My Rescued Ball

So i have a new friend named Snikolas. he's nice. well, currently he's effing IRATE because he just shed, and the tip of his tail is still on... which apparently he really doesn't appreciate. but he was nice before the shed, and i'm assuming after a few days he will be nice again.

anyway, i rescued this 3ft unsexed ball python from a friend whose ex boyfriend dumped off on her and her 10 year old son whom both really had no experience or interest in avidly caring for it.... it had NO hide, no humidity, nothing to rub on for when he sheds... it was sad. (i call him a he....) he was uncomfortably curled up on very dry filthy aspen shavings. i currently don't even have a job, but knew if i left him there he'd eventually die. i spent the last money i had to my name on substrate and vitamin spray because of how dry and messed up he was...

he hadn't eaten in 2 months, and a month prior they had tried to feed him a rat and he threw it up. it was still in the cage in the corner. foul dude. decided not to do anything with his cage, handle him, clean it, nothing, until he was fed. he had a terrible shed and was covered almost completely with dead skin. he had a huge, almost 4 inch long burn on the back end of him, and scattered smaller burns before and after that one along his tail end. some patches of scales were pretty much missing or peeling off, and he just looked miserable.

i fed him 2 mice (didn't want to feed him a rat, because it is bigger and had more of a chance of fighting back.) i am currently feeding live.

the first mouse... oh good lord... he caught by the BACK FOOT so obviously i started freakin out thinkin that this damn mouse is gonna bite the crap out of my snake. no, no, we were lucky and he ended up taking about 5 minutes to kill it. dragged it around, ended up swallowing with a piece of bedding on it, aspen... i freaked... had my roommate google what to do if a piece of shavings gets swallowed... and he found SOMETHING (never read it myself) that said he would be fine... so i let him chill and "digest" for about 30 mins or whatever, and decided to drop the second mouse. he had been pacing the entire 30 mins so i figured he'd eat it. instead of catching it by the foot and struggling like a rookie who hadn't eaten in 2 mos, he turned into an S shape and waited for the thing to get in his face (which didn't take but less than 10 seconds haha) and he bit it right in the face. he suffocated the damn thing in less than like 45 seconds and gorged himself on some little white mouse. hahaa.

i was so proud. the next day (over 24 hours later) (i was still skiddish to handle him, ppl said he bit!) i changed the substrate to eco earth, which i personally love, gave him a dog bowl of water (big-ish cheap and deep), boiled a brick to clean it and stuck it in there so he had something to rub on if he decided he was itchy (which i figured he was) and gave him a bath. my roommate was nice enough to clean the inside of the tank he's currently in (which is definately NOT big enough :( ugg) while i gave him his bath... he didn't act like he liked it but i didn't put him in a tupperware tub or something... i just had him in the sink with a towel... he snaked around, tried to go up on the counter a few times, but for the most part, he laid his head up on the counter as i gently wiped the old dead skin off. i avoided the burns, which stayed pretty effin crusty... but i didn't want to hurt or piss him off. seriously, last thing i'd like to happen is to get bit, or give him a reason to bite me for that matter.

so even with his burns and owies and whatnot, i wanted to handle him so he'd trust me. maybe i was rushing it but he ended up acting like he wanted to be out all the time. he'd curl up around my neck and chill. i think he could tell i had helped him, and was happy with his current place of residence. he even killed a hangover headache/neck ache (u know what i'm talkin about...) one morning as i was sitting outside having breakfast. it was warm outside so i had decided to let him chill on my neck, and he really did act like he was enjoying himself. he's really very social...

till he started shedding. i could tell DAYS before that he was getting more antsy and snakey (you know, snakin in the air, lookin at stuff, squirmin :P) and figured he was going to shed so i left him alone and raised the humidity a little bit. the next day he was milky, and his eyes were blue the day after that.

