Oh....Emm...Gee....new snakes!.

**Minkness** · 07-03-15, 01:59 PM

Hey guys. So, I know I'm a bad bad person because my mom said no more snakes and I really wanted a boa next anyway. However, Craigslist is an evil place that I will now be banning myself from.

That said....let me tell you a story...

About 2 months ago I noticed someone on CL selling some hognoses. I contactes them, but I couldn't afford them (prices were not in the CL ad). I am a CL stalker of sorts and saw the same post over and over for a month. Then a new one popped up. One for an ivory female BP. While another BP wasn't exactly on my radar, ANY white (or white ish) snake is a DREAM for me. So...I contact them, not realizing it was the same person. I talk to them a bit and like before the snake is out of my price range. But I'm in love and so try a little harder to talk them down. They said they would think about my offer and get back to me. They kept their word, but in the end, the answer was no.

Back to stalking CL I went.

About a week ago I saw the same ivory on CL again. So I contacted the person again explaining that I would pay some $, draw a custom illistration for them, and even sign a contract of 'no resale'. She said she would think about it again, and she did. She agreed!

So, I went out to pick the BP up today and met the lady and her family. The BP is TINY. I asked how long they had her and they said about 6 or 7 months. She is so small I thought she was maybe a month or two old. From what I can tell right away, she's got shed on her face and 'dirt' under her belly scales. The lady mentioned how the snake looooves to soak, and gave me the bowl she liked to soak in to make sure I'd have that for her. I suspected mites at that time vut couldn't confirm at that moment. So took the snake and the dish and handed over the $ and the drawing.

I happened to see she also had a hognose and commented how much I loved mine and asked if they knew it's gender. They said it was a female. I commented at how I wish I had more $ to 'clean them out' (they had a bunch of snakes). I was joking, but the lady asked how much I had. I look in my wallet...I only had 40$. While we were talking, her daughter wanted to show off 2 other male hoggies. An anaconda and a 'brick red'. Now I'm torn. I ask if I could buy one of the males instead. After some more talking, the lady decides to let me have the female AND the brick red for the 40$!

At this point I'm shaking and feel REALLY weird. Good, but as if I'm taking advantage of them. I even said to her that I didn't want to take advantage of them or their generosity. The lady wouldn't hear it and not only gave me the 3 snakes, but a hide, water dish 3 tanks (two 5 gallons and 1 that must be a 3 gallon) and an uth for 140$ total....

I feel oddly sick....I wasn't supposed to get one more snake...let alone 3. However....I have a problem....I'm a reptiholic (and a bleeding heart). I just couldn't leave them there no matter how I felt. The price and the fact I could tell this person cared enough about them to basically give them away, made me agree. So, loaded everyone in the back of the car and headed home, stopping by a store for mute treatment.

Now I have 3 temporary (quarantine) enclosures set up, leaving the actual tanks in my car till next week, soaking the snakes, then going to put them away and just leave them alone for 2 weeks (checking progress on mites, shed, and keeping fresh water) then offer some food to see how well they take it.

My only questionnis this. How long should they be quarantined for?

Also, managed to get the stuck shed and 3 retained eye caps off the BP and there's still 1 left that won't budge.

Below are some photos of the ivory girl who I have named Ivrina before and after the soak and shed removal.

**Minkness** · 07-03-15, 02:00 PM

Sorry, that last pic is upside down for some reason, but that's the same eye that had all the shed.

SnoopySnake · 07-03-15, 02:07 PM

Quite the steal... I would quarantine for at LEAST a month, but for me 3 months is preferable. That bp seems tiny for its age...Looks much better in that last pic though!

**Minkness** · 07-03-15, 02:10 PM

Photos of the mites and something weird with her scales. Not sure if that's just dirt or what under her scales. =/

Also....the brick hoggie somehow went missing from his container....uhg....

The saga for the lost little hoggie begins....room...get ready to be torn apart....

**Minkness** · 07-03-15, 02:13 PM

Snoopy, I agree on the looks. She is also completely empty so will get a weight on ger a little later. When I was there I asked what size feeders she had been taking, they said fuzzy mice. I also looked in her tank (a 20 long) and in the corner saw a mummified fuzzy mouse. No telling how long that had been in there. =/

Going to wait two weeks to feed her though, and I have a local place that will force feed her if needed. I wouldn't worry so much if she WAS only 2 months old, but at 7ish months woth 4 retained eye caps, I'm worried.

Sasha2 · 07-03-15, 02:27 PM

I have rescued before and she will be fine. The worse I ever had was one that size and already over a year old. It had eaten only three times in its life. Only because they were frying it. I put it in a small tub and waited a week and fed it a small live mouse and he never stopped eating after that. I like to wait till they eat at least 4 or 5 meals before switching them to frozen thawed, just to get some weight on them.
My most recent albino male was also a non eater and very tiny. Again put it in a small tub and a live mouse hopper and he hasnt turned down a meal since.I just got him on rat pups and the next will hopefully be frozen thawed.
So far Ive not had any problems switching from live mice to frozen thawed rat pups but there is always a first.

**Minkness** · 07-03-15, 02:55 PM

Until my own mice have babies, I can't get live fuzzies around here. =/

I'll try her on f/t since that's what I have, and as soon as my mice start breeding I'll have live for her.

Also, weighed her, and she's all of 70 grams. =/

Thank you for the info and assurance that it can be done!

sirtalis · 07-03-15, 03:21 PM

Haha I'd do the same thing

. I really like white snakes lol

trailblazer295 · 07-03-15, 03:56 PM

I'm pretty sure your condition is terminal. Best we can do is ease the pain.

DDW · 07-03-15, 04:46 PM

I envy you mink, I'm too chicken to even seriously look at cl for stuff lol and you have gotten a beautiful snake there. I love solid white/black snakes as I've said before. Good luck with your new little hunters

**Minkness** · 07-03-15, 05:26 PM

CL is awesome. I have gotten soooo much stuff off there for cheap, and also sold stuff too. I have sold my dubia colony, mouse cages, a mouse, 2 leos and my AFT. ALL of my fish tanks have come from CL, alot of my accessories and other supplies.

I just make sure that if I get anything that will con in contact with my animals, I thoroughly clean it first. =)

As for the black and white snakes,yes, I love those too! That's why I have an MBK and now my ivory BP. =)

DDW · 07-03-15, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

CL is awesome. I have gotten soooo much stuff off there for cheap, and also sold stuff too. I have sold my dubia colony, mouse cages, a mouse, 2 leos and my AFT. ALL of my fish tanks have come from CL, alot of my accessories and other supplies.

I just make sure that if I get anything that will con in contact with my animals, I thoroughly clean it first. =)

As for the black and white snakes,yes, I love those too! That's why I have an MBK and now my ivory BP. =)

The think that makes me nervous with cl is you don't know the person and you'd most likely be going to their home which you have no idea about. And then those stories of meeting up with online people ending up really bad:/ (stalkers, murderers, ect) I guess I'm overly paranoidXD

trailblazer295 · 07-03-15, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDW

The think that makes me nervous with cl is you don't know the person and you'd most likely be going to their home which you have no idea about. And then those stories of meeting up with online people ending up really bad:/ (stalkers, murderers, ect) I guess I'm overly paranoidXD

You can always meet in public places to swap.

DDW · 07-03-15, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trailblazer295

You can always meet in public places to swap.

Good point, like I said, I'm a bit paranoid sometimes lol

**Minkness** · 07-03-15, 05:58 PM

Yeah. I usually meet in public places. This was the first time I went to someone's home to pick up. It was over an hour drive but I also took a friend with me for back up. =)