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.

[Abraxxos]

Those pictures were taken between -5 weeks of having brought him home. This was after his second shed with me and it was a very healthy shed. For whatever reason, I don't have updated pictures of Sulu after these on my computer and will take some tomorrow.

[marvelfreak]

Good job. Some people just make me sick. I swear people should have to take a class on proper habitat and care before ever being allowed to own reptiles. Then hopeful we would see a lot less of this kinds of stories.

[slowhite03]

Although I agree that some people aren't cut out for everyone to say they should take a class is a bit much IMO. I bet over 90% of the people on here were unexpierenced with snakes when they got there first one. I'm not trying to start an argument but I just think some people don't have the time or money for pets

[sweatshirt]

Sad... Thanks for taking him.

[bcr229]

Originally Posted by slowhite03

I bet over 90% of the people on here were unexpierenced with snakes when they got there first one.

While I certainly was, I was open to the idea of doing research and learning about how to properly care for it. The info is available for anyone who looks, and it's not hard to find.

And as far as pets go, snakes are a lot cheaper to keep than some other pets (see sig line...)

[marvelfreak]

Originally Posted by slowhite03

Although I agree that some people aren't cut out for everyone to say they should take a class is a bit much IMO. I bet over 90% of the people on here were unexpierenced with snakes when they got there first one. I'm not trying to start an argument but I just think some people don't have the time or money for pets

Yeah and just like my first few snakes i bet at one point or another their reptiles suffer or at least did have the best care they could have. I know if i had to have taking a class before getting my first couple snakes they might still be here. A 15 minute class on the basic and how to properly house which ever kind of reptile some one want to buy would hurt anyone. Education is never a bad thing and remember knowledge is power.

Plus now days information is so easily assessable there's no excuse not to take the time to learn about a animal before getting it.

[Terranaut]

I love a happy ending. Glad you got him. Thanks for sharing.

[Concept9]

Good job mate.

[Pareeeee]

Great job on rehabbing that BP! It's nice to see he's had a happy ending.

Did you name him Sulu or was that his name already? It's a good trekkie name

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

Good job. Some people just make me sick. I swear people should have to take a class on proper habitat and care before ever being allowed to own reptiles. Then hopeful we would see a lot less of this kinds of stories.

Agreed.

[Chu'Wuti]

It's great to meet a fellow rescuer! (You're trapped now, you know!)

I am one of the rescue coordinators for my local herp society, and I've seen snakes in horrible, horrible condition. People lie about what they've been feeding them as if we can't tell by looking that the poor snake was NOT BEING FED. Among the three of us who are rescue coordinators, we've seen snakes that were mangled by lawnmowers, turtles chewed on by dogs or whose shells were damaged by kids throwing rocks, and much more.

Similar to your story, this past December I was asked to take a bull snake that was being fed "5-7 rat fuzzies every week." Or maybe it was "5-7 mouse fuzzies every week." The guy didn't seem to actually know what he was feeding the snake, so one of his emails said one thing, another the second thing. "Hmmmm . . . doesn't he KNOW what he feeds his snake?" I wondered.

Well, when he brought the snake to me, I realized that he couldn't POSSIBLY know what he'd been feeding the snake--because he had NOT been feeding it! It looked like a chicken wishbone with a skin covering. I wish I'd taken pictures, but I was too upset to think of it. In fact, I was SO upset it was all I could do not to scream at the guy.

Last night that bull snake ate 2 rat fuzzies. He has gained all his weight back and looks like a proper colubrid now. He's an albino--I never thought I'd have an albino, as I don't really like them--except for this one! I've become very emotionally attached to him (though of course he couldn't care less about me except for me feeding him!), probably because I was so furious at his condition.

Your photographs show that you're doing a fabulous job with your rescue. That healthy shed is a great sign, too, showing you're providing the proper conditions and that his scarring is not an issue. As you've already noted, he could stand to gain some more weight, but putting on weight too fast isn't healthy even for an underweight animal, so it's better that he gains more gradually.

As the BP can't thank you (except by gaining weight and doing as well as he's doing!), I will--THANK YOU for taking him on!

[Amadeus]

Kudos for rescuing the poor python.

[Abraxxos]

Okay just got done taking a ton of pictures of many of my snakes. Took a few pics of Sulu but we found him going into blue eye. He enjoyed outside time but we went ahead and kept it short though he's still being such a sweet heart but the pics don't look nearly as good as they could considering his color is dull right now. However, I did promise pictures:






Obviously, he still has scales that are just never going to grow back and pieces that are still gnarly after a few sheds (eyes specifically). He's topping out right now at about 4 feet long.

So the name. I wanted a Tokay gecko named George (George Takei) Get it? Get it? Because... Takei and Tokay sound... yeah ba dum tiss. So after that joke we wound up calling him Sulu. So no, he wasn't already named Sulu when we got him. For the first few days he was addressed as sweetheart. But yes it was a direct Trekkie reference.

[Amadeus]

Idk eventually his skin may heal completely. every time he'll shed it'll get a little better. =]