Red Tail Boa rescue... good thing I know NOTHING about them, right?!

[ember]

... At least I am able and willing to learn. And have the means and interested to do so. Thank the stars for Google.

So, I have a huge male (? I was told) snake. I was told he is a RTB.

A guy that works at Petco (blocks from our home, so we are there often) asked me to help the other day. Apparently, his brother fancies himself a snake guy (I mistyped that at first to say "snakey guy", heh... that was probably more accurate!), and was slowly killing a RTB though neglect. He got his brother willing to give the snake to a better home or something, and he could not take it for some reason or another (the story is fading in my mind...). I am known at the pet stores as a snake lover, herp/rep advocate, invert-aholic, and responsible pet owner. The worker asks if I "know anyone" that will take the snake, and gives me a desperate and longing look that said "please, will YOU take this snake".

I have read care sheets on RTBs. I have known a few. We belong to a regional Herptile Keepers Association, and have a plethora of experiences available to us to learn from. All that aside, we are still really unprepared and a bit in shock at this large and beautiful new snake in our bedroom.

So, I went to pick him up tonight. On the phone, the brother tells me that the snake is really hungry.... has not eaten in many months because he cannot afford the rats.

I get to the apartment, and the wife lets me in (the guy was at work). She was nice, and seemed relieved to see the snake leaving. There were two HUGE tanks with snakes in them. I am sorry to say that I don't even know what kind they were, because I hardly gave them a glance... I was too hyper-focused on the RTB coming home with us. There were probably big boa constrictors, both "normal" patterned. They were in huge tanks on cat litter, no water bowls.

The apartment was a mess. There was a large dog, TONS of tanks and cages, and general human mess. The place also had a particular smell in addition to cigarette and rat/dirty cage. The crack/meth pipe on the coffee table explained that. There were many rats and rat cages. When I asked about why the snake had not been fed, she informed me that those were all pet rats, not food for the snakes.

I guess that the wife was not comfortable handling the snakes. I stuck my hand inside of the tank (which, other than the snake, had cat litter as a substrate, and a paper tube - that's it... there was a lamp, which I found out upon getting home had a regular 100 watt household light in it, not a heat lamp of any type.... the light was rusted into the fixture and I ended up throwing the whole lamp away). I hoped for the best when picking the snake up, knowing that it may very well bite me. He did not. He tried to get away, but had no interest in striking. He was REALLY REALLY cold... like, uncomfortably cold to my skin to the touch. I put him inside of a pillow case, and we loaded up and went home.

Once home, I noticed that the tank was sporting broken glass on one side, mold inside of the substrate, and that there were SHARP raised staples inside of the tube (that was totally gross, too...).

I cleaned my friggin' heart out. I then set up a really nice "spur of the moment" habitat. We made makeshift hides, good substrate, a really nice heat lamp/UV light, water dish, etc. He hissed and hissed a few times while I held him, but I made sure to look him over well... he has a lot of scars. He never did try to strike, and chose instead to ball himself up tight. Our ball python acts like a RTB, and our RTB is acting like a BP. Figures.

His scales are very dry and raised. There is one spot that looks like a tiny puncture wound, but could be a crack due to dryness I guess. No doubt I will get him vetted, but I want to take a week for him to settle and feed first.

He is set up finally and very secure in one of the hiding spots. He is balled up on the hot side of the tank.

I will put photos up soon.

Poor biiiig fella

Now for a name... I am sure I will come up with something soon.

And now time to read every thread on all of the forums I can find... and care sheets until my eyes bleed. I want to be a last stop for this snake, and the last thing in the world I want to do is be another person harming him. It is time he gets all of his snakey needs met, right?

[frankykeno]

Having had to rescue a big boa in a mess last year, I completely understand what you are going through. Before we suddenly took that snake on we had no experience with bigger constrictors and it was a fast but very interesting learning curve. Best advice is be dead strict on your quarantine procedures and have the snake checked out by your vet. It's wonderful you decided to give this snake a second chance. Poor thing certainly deserves a lot better than what it was getting.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Having had to rescue a big boa in a mess last year, I completely understand what you are going through. Before we suddenly took that snake on we had no experience with bigger constrictors and it was a fast but very interesting learning curve. Best advice is be dead strict on your quarantine procedures and have the snake checked out by your vet. It's wonderful you decided to give this snake a second chance. Poor thing certainly deserves a lot better than what it was getting.

