Rescue help?

Howdy folks!

It's a very long story, let's just say I've received a BP not cared for well. It has rat bites on its back, nose and over it's eye. It has shed stuck on its head.

Now I am cleaning the wounds with a diluted iodine spray. I am keeping his tub very humid. He hasn't ate, the owner fed him every two weeks. With recent bites and stuck shed, how long should I wait.

And I have the stupid rat that did it, she's too big for him, and very friendly. Also pregnant. So is a 16 quart big enough, or dose she need a 32 too?

You have your hands full!
Best of luck with both.

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Originally Posted by distaff

You have your hands full!
Best of luck with both.

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No kidding. That's not counting four Chinese painted quail, three society finches, a pair of budgies, and a special needs forever puppy. Gotta love em.

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Originally Posted by Dragooness

No kidding. That's not counting four Chinese painted quail, three society finches, a pair of budgies, and a special needs forever puppy. Gotta love em.

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Sounds like my place. :D

The rat should have a 32 quart. If you plan on feeding it or its babies to the snake eventually, it would be best to humanely euthanize them first. Poor snake. Sounds like you are doing everything right with him, I would just let him get some rest. Good luck with both animals! (Do you have pictures of the rat? It seems strange that she would be pregnant, maybe she is just fat?) usually at pet stores they only keep one gender of rat, even with feeders, to prevent pregnancies and fighting.

It sounds like the snake is lucky to be alive, as a female rat of breeding size is a more appropriate meal for a boa or retic, not a ball python.

If the bite wounds are superficial then you can continue with the iodine or pick up some Vetericyn topical antiseptic. Personally I prefer the Vetericyn for reptiles.

No pictures yet of the rat, I am letting her settle down some. Shes very friendly, just nervous. I could be wrong, I know zero about rats. The owner told me to feed her dog food... I know thats not right, is lab block best?I can get some tomorrow, Ive been feeding her some hamster food I kept in the freezer.

Vetericyn? Where can that be bought or found? I will go to town tomrrow, we have petlad, petsmart, and petco.

Do I need to get his meal now, or wait? I dont go to town often. I will just stun his prey until he gets better, then go to PK.

Can I tell the snakes gender from poping?Not sure its a he, seems like a hefty boy!

My understanding is that a quality dog food is not a bad thing for rats. If she is pregnant, she will need extra protein. Not sure about hamster dietary requirements, they are rodents, but mostly seed eaters, no? (I haven't kept one since I was about 7). I strongly expect she needs more protein than the hamster food provides. Oxbow rat food is considered to be good for those who keep pets, Mazuri (sp?) is frequently recommended for those who go through hundreds of pounds of the stuff. I feed my two boyz a mix of Oxbow and people food, and they do like dog food. (No avocado, and no citrus). RatGirl44 had a good channel and at least one episode on feeding.

Personally, I'd wait at least a week on feeding the BP.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

It sounds like the snake is lucky to be alive, as a female rat of breeding size is a more appropriate meal for a boa or retic, not a ball python.

If the bite wounds are superficial then you can continue with the iodine or pick up some Vetericyn topical antiseptic. Personally I prefer the Vetericyn for reptiles.

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Do you mean this? https://www.amazon.com/Vetericyn-Plu...ericyn+reptile

So get a very small rat? It wouldent get too big in a week, woukd it?

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Originally Posted by Dragooness

So get a very small rat? It wouldent get too big in a week, woukd it?

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I'm a little confused, is this a rat you plan on feeding your snake? If so, I would go with f/t to prevent damage to your snake and unnecessary stress. As for your other rat, you should make arrangements for the babies. If you plan on selling or giving them away, now is the time to look for an owner. If you are going to feed them to the snake, I would get them the correctly sized enclosure so they have some time to get big enough.

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Originally Posted by cletus

Do you mean this? https://www.amazon.com/Vetericyn-Plu...ericyn+reptile

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Yes though I got the hydrogel. I like it because it's not goopy or greasy so stuff doesn't stick to it. Works on people too. :)

I think Petco also carries it.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Yes though I got the hydrogel. I like it because it's not goopy or greasy so stuff doesn't stick to it. Works on people too. :)

I think Petco also carries it.

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Vetricyn is great. I also use it with poultry. Never spray it on puncture wounds, it's mostly for superficial stuff. :)

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Originally Posted by FlynnTheBP

I'm a little confused, is this a rat you plan on feeding your snake? If so, I would go with f/t to prevent damage to your snake and unnecessary stress. As for your other rat, you should make arrangements for the babies. If you plan on selling or giving them away, now is the time to look for an owner. If you are going to feed them to the snake, I would get them the correctly sized enclosure so they have some time to get big enough.

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I will NOT switch to FT until he is less stressed. I will stun his prey. I was asking if I go to town, should I get a very small rat and let it grow a bit to feed him? We live plan hour out of town, and until he is comfortable and eats FT it may be a bit difficult. We have a trades day once a month, and I can run to town once a month to keep up with his schedule.

Again, he is fed every two weeks on a live rat and seems healthy. I am not changing this until he eats again, and is less stressed!

Oh, that's it! Our feed store carries that! I was advised by a friend who is a vet tech to put him on hand towels lightly damp with the wound cleaning solution for a few days. She said it would help the shed and prevent infection!

I can't see why that wouldn't work, If the BP is a healthy weight he can afford to skip a couple meals while he settles in and heals, anyway. My rat boys grew fast, but I wasn't keeping track of the time.

I am just worried he may become a problem eater, the sometimes do after being bit.

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Originally Posted by Dragooness

I am just worried he may become a problem eater, the sometimes do after being bit.

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The f/t meals shouldn't be a problem unless he is a picky eater. I would definitely not feed him until he has had a couple weeks of rest, and when you do the next feed, frozen is the way to go. I'm not sure how you are stunning the feeders, but if you leave them in the tank, they may recover enough to damage your snake. Honestly, I don't see why you would live feed when you could just go f/t, but to each their own I guess. How's your snake doing?

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Originally Posted by Dragooness

Howdy folks!

It's a very long story, let's just say I've received a BP not cared for well. It has rat bites on its back, nose and over it's eye. It has shed stuck on its head.

Now I am cleaning the wounds with a diluted iodine spray. I am keeping his tub very humid. He hasn't ate, the owner fed him every two weeks. With recent bites and stuck shed, how long should I wait.

And I have the stupid rat that did it, she's too big for him, and very friendly. Also pregnant. So is a 16 quart big enough, or dose she need a 32 too?

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Wow !

So you took on an injured snake and the rat that did the damage off someone else !!!

That shows compassion and commitment !!

Keep us posted !

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Originally Posted by FlynnTheBP

The f/t meals shouldn't be a problem unless he is a picky eater. I would definitely not feed him until he has had a couple weeks of rest, and when you do the next feed, frozen is the way to go. I'm not sure how you are stunning the feeders, but if you leave them in the tank, they may recover enough to damage your snake. Honestly, I don't see why you would live feed when you could just go f/t, but to each their own I guess. How's your snake doing?

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You think he will switch easy then? I am just worried, I want the best for the snake. When I stun them, a give them a whack on the head. Not hard enough to kill, I hate it but it prevents worse! I never leave live prey in, if the snake shows no interest I remove the rat instantly! No reason to take that risk!

He seems unphased by all the fuss really. Still can't get that shed off his head, so I am going to buy lots of fake plants for him to rub on!

Here we call such people suckers! Got the rat her own tub and some block. She's overly friendly, despise what she did to the snake. No baby's yet, she could just be very fat!