Got the new snakes - help

I got them today, they were named Donna and Pedro. They are four years old, I know the first owner of them. They are in bad shape though. I am probably a retard for paying $150 for them. The snakes were cold to the touch when I first handled them.

Donna had burns from a heat pad. She also has a red belly. I am thinking scale or belly rot there.

Pedro has retained eye-caps, a respritory infection (Ican hear him breathing), and red belly and some scarring.

I know I really have my work cut out for me with these babys. They are puppy dog tame. They just need a lot of work on them. I loaded pics onto my website since I am running out of space here, they are on the page labeled Donna & Pedro. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I probably shouldn't have bought them and know I stand a chance of losing them bbut you know me. Scar and Dynamite were in bad shape when I got them and they are doing great now. I like a challenge and will be real proud of myself if I can help these two babies. I am scheduling a vet visit as soon as I can for them. Again any help would be appreciated. I would laso like to get an estimate on meds if anyone would happen to know.

Here is the like to "Donna & Pedro".
http://min.midco.net/lars/lars.htm

Well, considering what they have been through, they don't look terrible in the pics. A vet visit is the way to go. I would separate them immediately. Could be a lifetime of domination that has caused the difference in size. I got 3 last year that had been kept together and 2 of the 3 were skinny and small. Since being separated they have thrived. Regardless of what you paid, you should be commended for taking care of them!

They are already separated. I set them up in new tubs as soon as I got them home. I am calling for a vet visit tomorrow morning and going to get them fixed up as best I can. I am just so freakin pissed that the lady I get them from works at a pet shop and teaches other people how to take care of snakes. I think with the help of a vet I can nurse them back to health, but they shouldn't be in this shape. I am going to try not to get too attached for now. Donna has really nice flaring (I think its called -- white around her edges) and a real light color. Pedros eyecaps are stuck, dry and cracked. I heard that can make them blind, but know if I get him into a good shed he will probably be ok.

Good Job on taking them in! The best course of action would be to take them to the vet asap and then you know the rest of it when it comes to housing them :) Also, don't forget to quarantine them.

They're both beautiful, but Donna is gorgeous! I just love the light coloring and the clean, clear markings! I think they'll thrive in your care!

They are very good looking - do let us know how the vets visit goes! Sending happy snake thoughts your way. =)

I got a vet appointment scheduled for next Monday or was it Tuesday. That is the soonest that I could get. I really hate this place at times. I did call the people at the SEAVS site and they told me what meds to recommend to my vet. One of the vets doesn't even carry one of the meds it needs so it will have to be ordered. Any ideas what I can do to help in the mean time?

In the meantime, I would make sure they are on clean, dry newspaper with the proper temps and humidity. I would also get some neosporin (or equavelant) and apply that to the injured areas. Make sure they have hides and as stress-free an environment as you can manage.

Well I got a vet to give me the meds I need for the respriatory infection. I have to give shots every other day for 3 weeks. He won't touch the snakes himself (go figure). I am going to pick up Neosporin and something else for a belly rub, Benadyne I think. It's written around here somewhere. I am going to try to give the shots with out being tagged I'll see how that goes.

Kudos to Adam who came through helping me with ways to get the right meds in the right doses. It's hard being up here at times and having someone like Adam to teach me when I need it is great!

Did he instruct you exactly where to give the injections? I have done them a few times so let me know if you need help. You dont want to inject it into the spine accidentally. I'm sure Adam let you know the right way though...Best of luck!

Also, for the belly, I would recommend getting Polysporin. It doesn't have the chemical that makes skin go numb like Neosporin does.


I had a snake with belly rot... I cleaned the areas off with half/half water and rubbing alcohol mix, then rubbed in the Polysporin twice a day. He doesn't show a sign of it, now.

Good luck!

I am headed to town to get the stuff for the belly now. I held the head and body and Shannon stuck him. He took it all pretty well I guess. I wasn't giving him a chance to tag Shannon. She likes snakes, but big ones scare here a little.

The Neosporin/Polysporin will surely help. It really did a wonderful job on Rauri the BCI's belly burn/beginnings of belly rot (though his had not gotten to the point where any blisters had broken or flesh was exposed or anything that serious). I saw on another thread where the people used condoms to keep the belly covered and the meds from wiping off too fast. Maybe something to think about though I wouldn't leave anything on too long that way as air helps dry this mess out too, maybe just long enough to give the neosporin time to sink in well.
As far as the retained eyecaps Lar, our Saoirse had a good 5 on one eye....an absolute mess! We managed to get 3 off with soaking her for retained shed then let nature take it's course and with good humidity it took 2 more sheds but Saoirse had clear eyes both sides. There was a dent in one eye but that too went away with time. Don't worry too too much. We were sure Saoirse would be blinded on that side but she reacts just fine to movement on that side so I can only assume she's sighted to some degree.

Prayers and good vibes your way for both the snakes! Great of you to take them on and I wouldn't have paid that woman a cent! Imagine selling you snakes in that horrid condition! Well okay I'd have paid her too...just to get them away from the idiot (and her working in a pet shop....geesh!)

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Originally Posted by JLC

They're both beautiful, but Donna is gorgeous! I just love the light coloring and the clean, clear markings! I think they'll thrive in your care!

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took the words outta my mouth. OMG boys, watch out for donna! Her reduced pattern at her tail is awesome, the "dotting" is so unique (i've never seen anything like it!!!!!!!!) , and the absent tail stripe is breath taking! I absolutley love her!

You can surely get these beauties back up to health, and make some gorgeous babies with that female!

Can I feed these ney guys right now? I feed every Monday (Tuesday if I forget).


Donna is just getting belly rubs with Betadyne and Polysporin/Neosporin. She has a mild case of bellt rot.

