I was just contacted by a girl in my area wanting some help with her snake. I guess she bought him as a hatchling in August or so. I came over to take a look and the first thing I noticed was that the tip of his tail was black and shriveled from retained shed. The area immediately adjacent to the withered part was pink, scaleless, and probably infected. I told her she needed to get him to the vet, stat, and started asking questions.

He apparently last shed in December but has two or three large, yellowish scabbed areas near his head, each about the size of a quarter. His skin is wrinkled and bunched, like in very dehydrated or shedding snakes, and his scales stick out from his body. Several areas are just missing patches of scales.

He last ate in November because she was feeding him frozen -- literally. The mouse would 'thaw' for 5 to 10 minutes, then be presented to the snake. I guess he actually ate a few between when August and November. I showed her how to feed properly (he devoured that mouse!), but threw it up about 48 hours after feeding. She said he regurgitated one last fall and also that he once vomited a ton of water.

And, of course, he was improperly housed in a tank with 0% humidity and only one hide. He's got to be nearing one year old and he still fits in your hand.

I have some questions for rescuers....
Will starved snakes often regurgitate their first meal? I really hope that trying to feed him was the right thing to do.
What, exactly, does feeding frozen-solid prey do to a snake? Was he actually getting any nutrition from eating them?
Does anyone have any information about snakes throwing up water?
I would also appreciate any rescue FAQ in case I encounter another herp in similar condition.

I'm accompanying her to the vet tomorrow; I'll post the results after the visit. What do you do when a person who shouldn't own snakes DOES own a snake?