HELP! BP has a problem!

[Edbean]

I hope you do as you say you are going to do this time. In this thread (http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=101788) you stated that you had a thermostat. which it now appears was a false statement. So either do what is right for your snake or find it a better home.

First off don't tell me to "find a better home" because I do the best that I can for my snake. If you had any idea who I was or what I do for her you probably wouldn't have made such a brash ignorant statement.

Second, at the time of that post I did have one (I thought), but it turns out it wasn't the correct thermostat as it was for regulating my freezer and for some reason doesn't register temperatures (or regulate them) above something like 50 degrees. Im a heavy researcher but obviously made a mistake by not listening to everyone who spoke of the importance of a regulated heating pad.

Third, Ive NEVER had a problem with the heating element until now. Like I said before I was gone for a whole week. Im kicking myself in the azz right now because I didn't take her home with me. If I had this whole thing could have been avoided. I 110% believe that because I was gone and the temp in my apartment went from 72 to probably 62 she sat on the heater the entire week and thus burned herself. Also keep in mind that I had a thick layer of sand and 2 matts over the heater to prevent this from happening (she kicked them off while I was gone, something I would have noticed had I not left. (btw, I used sand because the breeder I got her from said he uses sand for his at home, I didnt buy playground sand, I got reptile sand... and regardless of the info on here, the breeders word weighed more with me at the time... obviously that too was a mistake and once again I learned something I wish I did previously)

My lesson. Buy a herp thermostat, use newspaper, and NEVER leave her alone for more than 2 days.

I want to say Im sorry to you personally right now for clearly offending you by my "apparent" lack of animal care. I clean her cage frequently, feed her well, handle her almost all day every day, and LOVE her VERY VERY VERY much. Im not the person who neglects their animals and have obviously made a grave mistake that will NEVER happen again. So to you and her Im sorry.

As for my snake, I have a vet appointment scheduled wednesday (soonest opening I could make w/ classes and their busy schedule) until then I will be soaking her daily in an iodine bath and applying neosporin to hopefully prevent any infections. Her swelling has gone down greatly already and Im praying that she survives unscathed.

Thank you.