I never ask... is this snake a morph? But... is he? (rescue update - Magda).

I use the term Rescue VERY sparingly, but this snake came to me with a burn that was about 2/3 of his body. He hadn't eaten in 8 months so the owner (I use that term vs. keeper) simply stopped feeding him.

Here is a pic of him the day we brought him home.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...magdaandb1.jpg

And one a few months after I had gotten him on feed the first time.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...bum/Magda3.jpg

He told me at length how this was his "beloved baby" which was just his way of getting more money from me. I know... I paid for this snake rather than leave him in that environment.

I have come close to having him euthanized on 3 occasions, and each time he bounces back just enough that I hold out he will eventually thrive.

He is a very big boy, and came to me at 1400g. I have gotten him up to 2 kg, and then he goes off feed, poops, and then suddenly he isn't so big anymore.

He was a gerbil eater, but I pulled tough love on him and have stopped the gerbil train. He takes the odd juvie ASF, which means he is eating fluff. One of the most timid snakes in my collection, but I have a super soft spot for this boy.

We had made the decision, that it was time to have him put down, and then sure enough. I offered him a few FT chicks (I got a bunch in a trade) and he has taken 4 this week. Please, no "NO CHICKS" comments. I am just ecstatic to have him on feed.

Suddenly he is attentive as well. Flicking, looking around, travelling, and I have not been so happy to clean a snake poop before as I was to change his messy messy enclosure today. :)

I have never quite believed he was a normal. But tonight when I mentioned that I had decided to not put him down my partner says "Magda is the purple snake right?"

This coming from someone that could have a YB, Fire, Enchi, and Normal in a bucket and not be able to tell them apart.

Figured I would take some pics of him and see if anyone has any ideas? Doesn't matter to me if he is or he isn't. He is a good snake and has a home here regardless. I have almost 2 years invested in this boy and it looks like we are not even close to home base yet... which is fine.

First things first though... updated pics of Magda's burns. I think he is just kicking butt in the healing dept. :)

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...um/magda10.jpg

When I first got him it looked like he'd been carved with a jack-knife.

Ok... so the pattern and color pics.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...m/magda1-1.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...um/magda12.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...m/magda3-1.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...bum/magda5.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...bum/magda6.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...um/magda11.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...bum/magda7.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...um/magda13.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...um/magda14.jpg

Thanks for looking.

I would appreciate any feedback. He is very irridescent, and where he blushes he is quite burgundy, as well he has burgundy in the alien heads behind his head.

Bruce

I have heard 'burgundy' used strongly with a lot of WCs. I do not know if it's genetic, but yours looks similar.

I would say Het. Red.. but I don't see any alien head lines.

Your more experianced than me, so it's hard for me to say that it looks like a normal to me, if it may not to you. Either way, that blushing is awesome, and I love when they have thick blushed backs like that.

:]

He's a good lookin' boy, and he's certainly got something going on. Burgandy, maybe? He seems to be more than just a pretty Normal.

I wouldn't call that a burg, but he does look like he would make a nice dinkin project. Definitely some interesting points to work with.... :gj:

Cheers,
kat

One pic I missed...

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...bum/magda9.jpg

That first picture yanks on the heartstrings. Is it just the angle, or was he really that thin? I love when these deserving animals that have suffered so much at the hands of ignorance find their way into good homes.

I don't know if he's a morph or not, but he sure is a pretty boy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bruce Whitehead

One pic I missed...

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...bum/magda9.jpg

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Woah, clear belly. Oh my. ;)

Oh, and KMFDM = :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shadera

That first picture yanks on the heartstrings. Is it just the angle, or was he really that thin?

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That was all there was too him... he was in an enclosure with no water, a heat lamp and no belly heat, and about 4 months worth of filth. Or as the guy said "once the snake stopped eating I stopped changing... cause it isn't using the toilet".

When he found the snake burned his 1st Aid treatment was to dunk the snake in a sink full of ice water and scrub him with a bristle brush.

I took the story in as I was getting the snake, and it was a 45 minute drive home. I had to pull over twice I was so enraged and sad knowing what this snake had been through (yeah, I cried).

Bruce

He does have a few 'cinnamon like' traits, but not strongly enough that I would say he is one for sure. There is only one way to find out...

Best of luck with him and I think chicks are fine as long as he's eating.

I guess that is what gets me with him.

He has distinct moons and other patterns in this alien heads. With no speckling.

A perfectly white belly.

3 dot faded head pattern.

Burgundy smudges (behind his head).

Burgundy in his flames.

Speckling on his sides (he looks like he has mites all the time! :) )

Blushed back, etc...

But I would not consider him to be a burgunday, a het red (or a red), or a cinnie variation.

But I just find his "stuff" so specific and distinct.

Thanks for the comments thus far.

