Thanks, Jo!

I feel terrible for the poor thing. I'll call the vet on Monday and see what happens then. I know he should probably have a fecal and all that, anyway, so it's definitely worth my time.

I gave him a nice comfy hide, temps are also in the good range (85F on warm, 75F on cool) and some tasty purified water. Currently, he's in the open space between the water bowl/hide with his head under a belly coil, but not quite curled up. It reminds me of someone laying with their face down and their arms over their head, as if stressed but perhaps slightly relieved? He's in a quiet area and only my boyfriend and I check on him every so often, but we approach slowly and quietly. Neither of us has disturbed him yet.

Actually, the picture idea is a good one. I think I actually will go ahead and snap a few. I know that if I can get him to thrive, the change is going to be dramatic. I bet this snake was gorgeous, before the kid bought him and turned him into an uncomfortable, wounded ball of a stressed out snake. I think he came from a pet store...I'll bet the kid was too embarrassed to even try giving it back! That's probably why he sold it to my brother.

Thank you again for your informative (and fast!) response. I can't wait to see how he turns out, if I can fix the damage that has been done. Even through the wounds, dull colors, visible spine/ribs, I can see he's a fantastic snake begging to be helped. He didn't ask for what has been done. I'm glad fate brought him to me, though it depresses me to look at what he's become.