Help - sunken/hollow belly

Hi I'm new and in desperate need of any suggestions to help this snake. I work at a pet store and we are trying to help this snake and I offered to bring it home with me in hopes that a quiet and more closely monitored environment will help her recover. We received her in January this year and she has not eaten since nor were we told when she last ate. I understand that not eating is normal during winter months but she is about a foot and a half long and only 78g and declining. Her belly is hollow for about 6 inches of her length and she looks thin (spine defined, ribs showing, etc.). Temperatures are kept at 90 on the warm side in a 10 gallon enclosure. Fresh water every day and a warm bath every 2-3 days. She has been to the vet and determined to have no parasites. I will post pictures when I get some.

Any suggestions will be helpful. I just hope it's not too late. Thank you.

Here is what you need to do

1 STOP the baths, this is unnecessary and highly stressful...........................STRESS = Food refusal

2 Get a 6 quarts plastic tub (nothing bigger) place some aspen shaving, and a 6 inches plastic flower pot saucer for hide, and a small water dish. Provide temps on the hot side at no more than 88 degrees, wait 5 to 7 days and offer a LIVE hopper mouse.

NO HANDLIND either and feed inside the tub, if this fails the following week assist the animal

In animals that young refusals are 95% due to husbandry and stress, in this case both.

So, the vet determined the reptile had no parasites. Is the animal back up for sale in the same dehydrated malnourished condition? Evidently bordering on starvation and emaciated? Wow. :gj:

Done. Baths will not continue. Only reason we were doing them was to rehydrate her.

I've never kept a snake in a tub, so if you could direct me to a website or post for set up or message me that would be awesome.



And no, we are not selling her in this condition, hence why I'm bringing her home with me until she is healthy. The most we would probably do is adopt her out but we would have no way of knowing if the people taking her would know what they are doing so that is our absolute last resort.

Note: Please keep negative comments to yourselves - I am only trying to help this animal get healthy. Helpful and encouraging comments only. Thank you.

You can get a tub at walmart. Get one of the clear ones and drill holes in it for ventilation.

I realize it isn't your fault, but the poor husbandry practices at pet stores are almost always to blame for young snakes like this one not eating and getting in poor condition (and, no offense meant here, your questions and the things you were trying show that you weren't trained by someone knowledgeable about these animals) and it is a frustrating scenario for a lot of people.

It is really frustrating and I really wish pet stores were forced to train employees how to properly care for the animals they sell. Unfortunately being retail that is not their #1 priority (which helping their customers care for their animals properly should be) and even though we disagree with the way some of the animals are kept we are constantly reminded that these are only temporary homes. I don't even think we're allowed to take an animal that is still technically the store's property home but it's either this or euthanize.

Does your store allow live feeding? I just ask because some don't. If you get him started on live (which I agree with Deborah you should try it) and he goes back to the store and refuses f/t you may still have to put him up for adoption, just do it before he gets in bad condition again. Hopefully once he starts eating he'll go back to taking f/t though.

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Originally Posted by soulvictim

It is really frustrating and I really wish pet stores were forced to train employees how to properly care for the animals they sell. Unfortunately being retail that is not their #1 priority (which helping their customers care for their animals properly should be) and even though we disagree with the way some of the animals are kept we are constantly reminded that these are only temporary homes. I don't even think we're allowed to take an animal that is still technically the store's property home but it's either this or euthanize.

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Not trying to be negative at all chief. If you were referring to me idk. I was just in disbelief that a vet would do a exam and rule out parasites but not determine that the reptile should be hospitalized and maybe even tube fed in its emaciated condition. I took two of my animals to a vet today bc the previous owner starved the both of them. So it just hit home reading this story. I wasn't trying to blame you at all. :salute:

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Originally Posted by DVirginiana

Does your store allow live feeding? I just ask because some don't. If you get him started on live (which I agree with Deborah you should try it) and he goes back to the store and refuses f/t you may still have to put him up for adoption, just do it before he gets in bad condition again. Hopefully once he starts eating he'll go back to taking f/t though.

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It doesn't, which is something I would like to avoid if I can because of that, but I was even thinking I might have to. I'm just worried about feeding solid for fear of it getting regurgitated.

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

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Not trying to be negative at all chief. If you were referring to me idk. I was just in disbelief that a vet would do a exam and rule out parasites but not determine that the reptile should be hospitalized and maybe even tube fed in its emaciated condition. I took two of my animals to a vet today bc the previous owner starved the both of them. So it just hit home reading this story. I wasn't trying to blame you at all. :salute:

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Okay, thank you. I was but I see it just needed further explanation, I'm sorry. I'm just super frustrated that we have nothing in place to take care of this snake I can't stand seeing her the way she is. If you have any tips please let me know.