Help with neglected Ball Python

[Lana's_mom]

Hi, I'm new and need some help from people who might have more experience in this area. I had a ball python that I had had for over a year, and thanks to a horrible now ex husband I had to re-home him a little over a year ago. I gave him to a friend that I thought would take care of him. I offered to watch his snakes while he went in for surgery and has recently moved and had no place to keep them. When I moved them to my house I got to see my old ball python and was horrified. This guy was leaving them in a shop with no A/C, I'm in Texas we have had a really hot summer so far, over a hundred for over a month. and for the first month of that he had a hot rock in the tank turned on. The snakes have been down there since late winter early spring. He barely fed the snakes, and did nothing with them pretty much for months. When I cleaned the tanks the bedding, cedar shaving (yikes!) were all stuck to the bottom of the tank. I have cleaned the tank and have put aspen in for bedding, I was in a time crunch to just get the tank clean, I plan to put cypress bedding in soon. I have a heat lamp on him since my house stays at about 77 degrees and I put him in a quiet room. He looks horrible. He looks withered and has the top half of his body covered in shed, possibly more than one sheds worth, if its possible. I know he ate a little over a week ago, 2 small ASF's, like just weaned size. I need advice on how to get the shed off this guy and to make him feel better. He looks small for his age, I got him as a hatchling in 2009. I have soaked him in water in a tubaware container with only couple of holes for air, and under a warm lamp for about 20 minutes and he seemed to enjoy that. But his is very nippy now, has always been a little nippy when I had him, but not like this. I have tried to offer him some food, but he refuses to eat. He was in great shape when I gave him to the guy. I just wanted to cry when I saw him on saturday. Any advice would be great.

[Redneck_Crow]

He is probably nippy because he hadn't been handled in a while and might not feel so well.

This is my opinion only, but with a snake like that the main thing you have to do is do what you would normally do--give him good caging, temps, humidity, and food. He will eat more than normal for a while when he starts accepting prey, but if he's not severely emaciated he will probably turn around fine when he gets what he needs.

I got one a couple of weeks ago that was dehydrated, carrying some stuck shed, needed some groceries, and mean as snot.

2 weeks later--well hydrated, stuck shed is off, still a little thin but picking up, and hissing, not biting.

[llovelace]

Welcome to BP.net
For the stuck shed, soak in a container of tepid water with lid for about 30 minutes, then let him slide through a damp wash cloth, the shed will come right off.

Look over our care sheet for more helpful info

[kitedemon]

Soaking him is the best action at the moment. If the shed comes off that is great if not personally I'd not cause him any more stress by trying to get it off your self, soak him for 20-30 min twice a day in 85-88ºF water (measure it) and do that for a few days. Work on getting the temps correct and humidity correct too. and let him be. 100ºf will not kill them but it will stress them out and also they may not be able to digest food at that temp (too hot or too cold effects digestion and other systems)

I help with lots of rescues and the first thing is reduce the stress and hydration. Which is why I'd wait on the shed, it will come off on its own if the hydration both from soaking and humidity are done you may need to help but wait until he gets a meal or two in him. Feed small give him a chance to get proper digestion going, a few light feedings then normal ones. The stuck shed unless it is all bunched up is not a big issue but stress is.

Good Luck! I hope this helps!!

[Lana's_mom]

Thanks for the help I feel so bad that I gave him to this guy expecting him to be cared for and than I get him back like this. Makes me mad and upset.

[kitedemon]

You did what you though was best don't beat your self up. Correct the problem and try to keep the him. hindsight is 20/20 but there is no undo.

[Lana's_mom]

Yeah. I am trying to convince the guy to let me keep both of the snakes. He had the Ball python and a Rosy boa, who also doesn't seem to feel very well. Thank you again for the help.

[Maixx]

If he refuses and wants his snakes back, maybe give a couple care sheets, one for each and offer to help educate him on proper care and husbandry, other then that I don't know what to say.
Document, photograph everything just in case it turns ugly in any way.