Rescued BP - is it Pastel?

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Originally Posted by revxus

Well, about 3/4 of the screen lid is covered by a towel, to keep humidity in but according to the hygrometer it reads 80% on the side with the moss, the other half I just have dry mulch with the water bowl on the dry side, which is also the side where the screen isn't covered by the towel so it's not all humid inside the glass tank.

Anyway, he seems to be a lot more active after soaking up some water and gulping it down. Since weather has been cold here, I didn't think the water would have made him so active, but he's doing much much better by the minute. He's definitely exploring his new home, well at least temp until I find someone to adopt him.

I've got two other BP's rescued, I'll post up some photos later. Funny how I'm used to rescuing native species found in homes and backyards, instead I've found 3 BP's runnin' loose without owners!

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It's great he's doing a lot better.

At least you can actually find native species AND non native species.. No matter what I do I can't find anything! LOL. I've only seen 3 snakes in the wild, other than that, nothing besides the zoo:P

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

No, those look more like he tried to squeeze through something and didn't fit right, scraping his back.

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I disagree, but that doesn't make your opinion worth less than mine.

I will go on to state that I ran a reptile rescue for several years and saw the worst of the worst. The scarring is indeed consistent with rodent damage.

A ball python that does not eat, and if left unsupervised, may become prey to rodents. The snake will ball up and protect their head, allowing the rat to chew away at it's back. The always happens to the back, along the spine, and sometimes the end the tail. The damage can go all the way to the spine and ribs, and will often leave the snake alive but in dire pain. The more severe animals will get put down by a vet or will die of infections or skin necrosis.

Your theory of the snake causing damage crawling under something is, to me, less likely based on my experience running the rescue and raising balls. They will squeeze into tight areas and if they get stuck or gouged by something they will pull back where they came from. Any scraping in the circumstance would be more superficial and would not scar as badly.

Burns would be another theory, but all burns I have seen have been on their bellies or sides as they wrapped around something hot. I have seen only very few burns on the back from climbing logs or vines to close to a basking bulb, but never so severe to scar white, they typically scar black.

These are my thoughts based on my experiences. I am not saying your opinion is less valuable, just clarifying the rational behind my opinion.

Rick

So, let me get this straight... indeed these are scars, but will they ever heal and how will they heal? I think I've only dealt with one scarred serpent, but it was a Dum's and it went away over time, darkening and almost became unnoticeable unless you knew there was a scar there.

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Originally Posted by SiscoReptiles

I disagree, but that doesn't make your opinion worth less than mine.

I will go on to state that I ran a reptile rescue for several years and saw the worst of the worst. The scarring is indeed consistent with rodent damage.

A ball python that does not eat, and if left unsupervised, may become prey to rodents. The snake will ball up and protect their head, allowing the rat to chew away at it's back. The always happens to the back, along the spine, and sometimes the end the tail. The damage can go all the way to the spine and ribs, and will often leave the snake alive but in dire pain. The more severe animals will get put down by a vet or will die of infections or skin necrosis.

Your theory of the snake causing damage crawling under something is, to me, less likely based on my experience running the rescue and raising balls. They will squeeze into tight areas and if they get stuck or gouged by something they will pull back where they came from. Any scraping in the circumstance would be more superficial and would not scar as badly.

Burns would be another theory, but all burns I have seen have been on their bellies or sides as they wrapped around something hot. I have seen only very few burns on the back from climbing logs or vines to close to a basking bulb, but never so severe to scar white, they typically scar black.

These are my thoughts based on my experiences. I am not saying your opinion is less valuable, just clarifying the rational behind my opinion.

Rick

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Burns could be another thing, but it would be pretty hard to get on his back. another thing to look at is that it is on the thickest part of his body, the toughest part to get through something. Also look at the scales right before the white and after, they look damaged ( But not scared) as well. What ever the reason, they look healed so it is not something to worry about, id still get it checked over by a vet though when ever you get around to taking him.

We can agree to disagree. :)

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

What ever the reason, they look healed so it is not something to worry about, id still get it checked over by a vet though when ever you get around to taking him.

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This I agree with 100%.

Rick

I have to say, I side with the person who says it may be a scrape from escaping his enclosure--a loosely latched screen top, for example. Notice how the scarring is over the widest part of the snake's body, and runs the length of the top of the spine. You can also see how it fades rather than stops both at the beginning and the end--lighter scars being seen at slightly smaller diameters of the snake's body. While rodents will bite and chew at the same area, the fading out on either end of the scar is less suggestive of that--at least in my opinion.

If the snake were most of the way out when the damage began, he could pull back, but it would probably be unsuccessful--or he could instead choose to continue forward, since he's almost out anyhow. That might be how he wound up in a back yard in the first place.
It looks like it was a pretty nasty wound, either way, but it looks like it's fully healed now.

If that is a normal, it is one of the most beautiful I have seen. The pale coloring and mild blushing is super fantastic. If I lived close to you, I'd beg to be the new owner. :D Thank heavens you found the poor thing. It surely would have perished without your kind and generous care. Major kudos to you, for rescuing it.

I give you many thanks for taking the little guy or gal in and giving it the care it needs. I live on the complete other side of the country, so i am of no help to you but i can only say that he will probably appreciate the warmth, food, and water A LOT!

Oh, if only snakes could speak... :taz:

I have to say is not a bad looking scar, "Fashion Wise" :P. I think it gives him/her personality!

But a nasty wound none the less...