Need advice on a ball python rescue

[Kenye]

I appreciate your detailed response Cheesenugget, although in my situation I think I disagree with you. Yes I lack the ownership experience, but I think my work experience and other animal experience kind of makes up for it. Also I'm diligent in doing my research and making sure everything is done right. My main area of knowledge, and I wouldn't call it expertise, is with birds, and they're basically warm-blooded reptiles with feathers! The whole hiding their illnesses etc etc. At one point in my house I had 5 foster dogs, 4 foster parrots, and various other critters that were being abandoned. I think it's in my soul to help out anything I possibly can. I never kept any longer than I had to, with that many running around I couldn't give them the proper attention they all deserved, but I was a better option than what they had. I'm down now to my 2 small dogs and my Eclectus (parrot) now, so I have the time/energy for this guy. I just want to give him the best chance at recovering and being happy that I can. If he ends up being sick or needing treatment, I have the connections to get highly discounted vet services, probably at cost of whatever he'd need.

I went ahead and picked him up this morning and got him settled in here. Things aren't nearly as bad as I was afraid they'd be. When I was setting his enclosure up he showed no signs of aggression or stress to being handled, and actually chilled on my shoulders while I worked. He is basically skin and bones though, I wish I'd weighed him while I had him out, but I didn't want to do anymore than I had to. I called my reptile buddy to come over and take a look while I was getting him set up. As per his advice he's been being fed food that was way too small for him not often enough. He came with a half empty pack of frozen medium mice from Petco. He recommended jumping to 'large mice' and feeding a pack of those, and then jumping to small rats after that. Since he didn't seem stressed about the move I went ahead an thawed one of the mice he came with and offered it to him. He took it immediately and downed it quickly.

The only thing that's worried me so far, is his lack of 'constrictor-ness', which could be normal for a malnourished animal? When he was hanging out on my shoulders he didn't really grip on much, and when he grabbed the mouse he didn't constrict it at all. He just grabbed and began the munching process. Maybe he'll get more lively with a regular feeding schedule.

Sorry I didn't get pictures, after he's had more time to settle and digest I'll see what I can do! Hopefully get a weight too!