Baby Sozo, Ball Python Rescue...

Greetings all,

First let me say what an awesome forum this is. I have learned so much from the knowledge you all have shared on these forums. Thank you for allowing me to join.

A little over a week ago, I was talking with a friend about snakes when someone else spoke up and said "if you want another ball python, I've got one I'll sell you". Peeking my interest, I inquired further and he told me, "I recently got her for my kids, but they've already lost interest in her, so I'm just trying to find her a new home. I'll sell her to you for $140, enclosure and all". About the only info on the snake he could tell me was that she is a female, and she is small, and she's "great with the kids". I thought to myself, "why not". A few days later, I drove about an hour to pick up my new little friend, sight unseen. Here is what I found...

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Just prior to seeing her for the first time, my friend said "she's shedding, so she doesn't look her best". While holding her, and my heart dropping, he tells me "the kids hold her all the time, she's never tried to bite anyone. Also, she is a picky eater, so you may have to work with her some". I'm thinking to myself "I wonder if she's ever eaten at all?" I asked her age and he said "she's about 2 months old". Knowing I could leave her in this condition, I quickly paid my friend, took my new little friend and ran. Now let me be clear, I don't believe that my friend (with whom I am not very close, maybe I should say acquaintance) meant any harm. I don't think he had any idea how malnourished and dehydrated this little lady is. Nor did he even know that this was not a normal shed. I believe this was not abuse from the standpoint of an intent to cause harm. This was a poorly cared for animal due to ignorance.

Well, I got her home and she weighed in at a whopping 46 grams (no thats not a typo). We have since eaten 2 F/T pinkie mice (assist fed) 5 days apart. She has soaked and gotten rid of her stuck shed. I am afraid she is blind, at least in her right eye, due to issues from her stuck shed and dehydration. Her left eye seems to have scarring, but the right seems sunken and hazed. Anyway, this is her about a week after coming to be with me...

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So, any comments, questions, guidance, or knowledge you all would be willing to send my way would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping for the best for this little lady. I've named her Sozo, which is Greek for "Rescue".

My apologies, I am new to this site, and forums, and wasn't able to upload pictures to to this post correctly. I will try again later today as I have run out of time this morning.

While I may be first to chime in, I’m sure you will get the best guidance once ppl wake up this lovely Friday morning.. But thank you. I appreciate you even taking on that responsibility and saving that animal from that horrible condition. While your friend needs some advice on what pets are best for his/her kids, I’m sure a BP was not at the top of the list… I do wish you the best of luck tho :gj:
:salute:

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Originally Posted by callen727

My apologies, I am new to this site, and forums, and wasn't able to upload pictures to to this post correctly. I will try again later today as I have run out of time this morning.

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"taptalk" .. its an app you can download on your smart phone

@ callen727, Kudos to you.

You have taken on a great responsibility.
Although blind, and I would take her to a vet to confirm this.
She will be able to feed fine, just don't feed her live prey.

Having deteriorated as much as you say she has, (waiting to see pics), don't expect a sudden miraculous change in condition.
It will take a while.

For now, get her covered by the basics, make her comfortable, and let the healing process take its course.

Again I say, Well Done.
keep us posted regularly please.

My apologies, but I have not figured out how to post photos on a thread. Seems, like it should be easy, but I imagine here we are dealing with a serious case of user error.
Pictures of Sozo can be seen by looking at the galleries under the same heading, or by looking at my profile. I'll keep trying...

-C.

My first ball was also intended as a purchase, but was much the same circumstances as your girl...malnourished, retained shed, dimpled eyes, just overall poor condition. I couldn’t leave him even though I had doubts I could save him. I would recommend a trip to the vet, even though much of her recovery is going to take time and patience. In my case, the dimpled eyes were dehydration and lack of humidity in his environment. With regular feeding, correct temperatures, and boosted humidity, he made a full recovery. That was 26 years ago. :P

OP, the easiest way to load pics is to download the free app Tapatalk and link it to this forum. Then you can update your thread and add pictures super-easy from your phone or tablet. That's the easiest way most of us have found for uploading pictures.

Without pics, it's hard to say for sure - but the stats sound shocking. Her eye or eyes may not be blind, but may just be a blend of dehydration and stuck shed, so don't give up on them just yet. Again, pics will be more illuminating on what's going on.

Welcome to the forum and thank you for taking a sweet girl out of a bad situation. The members here will do all they can to help you get her healthy.

Welcome to the forum, callen727....you've got a lot of heart to rescue this unfortunate snake, & we'll do all we can to help you get her healthy & up to speed.
I WISH people wouldn't buy live "toys" for their children....:( -so ignorant & so sad.

My goodness that is one terrible stuck shed! Maybe several built up over time...? She looks a lot better now that shes cleaned up, though pretty thin. I can't see her eye very well in these photos but I would wait to see what some humidity and hydration does before you write it off entirely. Kudos to you for giving her a good knowledgable home, it seems like you already have her on a better track than where she was.

Here, I'll post the images from your gallery so everyone can see easily. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e3a4ebdf51.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5864ae0e86.jpg

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

That first picture just broke my heart! :O How could anyone let a snake get like that? Very thin & as already mentioned, wait & see about the eyes, it may just
be a hydration/humidity issue...I really hope so. Poor thing really needs good nutrition & TLC...but a nice looking snake under all that old shed.

"Sozo" is a wonderful name for her! :gj:

OP, hats off to you for taking the time to rescue that poor baby. I suppose it goes as far to show what happens when you dont do your research - for any animal. Im glad you were able to take her out of those conditions, shes a very beautiful little snake underneath all that stuck shed. I wish her best of luck, keep us updated!

I would get a vet to look her over for sure, if you haven't set an appointment already.

I will say right now..dont mess with eye caps. Get het to a vet now. Im dealing with an eye camp issue now and it is surgery. Just get her to the vet and save time and also heart ache and money. If you think they are stuck get to a vet. Of is easy in the beginning....not so much later.

And tha k you for rescuing that little baby!

Sent from my LG-H631 using Tapatalk

Unfortunately I want to inform you all that Sozo is no longer with us. While it seemed, and I had hoped that she was making a turn for the better, I found her deceased. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but she did seem happy on her last few days. She was more active in her enclosure. Wandering around. Drinking water. Watching what was going on around her. But she never did weigh even 200 grams. So I don’t know that she ever had much of a chance from the beginning. I simply hope that I gave her the best life I could during her time with me.
Thank you all for the encouraging words and helpful advice. While a sad situation, I am still very active in the reptile world and look forward to much more activity here on the forums in the future.

I'm so very sorry that all your good intentions and care didn't have a happier outcome. You did your best...unfortunately it was too late to undo all the neglect
she suffered before she came to your care. Thank you for doing all that you could...there's just no way to know unless you try...at least someone tried to help.
Rest in Peace, little Sozo...:tears:

So sorry to hear of that Sozo did not make it. At least her last days were being well loved and cared for. Thank you for trying to bring her around.

Edit: I wanted to add that taking on rescues can be a real challenge. It says a lot about the type of person you are that you took that on. A lot of people would have walked away.

That’s really sad to hear, you did a great joband my hats off to ya for that.