Wild Black Rat Snake - Attempting to Rehab

Yes, the lump concerns me.

Good news though. This morning, he was trying to soak in a tiny water bowl I had in there. After his a.m. betadine swab, I gave him a much larger water bowl (large, plastic dog food bowl) with warm water in it. When I showed him his water and closed the tub, he drank!!! Yeah! Then he did another little soak. It looks like he is trying to soak the infected/lumpy area.

MedusaOwl has posted a thread in general colubrids about her snake with lumps - they were parasites (worms).
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=62233

I wonder if it could be that...? But still, no movement from the lump.

I'm going to contact a local rattle snake expert who has worked with the timber rattlesnake rehabber in NY to see if he knows of local vet willing to work with me on this.

Also, I'll keep trying to figure out what the lump is (it moves with the interior layer of skin, isn't adhered to the tissue underneath). Any other ideas?

Hopefully, he'll look greatly improved with the next shed since most of the infection seems cleared up. He seems more confortable / less stressed in his enclosure. Though, he clearly is not meant to be a captive snake. My husband took him out "for a walk" in the sun over the weekend, and Lefty (as we're calling him) loved it.

im glad to here hes a little better. i can sympathize with u i have a boa with RI hope fully both of our snakes will heal quickly and completely =]

For more recent updates, I have started a new thread under colubrids.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=64709

Over the past few days, I have been trying to get him to eat - a small, live mouse (16 grams). He seems interested, then shies away. Any advice? Thanks!