i came into my room @ about 3am during a party a night or 2 later and he was 3/4 of the way shed... (from what i could see with a really low moonlight lookin touch lamp on) so i immediately turned tail and went back downstairs. i entertained at least till dawn, so that gave him his privacy as far as the room being dark and quiet. i could tell he was freakin out, or at least extremely uncomfortable and pissy, because he flew into his box (his hide) as soon as i walked in the room (was gettin a sweater :P)

now he's royally agitated with a piece of his shed left on the tip of his tail. he's irate. i tried to help him but i didn't want to pull it off and hurt him (it's kinda stuck i guess?) and i really don't feel like handling him because he keeps hissing. first time he hissed was like a "Please leave me alone i'm uncomfortable and yucky feeling" and that was after he shed, and i realized the tip of his tail wasn't done shedding yet, and the second time it happened was this morning, and all i was doin was checkin his tippy tail to see if he'd gotten anywhere with it... and he hissed like he was pissed. i know it's normal for them to be angry when they're shedding, and he has raw spots on him from where he shed the burns and yicky scales off so he's probably wicked sensitive. i will try to locate my digital camera and get pix but he's an angry beaver right now so i'm tryna just let him be.

just thought i'd share the details of my :snake: journey with you ppl. i've been lurking and reading trying to educate myself, but like i said, i'm jobless and currently just scraping by, so i don't have oodles of cash to invest on him. i DO have a friend looking into a 50gal tank for him which would be ideal. i tried to measure him in length and he squirmed and got bratty, so i gave up. i think that was right before he shed. also, his weight... i dont' have a digital scale so i have nooo idea. i know he's over 3 feet long. i say 3 feet but it's more like 3 and a half. i don't know about having him sexed either, is he too old or would it piss an older or larger snake off?

anything anyone can tell me or suggest would be lovely. thank youuu.

PS i know soaking the snake would be what i should do but it's just the tip of his tail and the tip of his tail was like, burnt and hurty so i dont' want to mess with it, and i'm thinking thats why it's stuck. other than that he shed phenomenally. the hissing is what makes me nervous and i just don't want to give him a reason to hiss or bite!

a pretty good shot of the burn

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...wiepicture.jpg

i call him a he but i just don't know and am not educated enough to try anything crafty with this guy right here. he's got a sweet face-

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...headlovely.jpg

burn close up, he insisted on putting eco earth on his burns. :(

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s.../snikoburn.jpg

he's shiny now, much clearer and brighter than in this pic, but he's still pretty for a regular royal :)

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...ss/snikolS.jpg

I would get him off of the Eco-Earth and onto some newspaper or papertowels for sanitary reasons. If you can get some Sulfadene cream from your vet, that would help his burns heal alot faster. Also, don't allow him to soak in his water bowl, or it could get his wounds infected.

Also, soaking him once a day in some dilute betadine solution or chlorhexidine solution(www.valleyvet.com) will help clean the wounds and keep them from getting infected. You'll want to get some gauze or a soft wash cloth and gently but firmly scrub the areas. This helps clear away any dead tissue and open up the wound so the disinfectant can work. Neither betadine or chlorhexidine sting. I've soaked animals in dilute bleach before(not snakes) because of recurrent fungal infections, so betadine and chlorhexidine are very mild. They work great though.

What size tank is he in? What are the temperatures and humidity and how are you measuring them? You can get an inexpensive digital thermometer from WalMart for around $11. The name is Acu-Rite and they are in the outdoor thermometer section, by the light bulbs and such.

As far as hides and decor, avoid anything wood or rough right now(such as that brick). You want things that are easy to disinfect, such as plastic or ceramic. You definitely want to get a smaller water bowl, such as a Van Ness plastic crock made for dogs(also found at WalMart). The 4-6" diameter bowl would be fine, as Ball Pythons really don't soak unless there is a problem with their environment or they have been overfed(or they are ovulating and uncomfortable, but that's beside the fact).

For a hide, you can use a dark plastic bowl, such as a salad bowl from the dollar store, and cut a hole in the side of it. Just flip it upside down and they make wonderful hides.

For his size, a 20 gallon long tank will last him for quite awhile. Ball Pythons prefer smaller, more secluded places rather than huge open spaces. That 50 gallon you were mentioning would just be too open and would be very hard to keep heated and humifidied properly.

You'll want his temps to be around 90-94 on the warm side and have a 10 degree gradiant over to the other end. So if your warm side is 94, then your cool side would be 84, or thereabouts. Warmer temps will help him heal faster(warm temps equals faster metabolism). Undertank heaters are more efficient than lamps and do not dry the enclosure out. Lamps dry the air and you will be fighting an uphill battle with the humidity. Remember, all UTHs need a control, either a dimmer or a thermostat.

