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

[Bruce Whitehead]

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.



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



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.



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

Ok... so the pattern and color pics.



















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

[blackcrystal22]

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.

:]

[Slim]

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.

[janeothejungle]

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....

Cheers,
kat

[Bruce Whitehead]

One pic I missed...

[Shadera]

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.

[blackcrystal22]

One pic I missed...

Woah, clear belly. Oh my.

Oh, and KMFDM =

[Bruce Whitehead]

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

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

[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.

[Bruce Whitehead]

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