Need help with this rescue, guys

[O'Mathghamhna]

Hey, all. I work in wildlife rehab and have 2 ball pythons of my own that I rescued a few years ago... A few days ago I got a message from a local Herp board member in my area who was offering her boa constrictor for sale with its tank for $100. She essentially said she was having "bad luck" and couldn't afford to keep the snake any longer. The picture she posted was that of this boa surrounded by its own feces and old shed. She was afraid to put her hand in the tank because it might "break her wrists," the snake belonged to her fiance who is now in jail, blah blah. Anyway after messaging her that I would take the snake no questions asked but not pay her one red cent, she agreed to let me come by.

This poor guy was in a large tank with NO heat, NO humidity, a filthy water bowl with slimy furry sludge on the bottom that had never been cleaned, no hides, it was just awful. So I took it with gritted teeth (I wanted to punch this b*%$%in the face) and left. Here's what she told me about the snake; how much of it is true, I don't know:

Unsexed red tail boa constrictor purchased one year ago from a pet store. Unknown when last shed was, has cloudy eye caps. Last ate allegedly 2 weeks ago, was only fed live rats and in its tank, no less. Poop in tank looked healthy for what it's worth. Is "aggressive" when tank lid open (durr, hence the live feeding).

I was unable to tell if the eye caps are cloudy from its last shed, or because it's about to shed again. I was unable to see any pieces sticking out around the eye to pull at. I put some olive oil on them yesterday. The snake is currently in a new tank, with a warm hide and a cool hide, a fresh bowl of water, and a mister giving humidity. For bedding as of now I'm using Dri-Dek with newspaper underneath.

Head with cloudy eye cap:


Tummy with possible burns:





Top of body:





I need help with identification (boa constrictor constrictor or boa constrictor imperator), and advice to help with the burns/eyes/feeding. Thanks so much to everyone in advance for all your help!

[nightrainfalls]

Good husbandry and a vet check up should be all that is needed.

The live rats might have brought in parasites. Your vet can make sure the snake is healthy.

Make sure you observe a quarantine period.

David

[O'Mathghamhna]

Great, will do! Thanks David.

[bcr229]

BCI

The body condition doesn't look bad at all; boas are very often overfed, which can lead to obesity and an early death. An adult like that should eat monthly with the feeder leaving a minimal lump. I'll bet it has no issues converting to f/t feeders.

Leave the eyes alone, correcting the humidity will let the boa deal with the eye caps - if in fact that's what they are. If it will take a f/t feeder you can offer it wet to help with rehydration.

I agree with a vet checkup with a fecal exam plus a 90-day quarantine period.

[distaff]

Glad he has a better future.
Good looking snake!
Congrats.

[O'Mathghamhna]

OK, now I've heard feeding every week or two is favorable to once a month, but maybe that's just for BPs that I'm thinking of (I have 2 )? Can you clarify?

[bcr229]

Pythons generally have a faster metabolism & digestion, so they can eat every 7-14 days.

Boas have a fairly slow metabolism, most adults do perfectly fine on 4-6 week feedings. Again, it's all too easy to overfeed them, which will cut decades off of their lifespan. Your rescue does not appear underfed, it has a very nice square body shape.

[Kokorobosoi]

It looks in pretty good shape, not underweight to me. But def not a red tail. So glad you took this one in, how horrible a situation that was! not sure I would have kept my mouth shut.

[BothropsOfBush]

It looks in pretty good shape, not underweight to me. But def not a red tail. So glad you took this one in, how horrible a situation that was! not sure I would have kept my mouth shut.

Hi, good job to rescue it!🏻
But it doesn't look like a red tail for me too. Are you sure, that's burn injuries at his belly (especially if there was no heating in the cage)? The Honduras Boa for example has a red belly in a natural way.


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[Gio]

Pythons generally have a faster metabolism & digestion, so they can eat every 7-14 days.

Boas have a fairly slow metabolism, most adults do perfectly fine on 4-6 week feedings. Again, it's all too easy to overfeed them, which will cut decades off of their lifespan. Your rescue does not appear underfed, it has a very nice square body shape.

Somebody who gets it!

Though I'm not surprised at all seeing as bcr229 keeps a wide variety of species.

I will say at times I will feed my boa a rather large prey item, but this is followed by AT LEAST one month with nothing, and usually preceded by a meal that would be considered undersized the month before.

My BC will not eat at all from November to April and I use seasonal temp drops and decreased lighting during the winter months.

As bcr229 stated boa constrictors are usually overfed. I'd bet 95% of all captive BCs see too much food.

I was certainly on that track myself early on.

Your snake, OP, looks to be in very good health at least by looking at the body.

I think after the vet check you'll be all set!