Glad he decided to eat, and live mice are fine. I would go it easy though since he has regurgitated in the past. 1-2 mice every 7 days will be fine, and if he decides not to eat one week, no worries.

Hopefully that cleared up some things. If you have any other questions, just ask :) Definitely see the vet though, he needs that Silvadene cream for his back.

SatanicIntention gave great advice so I won't go into anything. But good on ya for taking him in. Seems like you're doing great with him so far. I'm sure you're right about him being sensitive and icky feeling. Those burns look terrible. Hopefully he heals up soon.

those burns looks horrible. good that they are getting treated

Good for you for rescuing this poor guy and helping him out!

I think Becky (SatanicIntention) pretty much covered everything, so just follow her advice and ask any more questions you have!

20 gallon is NoT big enough. he has one hide because that's what i have room for. he's too big for the tank. someone apparently felt they needed my digital camera more than me so i'm pretty sure it got stolen. i think at least a 30gal tank would be better... it's just not big enough dude, trust me :( god i'm really upset i don't have the digital camera. if you could see how much better he looks right now you'd do a dance :P lol. but the tip of his tail is like crusty and hard and stuck :( omg what do i do :(

and i'm also thrilled to know that 1-2 mice a week is fine bc thats what i'm comfortable with for now :) yey. and they always always have mice at the petstore in this town (crappy town to have exotic pets, there is nothing for petstores for at least 45 mins!!!) they don't always have a small or medium rat... but i'd like to try a rat sometime... not sure how accurate this is... but the petstore dude said if i feed him things that are too small he won't constrict correctly? like huh? and it will cause a kink? sounds scary but is it true?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ViciousBliss

20 gallon is NoT big enough. he has one hide because that's what i have room for. he's too big for the tank. someone apparently felt they needed my digital camera more than me so i'm pretty sure it got stolen. i think at least a 30gal tank would be better... it's just not big enough dude, trust me :( god i'm really upset i don't have the digital camera. if you could see how much better he looks right now you'd do a dance :P lol. but the tip of his tail is like crusty and hard and stuck :( omg what do i do :(

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Trust us when we say a 20 gallon is big enough for now. ;) I would even go so far as to tell you to get a 28 qt tub for him as it's easier to control.

Bp's are secretive, and for the sake of rehabilitation, will benefit from having a small enclosure that's easy to clean, and keep at proper levels.

Becky already went over that, and I will back her up as well. BP's do not need a ton of open space. A 20 gallon will do quite well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ViciousBliss

not sure how accurate this is... but the petstore dude said if i feed him things that are too small he won't constrict correctly? like huh? and it will cause a kink? sounds scary but is it true?

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It is good that you are questioning what the petstore dude told you. "Petstore dudes" tend to be full of inaccurate information.

There is some truth in the idea that feeding smaller prey may cause your snake to not constrict correctly. If a snake decides the prey is small enough to not be a threat, they will sometimes eat it without bothering to kill it first. Also, if the prey item is much smaller than the "appropriate" size for the snake, it is hard for them to get a tight wrap on it, which might be part of why they'll eat it without constricting it first. However, these things aren't harmful to the snake.

I've never heard of a snake getting a kink due to constricting prey that was too small. I highly doubt that would happen.

alright so every moring when i wake up i take Snikolas out and go stand on the deck in the sun. he seems to enjoy this. i was checkin his tail out (cuz his tippy tail still hasn't shed... any suggestions anyone??????) and ( i feel like i violated my snake and i didn't even do anything) i saw his PRONGS!:O lol. NOW i really wish i had a camera. grr. i didn't pop him or even attempt to, they were peekin out of that uhm, spot (i sound so educated lol)

sorry i don't know terminology and whatnot and thank you for any help you can give. i am trying to come to terms with the 20 gallon tank lol... if i come across a 30 or 29 (whatever i saw at walmart lol) i think i am going to invest in it just because i'd like him to have a cool hide.

for now, i'm going to use the ecoearth bc it's what i have but i will try the newspaper after i run out. i clean out the eco earth daily, any wet spots get thrown out and replaced. i hope that is okay! he seems to like it. i do understand about the sanitation purposes with the newspaper... but (how selfish am i) for now the eco earth seems to be working alright and is nice to look at (although that really shouldn't matter i know!)

i love this snake! he is out right now snaking around my arms neck and lap. he really seems to think he'd make the best desk ornament but that usually results in him knockin over my water lol...

