Found a large ball python. Need help...

Hello everyone.
I just joined this forum as something unexpected has happened. An employee of ours found a large ball python in the parking lot of a grocery store. It seems pretty docile and is okay being handled, and also appears healthy as far as weight, so definitely a pet. My husband brought it home, as we have a large tortoise tabk with light and heat to keep it warm.
The problem is that I believe it has a cold or respiratory infection. It has its mouth open slightly at all times, and has mucous in it. I have no idea how long it was outside. It has been cold at night and VERY rainy. Even flooding in many places. Our friend breeds and sells many species of snake and took a look at it. He said it looks healthy and probably has a cold. Told me to warm him up and he will be fine.
I have him in a tank with different temp gradients from 70 degrees to 85 degrees. He can also get under a basking lamp if he needs to. The humidity is around 60 percent.
Is there anything else I can do without a vet? I am keeping an eye out for any sign that an owner is looking for him. I dont have the money to spend on a big vet bill, especially if the owner resurfaces and doesnt want to reimburse me. I dont want him to die though. I dont even know if I could take him to a vet until later in the week anyway, with it being Christmas holiday.
Any advice? Does anyone have any idea of ways an owner of a lost snake would look for it, i.e. websites, forums, etc.?

Since the snake is sick: Do not provide a gradient: keep the temps between 80-85F--do not exceed 85F in either air or contact temperature. Review husbandry care sheets online for the species. Make sure you provide a source of dechlorinated water. Leave it alone as much as possible: do not try feeding it.

If you don't plan on keeping it: give the snake to an animal shelter at your first opportunity: the owner clearly did not want it anymore don't bother looking for them. Some crappy people will dump their unwanted pets pretty much anywhere.
If you do plan on keeping it: you will need to spend the $$$ on Vet treatment and proper equipment/setup.

You could post notices in vet offices, also some grocery stores have bulletin boards. Where I live the local radio station & also the Humane Society shelter will
take (post) ads for lost & found, and ads in local paper might also be effective. Sadly though, this snake may have been dumped & is unwanted. :( I wouldn't
plan on an owner showing up, though someone may say it's theirs just to get a free snake (& probably won't take acceptable care of it). So if you advertise finding
it, I would be vague ("found snake, owner must describe to identify") and you'll want to be sure they know the species, the size & any unusual markings before
releasing it to them. If you cannot care for this snake, it's also possible you could find a new owner on this forum...with any luck, someone here may be nearby.

I'm glad you're doing the best you can for it, but it might be wise to check around for a herp-rescue in your area if you cannot afford medical care for it. Vets
should know about that...call & ask. It sounds like it has a respiratory infection ("RI") and for that it's best to see a vet...he'll need meds (injections) to clear that
up. Do NOT underestimate a "cold" in a snake...they cannot cough so the secretions mean they are struggling all the time when trying to breathe...that's why he
is "mouth-breathing" & an RI can be fatal. IF this is very minimal, some snakes can recover on their own with good conditions (cage temps. a few degrees above
normal range) but don't count on it.

A normal healthy ball python should be housed with 78* at the "cool" end of the cage and 90* at the warmest. It's really crucial to get temperatures correct,
which means an accurate way to measure them, otherwise a snake can get a thermal burn if the temps. are too high. They don't always know when to leave
a spot that's too hot, so while I suggested temps. a few degrees higher to help his RI, it's crucial that you don't exceed 91*. Because he was so cold outside,
it's just as well that you started off a bit low (70-85*) for temps, as coming in from the cold as he did is a bit of a shock. (how cold is it outside where you are?)

And thank you for trying to help this poor snake!

Needs a vet.

Do do you plan on keeping him/her?

Once a snake is sick to the point of showing mucous it needs a vet ASAP. It's not going to just get over this.

Either take it to one yourself or hand it over to a rescue.

If you post your location we can recommend a good vet.

My goal is to keep the tank at around 80 to 83 degrees, but it is a custom built wooden walled and plexiglass front tank on my porch in the winter. I have ceramic heat emitters set on thermostats and put blankets over the front plexiglass to keep the heat in. So its difficult to maintain one temp at all times. It does stay above 70 though all over and closer to 80 near the heater.

- - - Updated - - -

It has been torrential rains for days and in the 30s or 40s at night.

Thank you for your replies. I havent had a snake in over 15 years, and never a sick one, so Im out of my league right now.
I dont really WANT another pet right now. I have 8 year old, 5 year old and 15 month old children, a husband and a dog to take care of and dont need the stress of worrying about another life. Im not aginst keeping him until I can find him a good home though. I never realized people dumped ball pythons when they didnt want them. I assumed because it looks well cared for that someone was taking good care of it and would want it back.

I am going to check the classifieds tomorrow, as well as seeing if theres a reptile rescue around here. The local shelter is awful. I wont send it there. Im going to tell my husband that either it goes to the vet for treatment or we give it to a rescue.

I am in Citrus County, Florida if anyone knows a vet, rescue or is near here and wants to give this guy the treatment and home he needs.

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Originally Posted by Turningstar

My goal is to keep the tank at around 80 to 83 degrees, but it is a custom built wooden walled and plexiglass front tank on my porch in the winter. I have ceramic heat emitters set on thermostats and put blankets over the front plexiglass to keep the heat in. So its difficult to maintain one temp at all times. It does stay above 70 though all over and closer to 80 near the heater.