Bruce

One thing I realized after... was that I should have been more concise in my wording. Not so much is a he a morph, but is he potentially genetic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bruce Whitehead

That was all there was too him... he was in an enclosure with no water, a heat lamp and no belly heat, and about 4 months worth of filth. Or as the guy said "once the snake stopped eating I stopped changing... cause it isn't using the toilet".

When he found the snake burned his 1st Aid treatment was to dunk the snake in a sink full of ice water and scrub him with a bristle brush.

I took the story in as I was getting the snake, and it was a 45 minute drive home. I had to pull over twice I was so enraged and sad knowing what this snake had been through (yeah, I cried).

Bruce

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Bruce it is nothing short of a miracle that this snake is alive, you done good.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter Williams

Bruce it is nothing short of a miracle that this snake is alive, you done good.

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Thanks Peter, but ultimately it is the snake. Everytime he "clicks back on" I am amazed. He goes through months at a time where I think this poor snake has simply had a psychological death and then he comes back.

Had him out tonight for a handling and he is just the gentlest giant. He is a heartbreaker in spades.

Bruce

EDIT: That and he donated his sperm plugs to induce my Fire to breed. :)

Not a Burgandy, but he is handsome and looking like he is recovering well!

:gj:

I know next to nothing about morphs and breeding, etc, etc. But I wanted to say thank you for taking him in and helping him on his way. He's beautiful!

Also, I always love your pictures because you are always in the coolest places. I think you said before that you're involved in something about art. It's quite cool! thanks!

My hat goes off to you. :)

Its amazing to me how someone (previous owner) can be so.. "ignorant" towards the needs and well being of an animal like that... some people :mad:

Just goes again to show you how hardy these amazing creatures are!

Again - good for you to aid this beauty back to health!

Colin

Possibly a cinny?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarkS

He does have a few 'cinnamon like' traits, but not strongly enough that I would say he is one for sure. There is only one way to find out...

Best of luck with him and I think chicks are fine as long as he's eating.

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I was thinking "cinny/black pastelish". He is lucky to have feel into your hands and still be alive. Good luck with his further progress.

I think Burgundy, and if that doesnt prove out...dinker normal.

Thanks for the feedback all.

I guess I tend to think he is cinnie/black-ish... but the color seems off. But some of the patterning is consistent.

Hah, never know, he could be a Burgundy Pastel. Imagine what an all burgundy snake would look like? :P *kidding*

If this boy ever gets up to par I may try him next season and see what happens.

When I first got him his vent was so full of scar tissue that he couldn't even be probed, but he is healing really nicely and maybe a lot of his energy has been going into that. We'll see.

He has a vet appt this month for a full round of follow-up (fecal, RI culture, etc.)

Again, thanks for the feedback. I do think he may prove to be an interesting dinking project.

Bruce

Definitely looks like a dinker to me. Nice belly, different pattern, and lost of blushing.

Doesn't quite look burg to me either. The burgs I have seen in person and in pics tend to have a lighter background coloration. I say give him a chance to prove something out. I love hearing stories like yours. You have truly made a world of difference in that snakes life whether he knows it or not.

Great job you are doing and that sure is an interesting looking snake!

The thing I think needs to be taken into account is the fact he had a nasty nasty belly burn.
It could have compromised his insides and that took even longer to heal. A type of systemic infection inside of the burn. Perhaps that is why he went off feed for so long, it hurt to digest.
I have a friend who had a hernia, his stomach eventually attached part of itself to the mesh that was placed on his abdominal wall.
You could have something similar happening with his stomach and the burn/scar tissue.
Just a thought. I am glad he is eating now, and that YOU have him.
He is purdy, and I think in a year or so, you should try to breed him. If he stays healthy and happy.

Carol

:bow::bow::bow: to you. He is beautiful. And, I really like the artwork in the background, off topic I know but just saying...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bruce Whitehead

That was all there was too him... he was in an enclosure with no water, a heat lamp and no belly heat, and about 4 months worth of filth. Or as the guy said "once the snake stopped eating I stopped changing... cause it isn't using the toilet".

When he found the snake burned his 1st Aid treatment was to dunk the snake in a sink full of ice water and scrub him with a bristle brush.

I took the story in as I was getting the snake, and it was a 45 minute drive home. I had to pull over twice I was so enraged and sad knowing what this snake had been through (yeah, I cried).

Bruce

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All I can say is wow man, The sink thing for the burns has to be one of the top craziest things I've heard not to mention the bristle brush on top of that.I know there are a million different reasons that motivate ppl like this to obtain the animals they do. I cant fathom how you can just ignore that theres a live animal just sitting there wasting away til it eventually dies, how some ppl live with themselves will forever astonish me, but its awesome that it found its way somehow into Bruce's home!:gj:

Isn't that a sable, it looks like a rainbow in the light.