Pedro has the retained eyecaps, the RI and a bad case of belly rot. He is getting Baytril shots every other day and belly rubs every day. I noticed a few bad spots on his belly where the scales were brown, mostly around his anus. He is still scared and makes it hard for me to rub him down. I can't blame him, everytime he unballs I either stick him or rub something all over his belly.

I don't know if it's ok to feed on these meds.

Suprising news, I think Donna may be gravid. Sometimes I notice lumps in her belly area. I have never seen a gravid ball before so who knows. Her and Pedro have been housed together for a long time. The temps were cool at the house I got them from so who knows.

As far as breeding goes, I just don't know. I kind of want to breed so I can learn some more about them. I am just scared of getting orders in the middle of the process. All I need is to have eggs laid and have to try to transport them for a few hundred miles. They probably wouldn't make it.

A little update for you. Both new snakes are in a shed. Pedro jerked on the shot today and bent his needle. We did get about 75% of it in him. I didn't want to restick him for fear the needle would break off. I haven't heard him wheeze in a few days now so I think he is getting better. I can still see some of the belly rot under neath this shed, but not as much. They both refused meals this week, but I ain't sweating that too much. They will eat when they are hungry.

I know I ain't been around lately, it's been very hectic around here. Well the new guys are doing ok. Pedro has lost both eye caps, but still hasn't eaten. That's not a big deal, seeing as he is still on the Baytril. I might try him on a live rat next week. He only has 4 bad scales after his last shed. Donna ate her first meal today; two adult mice. She also tagged my oldest son yesterday. It wasn't a bad tag just a little pin hole. He didn't cry or scream. I had to squeeze his finger to get the blood to come out so I could see where he was hit. She also acted very aggressive with the wife yesterday and me today. I think today was just feeding frenzy for her. They have both come a long way in a short amount of time.

There's NOTHING worse then someone who works at a pet store, and can't take care of their own pets. I really hope these guys will be healthy in your home. Im looking in my local paper and If I see something that could be a reptile in need of a good home, I'm on it. My fingers are crossed for you and your new "kids".

Well I have had these guys for almost a month now. Pedros shots have been done for a week or more right now. He still hasn't eaten. He is in a shed right now, but I don't have problems with other snakes eating in a shed. I feed once a week and they all know it except for the two new guys and they will learn. I have offered Pedro a F/T every week since I had him. This week I offered him a live rat. I left it in the cage for 20 min and he completely ignored it. I know a month isn't uncommon. It just bugs me that I have 7 other snakes feeding like clock work.

I know he has a lot of stress going on.

1. New home (I am about his 5th home in 4 yrs).
2. Separated for the first time in his life (I know this is supposed to be good for him).
3. Baytril injections.
4. Skin treatmeants.
5. Frequent handlings because of the Baytril and skin treatments.

I know he has been through a lot, but I am still frustrated. I probably shouldn't be, I know I have gone a long way to help him be a happy and healthy snake. Maybe next week he will feed for me. I am sure he was fed live in the past so I will stick to that route to keep him feeding. This is probably more than a rant than anything else. I know I am doing everything right and just need to wait for the snake to come around.

:gj: I think $150 is a relatively tiny price to pay for two large adult BP's......woulda done it myself in a jif. From my perspective, that was just an "adoption fee" to rescue them....they are both nice, and the one with a lotta black in its back(Donna?) is absolutely gorgeous!!! I give em' two or three months of TLC with you, and they'll be in excellent shape !!! You did them justice, and again you are not stupid to pay 150 for them. KUDOS!!!!!:gj:

No worries. Keep doing what you are doing and he will eat when he is ready. Keep your husbandry dead on and keep offering food once a week. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by lars5277

Well I have had these guys for almost a month now. Pedros shots have been done for a week or more right now. He still hasn't eaten. He is in a shed right now, but I don't have problems with other snakes eating in a shed. I feed once a week and they all know it except for the two new guys and they will learn. I have offered Pedro a F/T every week since I had him. This week I offered him a live rat. I left it in the cage for 20 min and he completely ignored it. I know a month isn't uncommon. It just bugs me that I have 7 other snakes feeding like clock work.

I know he has a lot of stress going on.

1. New home (I am about his 5th home in 4 yrs).
2. Separated for the first time in his life (I know this is supposed to be good for him).
3. Baytril injections.
4. Skin treatmeants.
5. Frequent handlings because of the Baytril and skin treatments.

I know he has been through a lot, but I am still frustrated. I probably shouldn't be, I know I have gone a long way to help him be a happy and healthy snake. Maybe next week he will feed for me. I am sure he was fed live in the past so I will stick to that route to keep him feeding. This is probably more than a rant than anything else. I know I am doing everything right and just need to wait for the snake to come around.

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Best advice that Adam gave me when I got my adult girl - leave her alone for four weeks before attempting to feed her. I "caved" after three weeks, but she got a nice long time to feel secure in her new home and fed immediately when I offered her, her first meal.

Today is feeding day, and her second small rat with me. Poor little bugger headed straight for her hide when he was set in her enclosure and she struck almost immediately (less than 5 seconds after he went into the hide with her).

I don't know if it has anything to do with the long acclimation period with no handling other than routine maintenance - but I have to believe that it most likely gave her time to feel safe and build up an appetite.

I've moved Kashmire into a tub this past weekend in hopes that he will start to feed again soon. I think that I may well not try to feed him for three or four weeks, no handling and let him get used to the safety that the lower ceiling and the burrow type hides offer him. I did try to feed a hopper today to get his prey drive re-started and he refused again, so I think that a longer acclimation period to his new home is in order.

Good luck with that boy!