my 4 legged brats. I am going to have to budget things for a while till I have her fed up and in an appropriate enclosure. Ugh this still pisses me off just thinking about it. I WILL get her back. If I have to play dirty I will too. If I have to call aspca on them I will. Like I said they were supposed to teach me how to care for her. Thank you everyone on here and the web for care sheets on bp care. That's where I learned how to care for her.

Buy a locking tub from Walmart or Lowes. They are much cheaper than a tank. Easier to transport too. In a pinch I have found that a heat lamp will warm them just fine as well. Super easy to make a temporary home.