Is there anything we can do for you? Where are you located at?

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

As for some advice
Don't suddenly feed him a whole bunch, his body could have some problems if he isn't used to dealing with much food. keep him warm to help his immune system and he should go into a shed soon enough. After a week or so of settling in, a luke warm bath or shower is ALWAYS a good idea. Helps get him well hydrated and is good for the skin if its dry.

Try and start handling after a week or 2 of settling in with 10-20 minute sessions a couple times a week. I would actually give him a small meal just a few days after he arrived. Done that and know plenty of people that have and no problems. Like they said get a vet visit and be sure to take the first poo you get to the vet to check for parasites. Check closely for mites as well.

I'm glad you got him out of a drug house. The herp society I belong to took a load of snakes out of a drug bust sometime in 06 and one of them I got to help with happened to be an afrock.

[ember]

Well, I am in Portland, Oregon (if you were talking to me)...

He has been in his hidebox curled up tight (cannot even SEE the head) since the first night. When do I worry and start messing with him....? My gut says to just leave him the hell alone the poor thing and hope he gets comfortable within a week or so. Or do I need to be doing something other than maintaining his habitat for now?

[JLC]

I can't really answer your questions about your rescue situation....although I wish I could! There's lots more experienced folks that will be able to help, though.


My concern is with all the other animals in that apartment. It sounds HORRID! Have you considered calling the ASPCA and filing a report? If they can't afford to feed ONE boa...how the heck are they feeding all the other animals they have? And having a room full of "pet" rats while allowing your snakes to starve to death because you can't "afford rats"???? I'd definitely be calling SOMEbody and hope to get that apartment cleaned out of ALL animals. The poor beasts!

[Snakeman]

poor little guy....i hope he gets a better home with you ember.

as for the name...survivor?

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Well, I am in Portland, Oregon (if you were talking to me)...

He has been in his hidebox curled up tight (cannot even SEE the head) since the first night. When do I worry and start messing with him....? My gut says to just leave him the hell alone the poor thing and hope he gets comfortable within a week or so. Or do I need to be doing something other than maintaining his habitat for now?

Leave him be with no handling for a week or so, no handling.

[cassandra]

Two of my favorite names for rescues..."Lucky"...and "Phoenix"...

Keep us updated on his process...

[sweety314]

Well, I am in Portland, Oregon (if you were talking to me)...

He has been in his hidebox curled up tight (cannot even SEE the head) since the first night. When do I worry and start messing with him....? My gut says to just leave him the hell alone the poor thing and hope he gets comfortable within a week or so. Or do I need to be doing something other than maintaining his habitat for now?

Hey!!! I'm just south of you in Lebanon and can help with anything if you need it! I've even got rats.... Live and FT that I'd be willing to share.

My rescue was a BP, but I have five RTB of various ages and sizes. Let me know what I can do. On my off day from work, I could even come up to Portland.

In relation to the snake, I'd sacrifice his security needs (temporarily) and get him to a vet ASAP. If he's been exposed to meth, you don't know what kind of lung / body damage he's suffered, or the amount of decontamination he'll be needing. I'm sure the meth messes up their bodies (maybe not EXACTLY like) like ours!!!!

VERY!! strict quarantine. You don't want some airborne or other vector-spread nasty to get to your BP. And SMALL prey items for a little while. If he's been starved like you've indicated, a big meal may cause him to regurge, and that's adding more stress to an already physically and "emotionally" stressed animal.

Just let me know if you need some prey. I've got some live smalls, & mediums/larges and some FT large rats. I'm assuming you don't need the pups or pinks....

What an AWESOME thing you did!!! Did U report to the ASPCA about the remaining snakes and pet rats??? They deserve a good home, too.


RuLyn