Rescue BRB

[jbsnakes87]

I bought this guy a few weeks ago. His story is that apparently he was given back to the breeder in this condition from the original owner, then sold to the people I got him from. They sold him to me as a female (I am not amused), and also assured me that he was eating well. He is EXTREMELY skinny, to the point of being emaciated. He weighed 700g the night I brought him home. I'm not sure how old he is. I have one that's around four years old, and he is longer with a much larger head. It's hard to see in the pictures, but he also has severe scarring down about a third of his back. They said from a heat lamp - I think a rat snacked on him. The only reason I bought him was that he appeared well cared for recently. His scarring was old and healed, and he had no dry shed or signs of respiratory problems. He was alert, strong, and active (and biting).

I got him home, set him up, probed him, and checked him over real good once more. I ended up feeding him that weekend (I know, I know, should have waited. But he was literally begging at the side of the bin I have him in). He pounded down two f/t mice without hesitation, and tried to con me into letting him have more. He did end up regurging one of them a couple days later, so I gave him a week and offered on smaller f/t mouse. He ate with gusto and hasn't spit it back up yet.

Now, I know from my other BRB that they are slower growing snakes with slower metabolisms. Maybe that's a boa thing in general? I want to find the best "diet plan" for him to get him back up to weight without stressing his system too badly. Anyone else have any experience rehabbing these, or any other slow growing cooler climate constrictors? I plan on switching to rat pups/weanlings as soon as I buy feeders next. I can see that him accepting food is not going to be an issue. I just don't want to push him too hard.

[Bloodborn25]

If I was sick I'd go small so small adult mice at a good pace for a bit move up to weaned rats or that if he's big enough and he sounds be ok I hate menacing owners that do this to there animals glad you have him.now

0.1.0 normal Ball Python

[jbsnakes87]

I forgot to add that he is a Hypo Brazilian Rainbow Boa. Hard to tell with the lighting.

[Bloodborn25]

He looks good I know I'd love him

0.1.0 Nbp, 0.1.0 blotched king.

[bcr229]

Well I've never rehabbed one but I do own three. If you can keep his temps and humidity correct, which shouldn't be a problem for you since you have experience with another BRB, he should bounce back just fine given that his appetite hasn't been affected by his ordeal.

As you suspected boas do have slower metabolisms than many other snakes so you have to be careful about overfeeding. I've been told the prey should be the same size as or slightly smaller than the widest part of the snake. Your boy didn't get into this state overnight, so it'll take a while for him to put the weight back on.

[jbsnakes87]

Thanks. I'm real happy with him. My biggest worry was that he would end up being a non feeder or having to be force fed. I am sticking to the smaller food items. I heard that rats are more nutritious, that's why I'm considering switching. He's going to be gorgeous in about a year!

[Bloodborn25]

That's right jb hope he has a full recovery.

0.1.0 Nbp, 0.1.0 blotched king.

[jbsnakes87]

Here is a quick (struggling, squirming) picture of my girl Calypso.

[bcr229]

Thanks. I'm real happy with him. My biggest worry was that he would end up being a non feeder or having to be force fed. I am sticking to the smaller food items. I heard that rats are more nutritious, that's why I'm considering switching. He's going to be gorgeous in about a year!

Definitely switch to rats. Both of my adults are just shy of six feet and can take a medium rat without breaking a sweat. If I had to feed the equivalent in mice it would be very expensive.