Snake Profile: Sulu the Rescue

[Abraxxos]

TRIGGER WARNING

This IS a thread about a rescue. This is not nearly as horrible of condition as I got some of my boas in (a thread will be made shortly in the boa section)... but it is still rescue and there are scars and injuries. This is a thread made to show a problem and to tell the story of this snake. This snake is now doing well and has just about made a full recovery save for a pound or so more I'd like him to gain in weight. Nobody honestly likes to look at things like this, but they happen and it's better to see and know than not know at all. Thank you for reading in advance.

So a friend of mine runs a pet shop and I was making a food run one day and when I walked in, I notice said friend was very busy and anxious and upset about something. When I finally got her to talk to me about it, she informed me that a man had come in with an emaciated ball python, put it on the counter and announced he was giving it to the store. Before they could say anything to stop him he had turned around and walked out.

She was stressed because they had no room for the snake, nor the money to rehabilitate him. The snake also wasn't in good enough condition they could sell him as he was emaciated and had several scars along his sides which we collectively agreed were bite scars. His owner had mentioned he had only been feeding a single mouse every month and a half.

When mention was made that I had plenty of snake experience and some rehab skills as well, I found myself being sent home with a new 20 long tank, the snake and some supplies. She stated it was more cost efficient to give me the snake and the supplies than it would be to take care of the snake there. So I took him home and set up his enclosure with a water bowl, a hide, sphagnum, eco earth, and some vines, etc. I offered him a rat and he took it without a problem.

Thankfully, Sulu has never been a troublesome eater and within only about 2 and a half to 3 months has put on weight again and is once again healthy.

The pictures do not honestly show how skinny he actually was. Not to mention these were taken a few weeks after bringing him home although in 1-2 of the pictures, you can still see pyramiding.