Adopting a Ball Python

While we were visiting with my mother in law tonight, a friend of ours that lives in the same complex stopped by to tell us he had rescued something that slithers and wanted us to come have a look and see if we wanted to take it home. We got all excited and rushed over. He told us it was a ball python that he had rescued along with a turtle and a fat tailed gecko from the same person. We were not prepared for what we saw. He handed us a ball python that had just had a really bad shed (stuck shed everywhere) and a retained eye cap. But that wasn't the worst part. The first thing you see on this snake is a long scar all the way down its back where the scales have been rubbed clean off. Not to mention I suspect the snake of having belly rot (scale rot?) and a possible RI. (I heard it make a wierd noise). I suspect belly (scale) rot since a few scales seem to be off color and the belly is kind of pinkish (and not in a shed kind of way).

I'm going to pick it up tomorrow since we couldn't bring it home tonight. We will be keeping it in a 40g breeder tank in QT for the next 3 months. I didn't see mites but I didn't get a really good look at the snake. My guess is that its somewhere around 500-600 grams but I don't know its age.

I will post pictures tomorrow and ask advice on how to get this snake healthy.

Sounds like a vet is needed asap. RI's are deadly and only go away with medication. And I'm sure getting the scar/possible scale rot checked out would be a good idea.

vet check is the best choice for giving this snake its best chance at living a long healthy life.. It's so sad when this sort of thing happens.

I will call the vet today and schedule an appointment. The poor thing just looks so horrible. You will see what I mean when I post up pictures.

Couldn't call the vet today. We have no phones. I'm going to borrow my friend's phone tomorrow and set up an appointment. I'm dead sure the snake has an RI. It is wheezing when it breaths. I took some photos, gave it a hide (I only have one extra) and some heat (no heat provided when I picked it up).

Cage she is housed in (I will be cleaning the tank as soon as I'm done writing this up. Changing it to paper towels to watch for mites)
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/DSCN4506.jpg

As you can see, the scar goes all the way down his/her spine. I actually found out it is because of the cage she is kept in. The lid is not a proper lid and she kept escaping, causing the lid to scrape her back. I'll be getting her a new lid next week. For now we have taped the lid down.

Close up of scar
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/DSCN4507.jpg

Belly shot
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/DSCN4514.jpg

So anything I can do to help the snake while its waiting for a vet visit. I might try and get the snake a visit tomorrow, if not then Monday. (Vet is closed Sunday)

Soak her for an hour or so in warm water, then help to get that shed off and she'll look much better.

Keep her warm, 95 hot spot.

I'll go ahead and soak her in warm water. Any advice on getting that retained eyecap off? She's very head shy.

Your going to make her very uncomfortable getting the eye cap off. She will thrash and try to get away, but you can get it off.

Terry cloth washcloth, soaking wet after she has soaked and firmly wipe it over her head over and over. She'll pull her head back in, and you'll find that position where she can't pull in any farther and you'll be able to just keep wiping until you get it off.

BTW, I mean soaking wet washcloth. If your shirt isn't soaked by the time your done with her, you didn't keep the washcloth wet enough.

Will just a normal washcloth work? Or a wet shirt? Oh and anything I can do for the scar or will that always be there?

Wet Tshirt wont have enough roughness to it. A terry cloth washcloth is made from the same fabric like towels. The little loops provide a rougher surface to help get the skin off.

The scar will most likely always be there.