Ball Python rescue help... pics and videos

[gurpgurp]

Hello everyone! So here's my story.....

I am in the process of trying to rescue a BP. He has been to hell and back TWICE due to the irresponsibility of my GF's sister.

It started with another person leaving him behind for my buddy to care for. He doesn't like snakes so he told him that he can borrow is garage and keep him there until he figures his stuff out. Well... I live in Phoenix where the temps get to 120 outside, let alone inside a garage and let alone a closet INSIDE the garage. Anyways.... he was left there with nothing. Apparently he was fed and had some water but that was it. After a while I realized this poor thing was suffering so I started to check on him and get him water at least. At the time I was pretty nervous around snakes considering I have never owned one so I just made sure he had water and was staying on my buddy's ass to get his friend to take him back. Long story short... they ignored him. The last time I went there I opened the drawer he was in in the 125 degree Phoenix garage and found a horrible sight. A regurgitated rat that has been in there for who knows how long, poop, pee, flies, gross stuff, I have NO IDEA what else was in there. Friggin gross tho. I said stuff it and took a chance. I took him out and cleaned EVERYTHING, I demanded someone get him some food and later on the original owner came with two live mice that he ate just fine. I was going to adopt him and just keep him, but then here comes my GF's sister who thinks the world owes her everything and demanded that now that this snake was clean and looking goo and that it was in her garage SHE was going to keep him. I was pretty upset considering all the work I did but said whatever and let her keep it. STUPID..... Long story short it has been probably 3 months since she kept him and up until last week, he has not eaten single thing, and on top of that she moved and left him behind in a closed apartment with no open windows, food, water, light, NOTHING in the middle of summer. SO once again I went to try and help. He is now in my custody and there has been some complications.

I treated what I think was a RI and it seemed to help, he hasn't been prairie dogging and haven't sen any bubbles or anything. He started to do some weird spitting up thing that I have no idea what it was. In a moment I will post a video of this reaction that I shot today that leads me to todays question. The only difference, today he didn't spit up. Just got weird. I took him out in the grass and let him snake around and he looked way more energetic than before. I think maybe I helped.

View My Video Pardon the angle, he started doing it and I just hit record...

Now this... I gave him a small rat last week when I got him, he took it right away no issues. I tried feeding him again yesterday and nothing. Tried again today and nothing.

Ok.. I know I ramble but my brain works really fast, hope I am making sense.... lol

Now... here is my problem... I noticed a swollen belly or midsection. It's squishy. Kinda big. I assume that maybe it's the undigested rat since I havent seen him poop yet, but the lump looks way bigger than the rat. He has been lethargic as well. ( besides today when I took him out ). I am thinking constipation. I just gave him another warm bath and I have been trying to hydrate him with a Powerade bath, nothing so far.

Here are some of the pics I was able to get this morning. You can see the bulge.












So.... as a newb trying his best to safe this poor thing, does anyone have any ideas, tips, tricks, anything that might help me out? The worst thing is that I already own my own BP and I wasn't intending on keeping this one and a vet visit is out of my price range at the moment. I am hoping I can get some of these folks that messed him up to contribute to the visit but I doubt it. I want him to be fine, if I can save him I will keep him, but if I cant or it's something serious that I cannot help with, I would rather find someone or somewhere I can take him so that he can get the care he needs. I am kind of at the final point of what to do for this little dude.

Anyways, thanks for reading my ramble and I look forward to the help. Thanks again!

BM