- - - Updated - - -

It has been torrential rains for days and in the 30s or 40s at night.

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That's truly NOT warm enough for a ball python, and especially one that is already sick. I'm surprised he is still alive. Please try for at least 85* all over?

I know we have members here in Florida, and I know there are multiple exotic animal vets that you can contact, plus most vets have bulletin boards to help place pets-
And an exotic vets office should be able to put you in touch with herp rescuers...

This is a great resource: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

Please use the above link to search...we cannot do it for you with so little information (w/ only your state & county).

Ive added another che to try and keep temps at 85. Doing the best I can with a sick snake dumped in my lap.

I googled reptile rescues and exotic vets, but I didnt see anything in the county or very near.

What other info can I give you to help find a vet? Im just below Ocala in Florida. About an hour from Gainesville. I used the link tou gave me, but I couldn't tell if it just listed members of this forum who are vets, or vet practices, if that makes sense.

In any event, Ill call my vet tomorrow for a recommendation.

People actually would turn a BP loose instead of donating to a rescue? Geebus!

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Originally Posted by MR Snakes

People actually would turn a BP loose instead of donating to a rescue? Geebus!

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It's possible that it escaped, but you have to consider that in winter temperatures, snakes can barely move...their bodies don't work when too cold, and their immune
system shuts down. So IF it actually escaped, it's unlikely that it went very far from it's "owner". As far as people dumping pets, you'd be surprised & sickened by how
often it happens. And sometimes when people fight with each other, they take it out on the pets that the other one has. Poor snake, I'd happily take it in if I was closer.

Turningstar, that site is run by the association of reptile & amphibian vets, it has nothing to do with our forum. But also ask your local vet for referrals, since
sometimes new exotic vet practices start up & aren't listed as members yet. Good luck...exotics are popular pets in Florida, there is likely a vet near you.

And ANY vets might know of people who rescue exotic pets, so if at first you don't succeed, make some more calls, ok? And they may have a vet tech working there who'd take on the challenge, also. Even Animal Control might have some contact numbers.

At a local exitic pet shop near me they have snakes dropped of on their doorsteps weekly.

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Originally Posted by Danger noodles

At a local exitic pet shop near me they have snakes dropped of on their doorsteps weekly.

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At least they are dropped off somewhere reasonable.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by MR Snakes

At least they are dropped off somewhere reasonable.


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Well, not outside on the doorstep...:O For that matter, Humane Society shelters for dogs & cats gets pets dumped outside too, because people don't want to come in
& explain, or there is a waiting list to accept, so they sneak by the place after hours & turn them loose, whereby they get hit by cars etc before the shelter even opens.
:(

If it were me, I’d keep it very warm. Like 85 minimum, but not too hot. I’d keep humidity up to help with the RI.
id then call a vet and get some treatment like antibiotics or whatever they recommend

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Turningstar

What other info can I give you to help find a vet? Im just below Ocala in Florida. About an hour from Gainesville.

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If you are on Facebook you can join these groups and ask for info on vets in your area or even if someone wants to take in the snake:
Ocala Reptiles
Florida Herpers
Florida Reptile Sales Trades And Advice

I just wanted to thank the OP for their compassion and thinking to come here and get advice. The world needs more people like you.

Update:

I called my vet, who suggested animal services (closed) or animal control. Animal control suggested wildlife rescue. Wildlife rescue finally got back with me and suggested I vontact their director. Director messaged me back and is coming to pick up the snake. She said she has a 75 gallon tank, live mice, and all the fluids and meds to treat. She also has reptile rehab coming tomorrow for christmas.

So hopefully the snake will pull through and have a good home when he is healthy.

Thank you everyone for your help.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Turningstar

Update:

I called my vet, who suggested animal services (closed) or animal control. Animal control suggested wildlife rescue. Wildlife rescue finally got back with me and suggested I vontact their director. Director messaged me back and is coming to pick up the snake. She said she has a 75 gallon tank, live mice, and all the fluids and meds to treat. She also has reptile rehab coming tomorrow for christmas.

So hopefully the snake will pull through and have a good home when he is healthy.

Thank you everyone for your help.

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Thank you for your kindness to this animal in need. Lucky snake indeed, that you found it.

I believe in Karma, good things come to those that do good.

:)

:gj: And ditto, what she said ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ :D And the :snake: thanks you too!

Thank you for the kind words.

I do what I can and try to be an example for my kids on how to be a good person and do the right thing.

Thank you for doing right by the snake. I recall a thread a couple years back, posted by a young girl (15?) who had found a Ball on her way home from school, one that turned out to likely have an RI. I think, IIRC, a relative came and took it from her, but in short yes - people WILL let a snake loose if it will be more money to treat than they think the snake is worth. A new normal BP is cheaper to just buy than the vet bills to treat it. A crappy mentality to have, but it does happen, poor snakes.

Good on the OP for doing good by this snek. Merry Christmas for you and the snek!:snake:

Thank you again for helping this poor little guy along! A grocery store parking lot at Christmas. How terrible! Glad you were able to find help. Happy holidays!!

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Originally Posted by Turningstar

Thank you for the kind words.

I do what I can and try to be an example for my kids on how to be a good person and do the right thing.

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