EMERGENCY | My Ball Python's Scales Just Split

[Nixon]

It was not the best to receive that message from Echo, especially it being one of the first ones. I had no knowledge on this disease and I thought at what he was getting at was that there was nothing I could do. I guess I had the feeling like that was untrue. I didn't rescue Dave to not give him a chance. I just thought, if he survived this long, then why should it stop here?

Still, we have some ways to go. Dave still needs to heal. Though he is still gaining weight, eating, etc., he is still as risk of infection because of his open gashes. Less, though, because of the scabs, but they don't cover everything. I keep putting the cream on him. Once a week I'll take him out and let him slither in my hands. He deserves love and attention, I just don't want to do it too often. I can see the day where those scabs turn to scars and his scales are fully bound over him once again. I can see it were he is the healthy weight, and in a tank full of decorations and cypress, instead of a cardboard box and paper towels. I don't want to assume he's going to make it through with no issue but I can't help it. I want to see him on that day, show him to my friend's step father who had previously owned him and show him how much of a fighter Dave was. I really want to say, "This is the warrior you gave up on. He really showed you."

Yet, I don't want to be rude... he did nothing to help Dave. He gave Dave up because he was small and a rescue from another owner who practically starved him. This poor thing had to suffer for longer because he was small? Because the man didn't know how to feed him mice, not adult rats? My friend claims he's good with snakes but then why, every time I go to their house, they're living in filth? Spot cleaning? He hasn't heard of it. I can understand not changing the bedding that often because it's expensive, but spot cleaning takes only a minute to do. It's sad. But, luckily, they're fed, and they seem to be fine, except for the ball python he has that constantly wheezes. He can build tank but he doesn't know how to clean them!

Sorry I rant on him. It's just every time I see Dave I think of what he's been through. I can remember the first time I held him and it was scary. He was so frail. He's gaining power, though. He can pick himself up. It makes me so happy to see him this way.

I hope to one day bring him to a reptile show and what not and tell about his story. I really hate to get my hopes this high but he seems to really be in good shape. I see him coming out everyday to get some heat from the heat lamp, a drink of water, or just to sit on top of the cardboard box. ... Or to fall in between the cardboard and the glass and get stuck. He's silly.