Need Help Please

Plumbstring · 02-13-17, 07:23 PM

I was checking my local listing, an found a young possible female MBK for my boy Hannibal. When I went to pick her up. I was in shock that her punk 13 year old owner had her in such bad condition. She is skin an bones maybe dehydrated. She has wrinkles an I can see her bone frame. I need some help at bringing her back. Please guys shine some wisdom hear. So far I soaked, set up her new habitat. Temps are correct. I offered her food hopefully she eats. If not how else can I bulk her up if she does not want to eat.

**EL Ziggy** · 02-13-17, 09:05 PM

How old is she and how long have you had her? I'd let her settle in for a week before offering food. If your husbandry is dialed in accurately, and she has fresh water and food, she'll hopefully recover well. They're pretty hardy and resilient creatures when given the proper living conditions. Share pics of your snake and setup if you can. Best wishes with her.

Plumbstring · 02-13-17, 10:03 PM

I picked her up today. It was just a test run to see if she would eat. now I will leave her alone in my herp room. She is in my quarantine bin. I will make sure she has plenty of water. Age rough guess 1 going on 2 the kid did not remember when he got her. Go figure explains the bad condition she is in. I'm trying my best at her rescue to bring her back. I keep trying to upload photos from my phone but can't it used to work not now. Ok read fine print I need to resize photo.

TRD · 02-14-17, 07:49 AM

Hydration is most important. Water, water, water. Don't offer food just yet... a heavily dehydrated snake may go in shock when offered food (processing of food through stomach may pull last vital water from his blood).

It may help to get him to drink by offering it directly through a spray bottle or other means and not trust he'll find his way to the water bowl himself.

Once hydrated start offering food.

Edit: oh it's a She, pardon me Ms. Nigrita.

PS. a visit to a reptile vet may be advised.

Plumbstring · 02-14-17, 05:51 PM

Great news she looks like a completely different snake today. I took a gamble last night to see if she would eat. If not o well. To my amazement she took it some time last night. She drank alot of water. No more wrinkles. Still thin but I will take care of that in no time. Thanks for your help guys still going to keep an eye on her. So far everything is holding great temp an humidity wise in her quarantine bin.she has become active I can see her watching me when I'm in my herp room. Very happy

TRD · 02-14-17, 06:16 PM

Good to hear, take good care, best of luck to her

Plumbstring · 02-14-17, 07:40 PM

Thanks it mean alot to have like minded people who love snakes. My co workers hate them. We had a conversation today. One of them told me that snakes have no place in the animal kingdom. An other said snakes are a product of satan.

Plumbstring · 02-15-17, 10:11 PM

Test post. I give up I can't upload photo through imgur

Plumbstring · 02-15-17, 10:26 PM

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Plumbstring · 02-15-17, 10:29 PM

GyGbeetle · 02-15-17, 10:33 PM

She does look a little thin. I just recently rescued a snake in similar conditions, and I only fed her once every other week, so as not to put her system into shock. It's been about a month, and she's doing really well with the new husbandry and feeding schedule. You might want to consider doing the same. If you overfeed her where she isn't used to a regular diet, it may put her system into shock unnecessarily. Just keep doing what you're doing. Thanks for stepping up. A lot of people would've run away from this animal.

Plumbstring · 02-15-17, 11:12 PM

Thanks yeah she is a tough cookie. An that boy up there is loki getting his first meal of the year. He is cranky when he wakes up from that deep sleep. Must be the Hangry setting in. Back to the MBK I love snakes I can't turn them away. Makes me angry that parents buy young kids animals an they don't take care of them. Cough 13 year old who doesn't even remember when he got her cough.

GyGbeetle · 02-16-17, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plumbstring

Thanks yeah she is a tough cookie. An that boy up there is loki getting his first meal of the year. He is cranky when he wakes up from that deep sleep. Must be the Hangry setting in. Back to the MBK I love snakes I can't turn them away. Makes me angry that parents buy young kids animals an they don't take care of them. Cough 13 year old who doesn't even remember when he got her cough.

My husband found a 7-8 year old boa posted on Craigslist. When he got to talking to the seller, it was actually his teenager's snake, who had just lost interest in her after about 4 months. They've had her for 8. With no one having any interest, no one fed her, took care of her, held her, made sure she had water/moisture. He was trying to sell her for like $200; my husband said, with the amount of work we'd need to get her back to health, and with potential vet bills, we'd pay $50 for her and call it a day. That included her teeny tiny enclosure (probably about 40 gal, maybe less), her "hide" (some plastic atrocity with holes at the top, so not really keeping any moisture in there), a "water bowl" (it was a plastic cat dish, that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in who knows how long), and this 3' 7+ year old snake (red tail boa). When the guy showed up at our door with the snake, we learned it was far worse; she had been sharing a heat lamp with their crestie, so I don't think she got any consistent heat in her enclosure. She had stuck shed on her from like 2-3 sheds. She was malnourished.

I had to leave the room while my husband was talking to this guy, and showing him our collection. Because I wanted to punch him out. If you have a minor child that wants an animal, it's your responsibility as a care giver to help that child educate themselves to care of that animal. Period. And if the child needs help, it's your responsibility to provide that help. Period. I was so angry at the situation. She even had a broken tail that he NEVER mentioned to my husband. Possibly broken from someone trying to sex her.

Anyways, glad you were there for this little girl. Happy rehabing.

**EL Ziggy** · 02-16-17, 09:36 AM

I'm glad you got a meal in her Plumb. Now that she's in more caring hands she should bounce right back. MBKs are neat snakes. I miss mine.

Plumbstring · 02-16-17, 04:07 PM

Thanks everyone. I'm glad you an your husband did what you did to save that boa. It is beyond me at how people can do this kind of neglect. So now that I got this photo stuff down I will def. Upload more