Arroyo Ball Python is SUPER BAD SHAPE!! HELP ME SAVE HIM PLEASE </3

[DylanandhisBalls]

OK...Ill be the first to ask...What in the world made you decide your first snake ever should be a rescue in bad shape off of craigslist?!


He looks like a normal and follow everything else everyone above me has mentioned and you should be good...I would however switch those wet paper towels out for damp cheap washcloths (a pack of 6 from Walmart is like 5$). Also tape down 3-4 layers of aluminum foil on the outside of the mesh top for the tank it will help stabilize and keep in the humidity levels. What are you using to heat the tank?? In your picture I didn't see any heating devices?

Whatever the heating device is..it needs to be attached to a thermostat with the thermostat probe between the heat source and the outside of the tank.

Well firstly, the ad in craigslist had no photo, and when the previous owner did send me a photo the snake and it didn't seem that bad and as skinny (as the photo was also a little blurry). So when i met up with the lady, the snake was well.. in horrible shape, she didn't seem to know jack about snakes and it made me want to take the snake from her even more (even with my little to no experience with reptiles). I didn't wanna just leave the snake to someone who doesn't wanna take care of their animals. Even though it's my first snake but i still wanna try doing everything i could to help at least make the snake's life a little better instead of just not helping it.

I have a zoomed heating pad on the left side under his cage around 80-88f according to the zoomed thermometer. Cold side usually rages around 70-85f but it constantly fluctuates up and down. Maybe also because it is winter here in Seattle. I don't know if it is a good idea but i put his tank maybe about 5 inches away from the heater in my room, with the heater at around 70f, just so in case it doesn't go lower than that (i still monitor the temperature he is getting very carefully though). And yeah, I am gonna go get a thermostat for his heating pad to keep a better eye at the temperature he is getting. I did cover up the top with 3 layers of aluminium foil with an inch gap on either side for keep the air moving in his cage) as well as misting it every couple hours. I tried giving him a soak earlier today but he just kept freaking out so i didn't want to stress him out too much and put him back into his cage to let him rest off. (a little shedding did come off though). I will continue to try giving him a soak tomorrow to see how he will do with it.