First time owner, please advise *long post*

[dakski]

Hello, I have adopted a BP that I don’t even know if I should call neglected or abused. When I first knew of her existence she was living in a 10g tank with no hides and covered in poop everywhere. I assumed the person had JUST gotten her and was in the process of setting up an actual enclosure, I was also under the assumption she was a juvenile bc of her size.

Not even a month later we found out the person wanted to get rid of “it” ASAP and was just willing to give it away to whoever asked. My initial reaction was try and get the person to delay the decision while I looked for a person who would properly take care of her but I was rejected and pretty much given the weekend to either find someone or keep it before she was discarded. This has been the most stressful weekend trying to AT LEAST set up something decent so I can keep her safe but with that little time I have less than ideal resources.

I got a 36x18x18 glass enclosure thinking that she would quickly outgrow the tiny tank she was kept in, as the days went by I found more and more unpleasant information, whether is all true or not I’ll never know. First off, apparently she is 3 years old but she seems way too small for that, I know they grow their entire lives but slow down significantly after the first few years so I’m worried about her being too stressed in the new enclosure. The person I got her from said to “feed whenever” and clean when there’s “too much poop”, I absolutely believe those were her conditions for years because the tank is absolutely repulsive, its filled with **** and reeks of urine but I am afraid of handling her yet bc of the stress of moving and due to the fact that she is shedding and this person did not think it necessary to tell me until I was there.

The tank besides foul smelling was absolutely dry as in DRY, the water bowl had not just been emptied bc it was dry and dusty. Claims were made that she “sheds in pieces” so to just mist whenever I ser her shedding. I misted some warm water upon arriving home and cleaned and filled her water bowl, she literally LICKED the droplets out of the glass and once I put in the water bowl she dunked her entire head in and drank for what it seemed forever. I know this seems more like ranting at this point but I want to provide as much information as possible so I get the proper advice. Once misted and kept warm she shed mostly in one piece and now she is just in her hide.

My question is, how do I safely handle her so I don’t hurt her and I can clear the tank?

Should I return the big tank for something smaller?

She has never been to the vet so I got her insurance and an appointment and hopefully get more information but they couldn’t see it until a week and a half from now that is why I’m hoping to keep her as comfortable as possible until then. I love snakes so while not entirely clueless I am a firm believer that theoretical knowledge will never come close to experience, I have never owned one or set up a tank myself and I am having issues with keeping the heat and humidity at optimal levels. It reads OK for the most part but since I already have her with me I figured I no longer have the pressure of time and can do it properly so I discarded the exo terra heat mat I previously got, I am also still waiting on the laser thermometer so make sure that the readings are accurate.

I am sorry for the long post, I am not entirely sure it even makes good sense at all since I feel extremely distressed about the situation. I am waiting on an ultratherm uth but I can still cancel and get a smaller one. Should I continue to acclimate the big tank or does it make more sense to get a smaller one due to her size? I will post pictures later and hopefully I can weigh her too to give you a better idea. Right now my urgency is to clean the tank but also stress her the least possible and not hurt her since she is shedding. Thank you in advance 💕

First, when posting, use spacing and proper paragraphs. It's almost impossible to read a long post that uses neither. Probably why no one has responded yet.

Secondly, what are you using for heat now? Are you using a thermostat and if so, what kind? How do you know temps if you don't have a proper IR temp gun?

IF running heating elements without knowing temps, or properly monitoring them, please unplug them now! Excessive heat for your BP can be much worse than cooler temps right now. Excessive heat can damage her neurologically and even kill her.

She's been through hell already, as long as you haven't fed her, she's better off at room temp for a day or two than too much heat. Proper heat is for health and well being, but proper hot side temps are largely for digestion.

OKAY - NOW TAKE A DEEP BREATHE

If you want to keep the tank you have, and it is glass, you can properly clean with F10SC solution, a proper dilution of chlorhexidine, or some other methods. I'll let others chime in. I prefer those two disinfectants. They are reptile safe and, as stated, disinfect when used properly.

If you want to get a new tank, that's fine, but I would save up and get her a proper PVC enclosure that holds humidity and heat well. Again, if not sure about this, I'd ask for suggestions.

Right now, you want to get her on track, proper husbandry, and eating.

If you can clean the tank, I would use paper substrate for a bit to see if she has any issues, like mites for example. She needs to be properly quarantined and inspected. I assume you have no other reptiles in the house. If you do, keep her as far aways as possible and do not share utensils/tools, bowls, etc.

If she is still shedding, you can still gently handle her and even wrap her in a warm (not hot) towel and help her shed. I would do this after soaking her in warm or room temp water (again not hot) to help with the shedding process. It will also help hydrate her.

This is a start. Answer these questions and try to follow this advice for now.

Please post pictures, ask about proper temps and humidity etc. if unsure, and be gentle with her.

Finally, it sounds like she has stunted growth, but without picture and weight, it's hard to say how bad off she is in terms of what she needs food wise.

Once shed, and weighed, etc. leave her alone in her clean and warm tank to get acclimated for a bit. DO NOT HANDLE HER UNLESS YOU HAVE TO. She is very stressed, I am sure, and stress can lead to health issues, even beyond what she might already have.