PetSmart Rescue

[normandcass]

I broke my own rule and wandered into the reptile section of PetSmart Monday while buying a frozen rat for my adult BP and found a baby BP, the smallest I have ever seen. I spoke with the "reptile expert" who told me that the snake does eat but hasn't for a couple weeks. I said he needed help, asked if they would take to a vet to assess if assisted feeding is necessary and the response was "that will just stress the snake out" and "the vet is far away." Anyway...I couldn't sleep that night and went back yesterday morning and brought him home. I asked for the records to show the vet if needed, and found out he had been there six weeks and hadn't eaten once. They were offering only pinky mice once a week. No records from breeder about age or previous feedings (or lack thereof).

His skin is hanging in spots but belly is not concave. Skin is shiny, no retained shed/eyecaps, eyes full and bright, no dents. Active.

I got him home and into a nice warm enclosure and offered him a F/T small mouse later that morning and he ate it without hesitation. I have left him to digest, only bothering him to check enclosure temps a few times a day and to make sure he didn't regurgitate the mouse. and to make sure that he's still alive.

I'm wondering if there is anything special I can do to help him increase his chances of recovering. Since there is little body fat, should I increase temps above normal BP temps? Can he handle eating every 4-5 days like a normal baby, or would that stress him out during recovery? Or should I feed more often to help put on weight?

Here are his settings:

Weight - 55 grams after feeding
In Sterlite tub with 2 hides, water dish, empty paper towel roll and UTH under 1/3 of bin.
Substrate - paper towels
ambient warm side - 88 degrees
cool side - 78-79 degrees
surface temp on warm side - 92-93 degrees (digital probe thermometer)
Water dish
hot/cool side temps are taken with temp gun

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Thanks for any advice...i wasnt planning on another snake but I just couldn't leave this little guy there, it was obvious that nobody cared about him. I've just never cared for one this small/underweight before and want to make sure I do this right.

[BMorrison]

My first normal was a petsmart rescue albeit at the time I didn't know I was rescuing him as my knowledge in pythons was limited as far as husbandry goes.

I'd say at 55g though you can feed him every 5 days, sounds like you got your husbandry dialed in just fine. Keep us updated on his progress!


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[chrid16371]

Feeding every 4 days may be best until he has some weight on him. I would lower the surface temp of the paper towel down to 88-89, 92 is max on top of paper towels imo so it's best to stay a little under. Everything else sounds good as long as your using a thermostat or dimmer to regulate the uth.

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[Nitewolfie]

I'd feed him every four days, and keep everything like a normal BP, but then again I don't know too much about young BPs(at least I don't think I do..)
But good luck

[butterballpython]

He looks pretty skinny, poor thing! Please keep us updated on him.

[Scottywelsh]

I'd feed every 5 days. If he hasn't been eating and then suddenly eating more than he should be it can cause problems. My opinion but I think 5 days is best. He will grow and put weight on at a normal rate and will be perfectly healthy.
As for husbandry just the same as any other bp. Young bps tend to prefer cooler so I have my young bps set up a few degrees less than my adults.
Good Luck.

[MarkS]

Just as a general FYI, if you bought a ball python at petsmart, it's a purchase. Not a rescue.

[normandcass]

Thanks everyone for the replies! He is doing well. I lowered the temp of the UTH a few degrees. this morning there was urates and a good amount of liquid too. I felt bad bothering him to change the paper towels, but it was fun to hold him for a minute! He is definitely more responsive than he was a few days ago.

If he comes out looking for food after 4 days I'll offer it, otherwise wait til day 5. Taking care of him reminds me of when I had my first child...always worried he would stop breathing when I wasn't looking LOL

How often should I weigh him to check his progress?

[Scottywelsh]

Just weigh him 1once a month when he's "empty" . So before you feed him. If he poops and he hasn't eaten for 3 or 4 days then that's the perfect time to get an accurate weight.

[Vonnie]

I just got a ball from petsmart that looks just like that skinny & the skin is hanging, I also got another one last week who is also skinny but has a little more weight on it. Like you I couldn't just leave them there. & the "reptile expert" at my petsmart wouldn't even answer my questions. But anyways I fed the one I got last week, but still haven't been able to feed the one I got yesterday. I will as soon as I can. I haven't had snakes very long, I've had my first ball for about 3 months now. & I just got these 2 from petsmart. I guess anything that can help you would help me to. I wish you the best of luck.