Advice on nursing a rescued BP back to health? Please help..

[Kymberli]

I brought home a 2yr old BP, Sam, this past Sunday. He's just over 2ft and looks very unhealthy. He spent the past year and a half in a room at a YMCA child care center as the "class pet" with little to no attention. After volunteering there, I spent the last 6months or so trying to convince his owner to let me take him because she hadn't a single clue how to care for a snake. She knew how much I love Sam so she finally let me take him because I was the only person who ever handled him. He's such a sweetheart though. :/

When I brought him home I immediately began improving his habitat. The humidity was at 20% and he hadn't had a heat source for nearly a week. Took about a day or so but I managed to stabilize the humidity at around 70% and the warm side of the tank around 90degrees and the cool side around 80degrees during the day, slightly cooler at night. His water bowl had algae growing in it and the substrate was hamster bedding. I scrubbed his bowl and put down newspaper, and also put a larger water container to soak in.

He's been shedding since before Sunday in small pieces and I've tried to wet him down, he refused a warm soak in a plastic tub and I didn't want to force him and stress him out more. He also seems very under weight. He's very wrinkly when he coils and isn't round at all, more flat, as though his spine shows. But I didn't want to feed him until he has settled in. Right now he is laying half in his hideaway and half out with his head out toward the cool side, I'm not sure if I should be concerned.

Sorry for this being so long, but I love this snake and I'm very worried about him, he was mistreated for so long I'm unsure whether or not I'll be able to get him healthy.

[pinkeye714]

you know, i have the same thing happen to me yesterday. the girl i found looks like they didn;t feed her. the people who gave her to me even said they didn't "over feed" her because they didn't like that she outgrew her cage. but anyways! today at 8 am, i wanted to see if she would eat. If they have been starved then they will def want a meal in them. Give a small meal. Just to get food in the belly. she took a small small rat happily. as for shed, i took her a really warm bath in my tub, she was freaking out but i put my hand under her to support her and she relaxed and accepted the bath to take away her shedding.

good luck!!!

sorry long too..i just got one like that yesterday..

[llovelace]

Just make sure he's hydrated, and all husbandry is spot on, go ahead and offer a small meal, he may just take it, if so then keep him on a 5 day feed schedule til he's up to weight.

[midwest_98]

I would attempt soaking him for around 30 minutes either in enclosed tub depth of water shouldnt surpass his height, assist w a wet wash cloth to see if shed can come off easily but dont force it to, should roll off no problem, I would attempt small meal just as llovelace stated 5 day feed schedule til gets to appropriate weight, should be all good.

Glad to hear Sam got a good loving home!

[Kymberli]

I'll try to soak him again today, I was just hesitant to the other day because I'm worried about stressing him out while his in such bad shape :/ But I'll definitely try feeding him later tonight.. His owner gave me six small frozen mice but they are definitely too small for him.. I'm just not sure if I should start with one and if he eats well possibly feed him two at a time? I just don't want to feed him too much too soon since they obviously did not have him on any type of feeding schedule.


Thank you guys so much though!

[Kymberli]

He looks so much better after that bath.
Now to fatten him up a bit.

[Geoper]

Glad to hear it. Welcome, by the way. Im new here too. I've read around a lot but have posted very little due to my lack of experience.

My snake was underweight and dehydrated when I got her too. With all the issues I have been dealing with since I got her, eating has not been one. She has always taken a meal that was offered (as long as it was still hot enough).

If you are really worried about her weight, I would try to feed her soon. If she doesnt accept give it a while before you try again (a few days atleast).

It's good to hear Sam got a good home. It's also unfortunate to hear that an organization such as the YMCA would allow something like this to happen to a snake. Caring for a small child can be a hassle, much less a group of them. If they cant take care of a snake, it should'nt have been there to begin with.

[Kymberli]

Glad to hear it. Welcome, by the way. Im new here too. I've read around a lot but have posted very little due to my lack of experience.

My snake was underweight and dehydrated when I got her too. With all the issues I have been dealing with since I got her, eating has not been one. She has always taken a meal that was offered (as long as it was still hot enough).

If you are really worried about her weight, I would try to feed her soon. If she doesnt accept give it a while before you try again (a few days atleast).

It's good to hear Sam got a good home. It's also unfortunate to hear that an organization such as the YMCA would allow something like this to happen to a snake. Caring for a small child can be a hassle, much less a group of them. If they cant take care of a snake, it should'nt have been there to begin with.

It's very unfortunate. They have several different types of animals there that they keep for the kids, but caring for pet rats and carrying for a ball python are drastically different. His owner obviously just did not bother to research. But YMCA as an organization isn't responsible, they can bring in any pets without company permission, which is unfortunate in my opinion.

But welcome to you too I've also been reading around this site for while but decided I needed help from experienced owners with this one!!

[earthdragons737]

when a ball python was not eating dont gut load him it will do more bad then good small meals and slowly work it up 2 a small rat 1 a week but keep it on a 5 day feeding cyle till he is healthyer a trip to the vet with a fecal sample may be called for to make sure he has not parasite and you can find out the sex if u dont no for sure please excuse the typing its 12:12 am uggg

[Kymberli]

when a ball python was not eating dont gut load him it will do more bad then good small meals and slowly work it up 2 a small rat 1 a week but keep it on a 5 day feeding cyle till he is healthyer a trip to the vet with a fecal sample may be called for to make sure he has not parasite and you can find out the sex if u dont no for sure please excuse the typing its 12:12 am uggg

I fed him Thursday, one frozen thawed medium mouse. He took it the second I dangled it into his feeding box. It was obvious he was very hungry. I'm planning on giving him one medium mouse every five days until I run out of the 5 I have left then buy the next size larger. He's already out and "hunting", hasn't even been a whole 48hrs.

But yeah, I'm not sure of the sex.. I just call it a "he" for now lol. I'm searching for a Herp vet near chino.