New boa questions

[unknownclown]

Hello :)
I got this 6.5 columbian sunday which was pretty much a rescue thru the local herp society here :) She's a doll and very friendly but health wise well...Ill be taking her in shortly.

I do have a couple of questions though, she has a massive dent in her head...

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/13657-22-03_phantom_0008sm.jpg

Now Im curious since I know nothing about snake anatomy what is missing there it cant be brain matter can it? Or is it just fat deposits? Should I be worried?

Another thing is she is quite a bit underfed the person who was halfway housing her said shes been losing weight but that could be because shes struggling at the moment feeding all her other HUGE snakes she has 3 burmese and 3 or 4 boas. here's some pics to show ya. When you rub your hand down her side you can feel the ribs not to mention see them, :( although these pics you cant tell much.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/13657-22-03_phantom_0006sm.jpg

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/13657-22-03_phantom_0005_sm.jpg

Today was the first time I held her, I was trying to leave her alone since I wanted to give her time to settle in but as you can see shes also going thru shed and the wheezing of the old skin on her nostrils bugged me so I took her out. Yes I know Im not supposed to bug her while shes shedding but I was worried. So since today was the first day holding her I figured Id go with it since she was taking it pretty well and after about 20 minutes maybe I heard and felt what I believe to be her belly growling. Do snakes do that or should I be worried?

Im gonna take her in hopefully tomorrow to see someone and get her checked out but if anyone can offer me any advice on what has worked for them to get this girlie fattened up with a quickness or what I should ask the person looking at her, heck anything is a help at this point ;)

Another thing should I wait to take her in until after she sheds? I dont know if it would matter much but just incase I figured I'd ask.

Thanks in advance :)

[unknownclown]

um..........ok never mind

[Linds]

The massive dent in her head looks like she's just concave due to being starved :( Poor girl... glad you'll be giving her a better home than she's had :)

[Teana]

Sometimes their stomach will gurgle when they are going to go to the bathroom soon. My do it a lot if we hold them a day or so before they go to the bathroom. From what I can see she doesn't look that skinny, but it could be the picture angle too. Good luck getting her eating and healthy again. Keep rescuing these poor creatures, they sure need the help! I've rescued 4 snakes so far. A Ball Python from a guy that got him because he thought it would be cool to take him to the bar. A Burm from a man who got her from a co-worker that was moving. She was 11ft. and in a 36"x18"x17" tank. NOT COOL AT ALL. He was feeding her 6 turkey legs when she would strike the side of the tank when they walked by. The tank has a crack from top to bottom on one side. 2 Boa Constrictor Imperators. 1 from a couple who decided he was too much to handle at 4 1/2ft. 1 from another couple that moved and didn't buy a house big enough to keep all their herps. Too many people buying snakes without researching fully what they're getting into.

[unknownclown]

Well he (its a boy) went to the vet wednesday and she believes the dent to be from abuse considering she also has at least 5 rehealed broken ribs and scarring here and there. But who knows it very well could be from starving. She is almost certain though given the shape he's in that it's not genetic.

He has a bacterial infection which made the stomache gurgle plus protozoans and retained at least 3 eyecaps on the eye in the pic which was realy gross to take off with tape. There is also some black gooky stuff in the corners around the eye which she suspects is from mite damage.

On the brite side I did get him to eat a large F/T rat yesterday I tried for 2 but I guess it was pushing it and he had had enough. Oh well one is better than none ;)

Oh by the way I heard he was eating of all things mice :eek: Jeesh can you imagine!?! >(

[lordkovacs]

wow... but it must feel good to be able to help this animal. every day in your care he is getting stronger. keep up the good work, and bless you for cleaning up after ohter people's mess. sorry I cna't help with your situation...the least i can do is offer encouragement and give my thanks...
cheers.
MIKE

[sapphire_moon]

Congrats....I hope he gets better and better........I hope to rescue snakes when I own a house, atleast a 4 bedroom with 2 bedrooms being herp rooms!!!!! Would be my dream! But that will be a few years!

[spydermrs]

That snake was really lucky having you to rescue him, We've rescued a corn recently.
We've just got our 1st boa.
They are so docile, I can't understand anyone who could harm them.
Good luck and keep us posted on how he does.
Ruth

[raVven]

amazing!!! keep up the good work, and let us see some pics as he heals/fattens up!!!

We all win when even just 1 herp is saved!!

[Pookie]

It's always nice to hear about an animal rescue! You're an awesome person for taking on this responsibility and the snake is very luck to have you now! Good luck!

[reverendsterlin]

I agree pookie, even better when it is not preceeded with, 'I'm calling myself a rescue, send me free animals' lol. Good job unknown, taking in rescues is not that easy, usually by the time you get them medical eats your money up. Beware of getting known, I've had kittens, puppies, dogs, cats dropped off anonomously, had folks call with horses, cows, goats, sheep, chickens, ect (TG none of those were abandoned in the yard). It can be highly emotional as well, both from animals in horrid condition to family financial stress. Good luck with your new one, and again good job for taking one in.

[Mike177]

I cant see your pix but it sounds like ur giveing him a MUCH better home than he had, My BCI was a rescue that i got for free. my plan was to keep him a wile fatten him up, get him to good health and try to find him a good home, well #1 he is/was a sweetheart and #2 not too many people care for Central American Boas i decited to keep him. and that was about 6 months ago, lol i wish u luck with your new boa, but i would suggest that u start feeding him small rabbits, i feed my boa 1 pound rabbits and that fattened him up quite nicely, well good luck

Mike

[unknownclown]

Oh sorryI had to delete them from my gallery to make room heres a pic of him back then when I first got him
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/13657-21-03_phantom_0002sm.JPG
hes doing much better now and is a gorgeous very tame eating machine :)
Just for an update I took these next 2 as you can see the indentation on one side has filled in so Linds I guess you were right on that one :)

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1365phantom2.JPG
and what kinda mom would I be if I didnt pass around a bath time tub shot for all to see ;)
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1365Phantom1.jpg

[unknownclown]

Man what a difference!

[foman]

Thats a great feel good story. Animals that have been neglected usally turn out to be the best pets. (I swear they know you saved them). Good luck with him and thats a really cool thing ya did, alot of people would turn a cheek.

[chas*e]

For reasons such as this, is why The Durham Snake Group gives out snake caresheets at reptile shows....too many people get snakes that they have no idea of how to care for.

[FER-DE-LANCE]

I am a new member to ssnakess and upon just clicking here and there I came to this site. What a wonderful story. It is so uplifting to hear a story where someone has saved another's disaster out of love and compassion for a life, whether it be human, animal or creature. I saved a 4.5 ft royal python who had his stomach slit open with some sort of object. I got him from a pet store in London and with much time and patience he healed very well. He (Gnostyk) was the best royal I have ever had. He ate very well after much praying he would continue to live and thrive. Gnostyk grew to be 5.7 feet and was a complete sucky baby. I spent a minimum of 4 hours daily (big tears floating in my eyes) with him.
Congradulations!! You must be a wonderful person for saving this gorgeous creature. He looks like a true beauty. Keep up this crucial assignment. There are too many people out there who want to own these creatures to "show off" but don't know the first thing about the care and upkeep of snakes or any reptile for that matter. Thanks for this story... I hope others get what I did from it.