he is lovely and i'm enjoying him thoroughly as a pet. i will try to measure him today and was thinking of bringing him to the pet store bc i think they have a digital scale there! i'd love to be able to give ppl more details on the normal stuff. i wish i knew how old he was! is there any way to tell other than to ask the person who originally had him? cuz i want to punch that guy in the head for the neglect... for now i will avoid him ;)

is it okay to feed him today? he is snakin around and it's been about 10 days since he's eaten, but the tip of his tail is still on from his shed... could i offer him food today?

not to sound like a tart, but just keep in mind i don't have a job, so cash is a bit of a hindrance. i do however have a few friends that would help with the food if i ever for some reason couldn't come up with a few bucks for a rodent. :P BP Husbandry on a budget. i know it's not ideal but am i doing okay for now seeing where this poor man was before i had him? he's a lovely snake and his personality is pristine. he really does seem to like me... can snakes prefer people? like a girl better than a guy? he seems to like men less. ppl told me he's bit people before but that is probably the crappy state he was in, no hide, no food.... wouldn't you bite the hand that wasn't feeding you?

he hissed right after his shedding (so i left his ass alone... i'm not givin him a reason to be upset lol) and since then he's been the same old Snikolas. nice as ever. :)

:snake:lovelovelove the reptile.:snake:


funny thing, i used to be a rat person. lol. :P

PS- woo woo to the original royal color, but i can't help but state the obvious when i say, these snakes come in some phenomenal colors and i've completely amazed oodles of my friends by showing them the Nerd morphs. woohoo BPs. they make BPs look poisonous with all these amazing colors~ :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ViciousBliss

( i feel like i violated my snake and i didn't even do anything) i saw his PRONGS!:O lol. NOW i really wish i had a camera. grr. i didn't pop him or even attempt to, they were peekin out of that uhm, spot (i sound so educated lol)

i am trying to come to terms with the 20 gallon tank lol... if i come across a 30 or 29 (whatever i saw at walmart lol) i think i am going to invest in it just because i'd like him to have a cool hide.

[B]for now, i'm going to use the ecoearth bc it's what i have but i will try the newspaper after i run out. i clean out the eco earth daily, any wet spots get thrown out and replaced. i hope that is okay! he seems to like it. i do understand about the sanitation purposes with the newspaper... but (how selfish am i) for now the eco earth seems to be working alright and is nice to look at (although that really shouldn't matter i know!)


cuz i want to punch that guy in the head for the neglect... for now i will avoid him ;)

not to sound like a tart, but just keep in mind i don't have a job, so cash is a bit of a hindrance. i do however have a few friends that would help with the food if i ever for some reason couldn't come up with a few bucks for a rodent. :P

BP Husbandry on a budget. i know it's not ideal but am i doing okay for now seeing where this poor man was before i had him?

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His spurs are always outside of the body.

Why aren't you taking our advise more seriously????

Get him off the eco-earth!

Don't spend your hard earned (or not) money on a bigger tank.

You want to knock his previous owner for neglect, yet you are surfing on the edge of the same thing.

Eco earth is excellent substrate for HEALTHY BP's. If he has scale rot, he CANNOT be on the ECO EARTH.

For one, I doubt you are letting it completely dry out.

2, it is excellent as a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.

Do you know what scale rot is? It is a bacterial and fungal infection of the skin!

Get him OFF of the eco earth and use paper!

I'm pretty fed up with you so far, you knock the poor guy that had him before as being horrible and neglectful, but you are now going against every single little bit of advice given to you to HELP this snake.

You are inexperienced and need to take our advise considerably over your own ideas.

You can fawn over this snake as much as you want, but this constant handling with no settle period, use of eco-earth for scale rot, and still trying to buy a larger cage is going to spell doom for this snake.

Now I know I can't make you see the importance and gravity of your situation, but you should read all the caresheets you can. VPI.com, NERD, here, many other forums have very informative caresheets to help you.

If you want to do best by this snake, take the advice of many experienced keepers here. He is sick, with a weakened immune system and needs all the help he can get.

Stop thinking you know what's best. You don't. Your inexperienced and asked for help. Now your turning a blind eye and possibly hurting the snake more than the last guy.

Read these please:
http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBall.html
http://ball-pythons.net/modules.php?...warticle&id=59
http://vpi.com/publications/the_ball_python_care_sheet

Listen to Connie :gj:

And Welcome to the Site :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

His spurs are always outside of the body.

