So today, I saved a lovely reduced pattern female from disgusting condition. For the last few days she's been living without any heat (and guess what, yesterday, we got about 5 inches of fresh snow) in a filthy tank. Her entire life, she's lived in the same 20 gallon tank her whole life with a useless stick on thermometer to monitor the temps and a lamp for heat. The substrate? Disgusting bark with urates, feces, and shedded skin from months ago mixed in. No hides, no nothing. Only the snake and a bowl with dirty water. Her owner, a kid a year or two older than me, got a new puppy and said he got bored with the snake, so he was going to sell her or let her starve. I bought her, and her disgusting tank (which I've disposed of) for $30.

Now, I've got her a tub with two hides that fit perfectly, fresh clean water, and a few plants to fill the 'empty spaces' complete with a UTH (regulated by a Ranco) and an AccuRite. Big, big difference what she lived in before.

According to her owner, she hasn't eaten in two months and she takes live medium rats. I'm gonna try feeding her next week but I'm not sure whether to try live or f/t. I'd like to get her eating regularly on f/t as soon as possible but I'd really just like to see her eat, f/t or not. She doesn't seem thin but I'm wondering if this is probably just because it's winter and she doesn't want to eat. Hopefully, with better husbandry, she'll eat for me. Also, she has what appears to be retained eye caps. The surface of the eye appears to be dented. Should they come off within the next shed?

(I should post pics of what she lived in compared to what she lives in now. Jaw dropping.)