Rescued pinny

Ch^4 · 06-20-11, 11:48 AM

I was selling some old aquariums on CL and was poking around to find "fair" market prices. I came across someone rehoming a pinstripe ball python and couldn't resist checking it out.

I met the guy and he pulled out a "7 month old" ball python; as you will see from the pics, Chigo is tiny...under 200g. Not only that, but Chigo's left eye looked disgusting. The guy mentioned that it was an injury from one of the snake's "battles" during feeding time. He then had the audacity to tell me that his other BP had just been "eaten in a battle." I wanted to punch him in the face, but he was packing heat...

I took the pinstripe off his hands despite the somewhat ridiculous rehoming fee knowing that the snake might lose his eye. In my experience, eye problems are not to be trifled with and *typically* need a vet visit. His vet happened to coincide with mine and they told me about his other snake that was "eaten in battle." The poor thing had over 40 mouse bites from head to tail. I am very glad I rescued Chigo (pinstripe) from this ignorant tool. I was also told that he asked about the eye injury 3 months ago, but he didn't do a d*mn thing about it.

Back to Chigo. The vet saw him and immediately thought he'd lose his eye. The pictures don't do the nastiness that was his eye justice. These pictures are after 2 days of a warm, diluted betadine compress. Daily compresses for the next 3-5 sheds should fix him right up. If it does not improve or gets infected, he will lose his eye. Hopefully we can save it. If not, he's a good looking snake regardless of eye count. WAY too small for 7 months old though. For comparison, my other 7 month old BPs are 3-4 times as large (by weight)! But he is full of life!

Side note: we are not sure if Chigo is male or female (hoping female). He's been probed twice and once he was a she, and the other time he was a he. I still need to learn how to pop.

Sorry for the novel!

TeaNinja · 06-20-11, 12:11 PM

it's too bad most people don't know how to care for these animals before owning them.

Will0W783 · 06-20-11, 12:25 PM

POor guy---what a disgusting previous owner. Thank goodness you rescued him. I hope he does wonderfully for you. I'd call animal control on that guy. He should not be allowed to have animals. Who calls it "battles at feeding time"? Despicable!

Lankyrob · 06-20-11, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

POor guy---what a disgusting previous owner. Thank goodness you rescued him. I hope he does wonderfully for you. I'd call animal control on that guy. He should not be allowed to have animals. Who calls it "battles at feeding time"? Despicable!

HE is probably one of those aholes that posts videos on youtube - WELL DONE for saving that snakes life!!

NennaMeerkat · 06-20-11, 12:44 PM

Poor thing lost an eye! It already looks infected too...hopefully he won't lose it completely.

Will0W783 · 06-20-11, 01:15 PM

It makes me sick when I see the horrible things that people do with animals. Ch>4, good job rescuing him. He sure is a handsome little fellow, despite his eye. I would take him to a good herp vet though, just to be sure there's no infection or other problems.
I wouldnt have been able to hold my tongue like you did...if the guy was packing heat I'd still rip him a new one, and if he threatened me, I'd have just called the cops.
Anyway, the important thing is that the snake is in good hands, and safe with you! Rescued snakes can turn out to be some of the best pet-wise. I have two rescued Burms that I absolutely adore!

TeaNinja · 06-20-11, 01:22 PM

both my dumerils were adopted for free from CL and they are awesome

both were kept in less then optimal conditions also. it seems like more then not people who own snakes don't know what they're doing.

Will0W783 · 06-20-11, 02:13 PM

I have to agree, TeaNinja...a lot of people get snakes for the "cool, bad-a$$" factor, and don't take into account that they are living, feeling creatures. They don't stop to think that their new buddy will live for time and a half the lifespan of an average dog or cat, and require specialized housing and care for its entire lifetime.
I find it's more of a problem with larger snakes and young "tough guys" but any foolish person could abuse any size snake if they didn't care. Seeing animal abuse and neglect just makes me lose faith in humanity....

Ch^4 · 06-20-11, 02:19 PM

Thanks for all the kind words everyone!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

POor guy---what a disgusting previous owner. Thank goodness you rescued him. I hope he does wonderfully for you. I'd call animal control on that guy. He should not be allowed to have animals. Who calls it "battles at feeding time"? Despicable!

I am seriously considering calling animal control on him. He was a pretty shady guy and the "BATTLES"??? WTF. No respect for animals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NennaMeerkat

Poor thing lost an eye! It already looks infected too...hopefully he won't lose it completely.

I did take him to a very good herp vet and the consensus was no infection.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

It makes me sick when I see the horrible things that people do with animals. Ch>4, good job rescuing him. He sure is a handsome little fellow, despite his eye. I would take him to a good herp vet though, just to be sure there's no infection or other problems.
I wouldnt have been able to hold my tongue like you did...if the guy was packing heat I'd still rip him a new one, and if he threatened me, I'd have just called the cops.
Anyway, the important thing is that the snake is in good hands, and safe with you! Rescued snakes can turn out to be some of the best pet-wise. I have two rescued Burms that I absolutely adore!

I'm not confrontational, so I bit my tongue and got the snake in good hands. Then I went straight to my vet. He is quite healthy except for the eye, according to my vet.

Nonetheless, he is a very handsome little fella! Thanks again everyone!

stephanbakir · 06-20-11, 02:35 PM

I wish you the best of luck. Call animal control.

marvelfreak · 06-20-11, 04:22 PM

My hat off to you. Beautiful snake and at least now he can live a happy and health life. All thanks to you doing the right thing. You are one of the good guys. as for that a hole i would turn him in to Animal Control.

Ch^4 · 06-20-11, 05:16 PM

Thanks again everyone for all your kind words!

He's an odd little fellow; he's in QT and has ample hiding spots, but chooses to bask in the open at all times! He is curious and full of life, so hopefully his eye will heal. I will make an effort to update this thread with progressive pictures (hopefully improvement pics).

stephanbakir · 06-20-11, 05:19 PM

QT? only thing I know referred to as QT is QT asin QTpie:P

Will0W783 · 06-20-11, 08:09 PM

QT= quarantine. Any and all new incoming animals should be kept separated from the established collection for 3-6 months. This means washing hands and changing clothes after dealing with any QT animals, and feeding them last, etc.
It prevents parasites or illnesses from getting into a group of established, "clean" animals.

stephanbakir · 06-20-11, 08:15 PM

I'm aware of quarantine procedure, been doing it for a long time. Never knew QT meant quarantine in herp speak though:P