Why aren't you taking our advise more seriously????

Get him off the eco-earth!

Don't spend your hard earned (or not) money on a bigger tank.

You want to knock his previous owner for neglect, yet you are surfing on the edge of the same thing.

Eco earth is excellent substrate for HEALTHY BP's. If he has scale rot, he CANNOT be on the ECO EARTH.

For one, I doubt you are letting it completely dry out.

2, it is excellent as a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.

Do you know what scale rot is? It is a bacterial and fungal infection of the skin!

Get him OFF of the eco earth and use paper!

I'm pretty fed up with you so far, you knock the poor guy that had him before as being horrible and neglectful, but you are now going against every single little bit of advice given to you to HELP this snake.

You are inexperienced and need to take our advise considerably over your own ideas.

You can fawn over this snake as much as you want, but this constant handling with no settle period, use of eco-earth for scale rot, and still trying to buy a larger cage is going to spell doom for this snake.

Now I know I can't make you see the importance and gravity of your situation, but you should read all the caresheets you can. VPI.com, NERD, here, many other forums have very informative caresheets to help you.

If you want to do best by this snake, take the advice of many experienced keepers here. He is sick, with a weakened immune system and needs all the help he can get.

Stop thinking you know what's best. You don't. Your inexperienced and asked for help. Now your turning a blind eye and possibly hurting the snake more than the last guy.

Read these please:
http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBall.html
http://ball-pythons.net/modules.php?...warticle&id=59
http://vpi.com/publications/the_ball_python_care_sheet

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ok thanks for the abrasiveness. i won't be coming back to say anything anymore. i haven't gone against any advice anyone has given so far, i'm just not going to change his substrate today? i am absorbing info, and this isn't the only place i'm getting it from.

i figured coming here would be a nice way to find ppl with a passion for these animals. not a passion for bashing someone for trying to do the right thing.

thank you for being rude and making me so uncomfortable. again, i won't be coming back here to say anything.

thank everyone again for the great advice.

the pink on his belly ended up not being scale rot, but (as i've now read) bellies get pinkish before a shed)



no one still has given me any advice as to what to do about the tip of the tail, but it doesn't seem to bother him much so i'll check back and see if anyone says anything pertaining to that.

the snake was under a heat lamp in dirty shavings with no hide and month old water, covered in bloody burns and missing patches of scales.

he looks phenomenal now.

i'm sure i'm doing just as poorly as the last guy.

thanks again for the encouragement.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ViciousBliss

for now, i'm going to use the ecoearth bc it's what i have but i will try the newspaper after i run out. i clean out the eco earth daily, any wet spots get thrown out and replaced. i hope that is okay! he seems to like it. i do understand about the sanitation purposes with the newspaper... but (how selfish am i) for now the eco earth seems to be working alright and is nice to look at (although that really shouldn't matter i know!)

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it IS nicer to look at. i was just stating a fact. it was in no way a reason i chose to purchase this substrate. and i am not trying to change the substrate right now. no one else in this house will handle the snake and i am doing this all on my own. i JUST cleaned it, and he does NOT have scale rot, so i don't feel that i'm putting my snake in danger by leaving it.


another reason eco earth was used is because it is what the more pet savvy gal at the petshop suggested. he was dry and she said it would keep the humidity up. so i believed her. sorry again.

this is apparently not the right place for a person like me!

If that's all you want to do is whine about how the post was, at least I know I got you to read it.

Everything I highlighted was pretty much what you decided to do after ignoring our advice.

Soak his tail and get the extra skin off. If you can't take him back to the vet.

If he doesnt have scale rot, it would have been nice to have mentioned it. Eco-earth and scale rot do not mix.

Have you taken him to the vet? You can't rule out anything until a professional has checked him over.

I hope you do learn to drop the pride issues and take our advice. Good luck in future endeavors.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

If that's all you want to do is whine about how the post was, at least I know I got you to read it.

Everything I highlighted was pretty much what you decided to do after ignoring our advice.

Soak his tail and get the extra skin off. If you can't take him back to the vet.

If he doesnt have scale rot, it would have been nice to have mentioned it. Eco-earth and scale rot do not mix.

Have you taken him to the vet? You can't rule out anything until a professional has checked him over.

