Pet store find I want... To rescue... Maybe.

[Dianne]

I can’t speak from the bix box perspective, but I have 2 snakes in my collection that were rescues. The first was a 2 year old normal ball that I purchased through the local trading post. He was significantly under weight, unable to constrict an adult mouse, and had extensive retained shed. I paid $150 for him, his tank, and a tank of feeder mice (in much better condition than him). I almost didn’t go through with the purchase, but couldn’t leave him with the dippy girl who was under-feeding him so he wouldn’t get 6-8 feet long and too hard too handle. It did take a vet trip and some work, but he’s happy, healthy, and 28 years old this year.

The second rescue is a Colombian rainbow boa. Very poor condition, under weight, extensive retained shed, thermal burns from a malfunctioning heat rock, and no water. He had also been without heat for the prior 2 weeks while the owner was on vacation...in the winter...because the owner didn’t trust the heat rock. He was free (without the tank) because he’d bitten the guy and the guy was now afraid of him. I had serious doubts he would make it. He was about 9 years old at the time (according to the owner born in ‘88). He also took a couple of trips to the vet and some work to get healthy, but he’s 30 this year.