A Rescue Story of a BCI

[Shadows Valkyrie]

Starting a couple of weeks ago I was on here asking questions about BCI's and BCC's because I had went and rescued what I was told was a Red Tail. You guys were great about helping me figure out what he really was and giving me some suggestions. I have since determined that Wicked is most likely a 'he' and is definitely a Central American Boa Constrictor. Thanks for all of your help! (all of my experience was with BP's)

I wanted to post a couple of pics and tell you about Wicked.

I rescued Wicked from an ignorant imbecile that apparently knew nothing of caring for snakes in general. When I arrived at the house the whole backwoods family was there. I have never in my life seen such trashy people nor a house that was in the condition that this one was in. They were all sitting out in the front yard on cinder blocks when I pulled up amisdt piles of trash, broken furniture and crap in general. Wicked was in a fruit crate at the man's feet.

They immediately go in to how I HAVE to take care of this snake and if I ever went to get rid of him call them first because they would want to take him back. I went on this rescue alone because my bf was at work and man, was I nervous for a few minutes...then I got angry....

The man goes in to his house to show me Wicked's tank. He had him in a busted up, pieces of glass missing 55 gallon tank. The thing was held together by sheer luck and a lot of duct tape. The screen lid was duct taped to the tank. No UTH, no heat bulbs, no heat source what so ever. There was dried blood streaks all down the front of the glass. Inside of the tank they had used a combination of cedar chips and fluffy hamster bedding. The cotton bally stuff, Comfy Care I think is what it's called. There was moldy feces and bedding EVERYWHERE. Water dish was bone dry, full of green algae and at least 6 urates were in there. I counted a total of 8 moldy turds in the tank. That gives you an idea of just how long it has been since the tank was cleaned!

Then the man busts out the rat cage that had a male and female in it that he was breeding for snake food. Two adult rats in a ten gallon tank. No food, no water. Just lots and lots of feces and urine. The smell was beyond horrendous! As he is showing me the rats he is telling me how they used to breed regularly but haven't in quite a while and he just can't figure out why...Gee, I freakin' wonder!

He tells me that if I wish to take the rats as well I can have them too. Of course I took them. These people couldn't clean their house, their kids or themselves. No way in hell I was leaving any animals there. NO WAY!

So anyways, we got the critters all loaded up and let me tell you my drive home smelled so bad I was gagging and I am not a weak stomached person. I get home and start cleaning tanks right away. I am OCD and a clean freak. I HAD to get this stuff done asap! I had to force myself to stop so I could take a few pics. Here is what I took: (pardon the quality, used my cell)

This was Wicked's tank


Here is the rat's cage


I only took a couple of pics because the smell was killing me and I couldn't stand to have these animals in conditions like that any longer! And let me tell you the pics don't do the horror of it justice at all!

So now it's been a couple of weeks. Wicked is doing amazingly well. We treated, with PAM, for his horrible mite infestation. That was awful! I cannot believe that he survived those conditions for the year that they owned him. He has been eating great and seems to have adjusted to the "culture shock" of a clean and nice environment. He is curious, inquisitive and quite active at times. I finally got him out the other night and held him. It went very well. I was told he is super aggressive. Hmmm, I didn't have any problems at all! Maybe if you respect the animal it will respect you as well. Food for thought!

Here are a couple of pics that we took while I had Wicked out for the first time:




The rats are doing pretty good. They are very very fearful of people and try to escape their new cage constantly. Can't say that I blame them after where they came from...

Anyhoo, that's Wicked's story. Thanks for reading/viewing...

[Kinra]

He looks great.

[aldebono]

Good job rescuing them from such horrible conditions.

[llovelace]

He looks great! Thanks for sharing your story, great to know he is good hands now

[Vypyrz]

I'm glad he's doing good for you. Just shows how resilient these animals can be.

[Daybreaker]

Glad he got out of a bad place and into the hands of someone who knows what they're doing! Same for the rats as well!

Though (just an opinion, not saying I'm correct especially if others more knowledgeable already jumped in) but this guy looks like a regular BCI Colombian to me over a CA. Not to hijack a really wonderful rescue thread

[BoaFreak]

Thats great. Everyone won it that situation. Congrats on the new arrival and good job on the rescue. Thanks for sharing

[Carlene16]

Glad he got out of a bad place and into the hands of someone who knows what they're doing! Same for the rats as well!

Though (just an opinion, not saying I'm correct especially if others more knowledgeable already jumped in) but this guy looks like a regular BCI Colombian to me over a CA. Not to hijack a really wonderful rescue thread

That's exactly what I was thinking when I first saw this thread this morning but I held my tongue. Glad I'm not crazy! I believe you have a normal BCI! Congrats on the rescue though, he's in much better hands now.

[Shadows Valkyrie]

Alright. I am back to being confused.

I take it a Central American Boa Constrictor is not a BCI but rather a Colombian is? I know that Wicked is NOT a BCC. I have learned that much so far; being able to tell the difference between BCC and BCI. So this poses my next question. What IS the difference between a Central American Boa Constrictor and a Colombian? I thought that Colombians were the TRUE red tails...

That's exactly what I was thinking when I first saw this thread this morning but I held my tongue. Glad I'm not crazy! I believe you have a normal BCI! Congrats on the rescue though, he's in much better hands now.

[Shadows Valkyrie]

Alright. I am back to being confused.

I take it a Central American Boa Constrictor is not a BCI but rather a Colombian is? I know that Wicked is NOT a BCC. I have learned that much so far; being able to tell the difference between BCC and BCI. So this poses my next question. What IS the difference between a Central American Boa Constrictor and a Colombian? I thought that Colombians were the TRUE red tails...

Glad he got out of a bad place and into the hands of someone who knows what they're doing! Same for the rats as well!

Though (just an opinion, not saying I'm correct especially if others more knowledgeable already jumped in) but this guy looks like a regular BCI Colombian to me over a CA. Not to hijack a really wonderful rescue thread