I hope you do learn to drop the pride issues and take our advice. Good luck in future endeavors.

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thank you again for the advice. i asked about that in a PM i sent you before i saw this here.

The skin around the tail will cut off circulation and his tissue will die. I suggest if you can't see a herp vet, to do the soaks like Becky (satanicintention) mentioned.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ViciousBliss

ok thanks for the abrasiveness. i won't be coming back to say anything anymore. i haven't gone against any advice anyone has given so far, i'm just not going to change his substrate today? i am absorbing info, and this isn't the only place i'm getting it from.

i figured coming here would be a nice way to find ppl with a passion for these animals. not a passion for bashing someone for trying to do the right thing.

thank you for being rude and making me so uncomfortable. again, i won't be coming back here to say anything.

thank everyone again for the great advice.

the pink on his belly ended up not being scale rot, but (as i've now read) bellies get pinkish before a shed)



no one still has given me any advice as to what to do about the tip of the tail, but it doesn't seem to bother him much so i'll check back and see if anyone says anything pertaining to that.

the snake was under a heat lamp in dirty shavings with no hide and month old water, covered in bloody burns and missing patches of scales.

he looks phenomenal now.

i'm sure i'm doing just as poorly as the last guy.

thanks again for the encouragement.

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Holy Moly! :colbert:
Did you come here to help your snake?
When you get done looking for a job in the classifieds then lay them down in the cage for the snake. Save the eco-earth for when the BP is well it will not go bad.

I agree 100% with everything Connie (littleindiangirl) said. I will also agree with the OP's point that the tone could have been nicer.

If I had to choose, I'd take good advice that came with a nasty tone over bad or no advice. And I certainly understand why Connie was so frustrated.

ViciousBliss, I hope you will stay around. You will find that this forum is FULL of friendly, helpful people. You might not believe it at the moment, but Connie is one of them. For the most part, the biggest fault of people on this forum (the regulars at least) is that we are very passionate about our snakes, and as with anything that people are passionate about, it can cause tempers to flare at times. Part of what makes this forum special is that the people here tend to be pretty darn good about hugging and making up after the fact. :grouphug:

To try to address some of your questions:

tip of tail: if it is just stuck shed, soaking it will help. I think you said something about the shed being stuck because of the damage from the burn? If so, I'd put betadine or chlorhexidine in the soak to prevent infection. Even if that isn't the problem with the tail tip, if the soak will get on any of his raw areas, you'll want to do that anyway. Didn't Becky (SatanticIntention) suggest you do that daily anyway? If you were doing that, I don't think you'll still have any stuck shed.

substrate: ok, so maybe he doesn't have scale rot. You have said he has raw spots from burns. So the eco-earth is still not a good idea right now. You posted a pic with the eco-earth stuck to his burns, say you understand about the sanitation issues, and admit you are being selfish because it looks nice... but you still won't put him on paper towels or newspaper temporarily until he heals?

size of enclosure: I agree with those that have said your 20 Long tank is big enough for now. If/when you do get a bigger tank, don't get a 29. They are tall and the height doesn't really do anything for a BP which is a terrestrial snake. A 30 Long (also called a 30 breeder) would be the best next step as far as a glass tank. But it is not necessary now and by then you may have realized that glass tanks aren't really ideal for BPs anyway.

"prongs": like Connie said, you may have just seen his spurs, which are visible at all times. But since you asked about terminology... his sexual organ (if it is a male) is called hemipenes. "That uhm, spot" is called the vent.

I think everyone here wants the same thing: what is best for the BP that you have fallen in love with. Please let us help you provide him with it.

LOL, Casey, it's like good cop, bad cop up in here! I have to finish playing my part.

*throws chair against wall in rage*

I smell a pilot on its way for Law and Order: BPU...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

LOL, Casey, it's like good cop, bad cop up in here! I have to finish playing my part.

*throws chair against wall in rage*

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HAHA. viciousbliss I hope you do stick around. There are a lot of good people on here and tons of BP knowledge to be shared and learned in all levels of the hobby.

i will admit i have other things going on in my life so i may have been taking things personally earlier (and it really is all about the snake NOT me :P ) but the way some things have been said really rubbed me the wrong way. for the sake of snakely advice that i have gotten and will get in the future i will definitely be sticking around the BPF. i just hope people know that not everyone is as well educated as them and if the steps i have ALREADY taken (before advice!) aren't what you think is right, i'd appreciate advice, not be told i might as well be the last guy :(

i understand also that the snakes best interest is in everyones mind, i just felt like i was being told i was doing just as much negative as the last guy, and i know thats not true!

i wanted to get a ball python ONE DAY (haha a piebald was my holy grail) and planned on reading books and investing money far before making a snake purchase. this lil guy was kind of dumped on me and so now i'm far behind where i'd like to be in my knowledge of the situation!

i do kind of wish i knew someone who was better off to take care of him (or even wanted to) but around here i dont' know very many knowledgable people as far as reptiles are concerned, so i'm going to keep him and do as much as i can unless a better situation for him arises.

and connie, you're a fiesty one girlfriend. i'm fiesty too *tosses chair in the air* woohoo. no hard feelings, i'm sure you never meant to offend me. you are prompt with your responses and advice, and i just hated that you (someone who is obviously knowledgable to the whole snake world, and someone i respect for advice) said i could be doing worse than the last guy. i dont' want anyone thinking i'm abusing this guy! he's a great snake!

i am glad you decided to stick around. There is alot of good info to be had here and many MANY very experienced keepers to help answer your questions.

I've been called worse than fiesty :love:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I've been called worse than fiesty :love:

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lol... me too. i can't get all hot and bothered on the herp side of things as far as a debate is concerned cuz well, OBVIOUSLY i know less than you hehe, but talk to me about something i know more about and i could be a little more um, fiesty? lol

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

i am glad you decided to stick around. There is alot of good info to be had here and many MANY very experienced keepers to help answer your questions.

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the response here is great, you are right, thank you!

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Originally Posted by ViciousBliss

lol... me too. i can't get all hot and bothered on the herp side of things as far as a debate is concerned cuz well, OBVIOUSLY i know less than you hehe, but talk to me about something i know more about and i could be a little more um, fiesty? lol

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Everything I've learned is through my bit of experience, this very forum (along with many others), and reading as many different caresheets and websites as I can.

I don't know it all; in fact I'm nothing on the totem pole compared to some very gracious and knowledgeable breeders and keepers here, but I hope that I do always jump to help the newbies as much as I can.

Your among some of the best people here, and will find more than enough answers to fit any situation.

Hey; I am glad that you decided to stick around too :) It is definately better for the snake now that you have him.. as opposed to the ignorant former owners. Now, I will give you some advice. Tanks are expensive when compared to another alternative: the rubbermaid-style tub. (though the "Sterilite" and "Iris" brand names tend to be more ideal and better sizes in my experience.) Many people keep their snakes in tubs with great results (myself being one of those people.) They are just plan inexpensive when comparwed to tanks of a similar size, in my experience. And when it comes time to disinfect your snake's home, do you want to whisk off a lightweight tub, or lug a big tank around that will break if you look at it wrong?
Granted, many who use tubs, use them in a rack (shelf) style setup. But others use them fine with secured lids. And "ugly" free newspaper substrate is no matter inside a tub, where you won't really see it anyway. See, it is best for BPs to have a more secure, opaque house, as opposed to clear glass. Why? In nature, they are secretive. They spend much time underground in burrows. They like rounded, relatively tight areas to hide, and hidespots should be small enough that all sides of the snake can touch their inside of the hide when they're in it. But not so small that the snake has to cram into it. I liked the salad-bowl suggestion; this is cheap Yet ideal.. a rarity in life :)
It is tough with limited or no funds, I know. The biggest and only truly expensive supply that you need now is an undertank heater and a thermostat or rheostat. And I really would get the snake to the vet.. it could have internal parasites that will just be eating up lots of the feed that you give it and prevent weight gain.
I wish you luck! Please ask any questions that you have.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

LOL, Casey, it's like good cop, bad cop up in here! I have to finish playing my part.

*throws chair against wall in rage*

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

I smell a pilot on its way for Law and Order: BPU...

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LOL! You guys are too funny! Next time I want to play bad cop! :devilish:

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Originally Posted by ViciousBliss

and connie, you're a fiesty one girlfriend. i'm fiesty too *tosses chair in the air* woohoo. no hard feelings, i'm sure you never meant to offend me.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I've been called worse than fiesty :love:

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See? I knew you'd be making up in no time! :hug: