Surrenders - Graphic

Hyokenseisou · 11-22-14, 05:46 PM

Warning, these pictures might be disturbing to some.
They certainly are for me.

So yesterday I received three surrenders. I don't often like to take in surrenders or rescues because as we all know, we'd run a risk of bringing in something into our own collection. However, if I have some extra and if they situation is desperate enough, I'll take in a case or two.
Two of the three... I did not realize how bad they were, it's absolutely heartbreaking.
My nic got mouth rot from bumping up his nose and didn't eat for 9 months. He lost over 200g and it was becoming visible a bit as well he was becoming lethargic. But once the MR cleared up, he started eating like a tank again.
But he didn't eat for 9 MONTHS!! And he didn't look anywhere near as bad as these two... I would think that these two didn't eat for maybe a year.

My guess by length, is it's possibly around 2ish years old - and it's current weight is only 1047g
(Btw those aren't mites, it's just ecoearth, though it is being treated for mites in case via nix)

This poor suri was drinking for almost an hour when I put it in.
Current weight 1354g. Est. age 2yrs

Had a couple stuck sheds on it, only bothered to get just the eyes off and left the rest. With it's state, I didn't want to stress it with getting the shed of. I'll leave it for now and help it come off with the next cycle. I've given it a hide box with moss to comfort it. Some pieces here and there have come off on it's own.

It's apparent that the suri has a bit of mouth rot. I just have yet to determine is it's just starting, or if it's just in the end healing stages.

It will be a long journey for these two but I am confident they'll make a full recovery.
I know that it is not suggested to give a meal right after receiving a new animal (and I certainly never do when I get a new one), but I feared they were to lethargic and staved that they might not make it for a few days until it was time to feed. So I gave them each 3 mice (certainly much smaller than what they should be able to handle, they should be taking med-lar rats) to see their feeding response as well as just a small nip to get them started. I won't be giving them appropriate sized meals for a while for obvious reasons, it would be too much for them to handle in their state. So many multiple smaller meals more frequently is what they'll be on for a while.
They took those mice with so much enthusiasm, so obviously they weren't picky eaters and that wasn't the reason. Man, I don't know what was going on through the previous owner's head... Poor things...

sharthun · 11-22-14, 06:57 PM

Way to go!!!! In better hands now.

kiiarah · 11-22-14, 08:42 PM

So glad these two found their way to you. Please keep us posted on their progress.

bigsnakegirl785 · 11-22-14, 10:31 PM

Those poor boas are in horrific condition.

I've only seen maybe one snake as skinny as those three before, and it was online as well.

With how starved they are, I doubt their size will be much of an indicator of age. They could be much older than 2 years, if they have always been fed poorly. I'll keep my fingers crossed these guys make it! Despite their condition, you've got some nice animals from this.

toddnbecka · 11-22-14, 10:44 PM

If they've been that underfed they may be older than estimated, just hope their development isn't too badly stunted. Some people are just incredibly ignorant of how to care for animals, but there's no excuse for it. Time and better conditions/care will do them a world of good though.

Hyokenseisou · 11-23-14, 02:46 AM

Yeah that is true with the age thing. I can only hope they're still that young and that this won't stunt their future growth too much - one can hope :/
My guesses were based solely on their head sizes - because obviously length and weight ain't gonna tell me squat. From past experience, I can usually give a pretty decent guess with age on some factors like head size with the younger ones, but these certainly are an exception to a special case, so in the end, who knows.

**Aaron_S** · 11-23-14, 09:23 AM

Other than the mouth rot and the severe weight problem. They look to be okay. Both seem alert and active from those pictures.

I would hold off on food for the moment until these mice pass through. You want to make sure their body is working completely fine.

I just realized you were in Alberta. I was going to suggest rat pups (1 maybe 2). I bet they will switch to f/t rats though pretty quick. I would still only feed once every 5 days or so. You don't need to rush them back to size.

**Tsubaki** · 11-23-14, 11:57 AM

Oh my, that makes me so sad. How can anyone neglect an animal like this? I hope they make a full recovery, they are also beautiful! even as skinny as they are.

reptiledude987 · 11-23-14, 12:18 PM

What were the temperments of these animals like I imagine that they werent interacted with regularly form the previous owners? but I'm sure theyre doing better now that theyre being properly cared for.

Hyokenseisou · 11-23-14, 06:03 PM

I'm sure they'll have no problem switching to rats eventually. They don't seem picky at all. I guess time will tell. (I just fed mice instead of rats cause those are only what I had on hand atm that they could handle. All my other boas are eating mediums or larges - with the exception of my babies, which are all eating f/k hopper mice, which is obviously too small for these guys).
They're feeding won't be rushed, I had planned on every 5 or so days. I just really felt they needing a little something NOW to make it through the new home adjustments - because they look like if you sneezed on them, they'd die.
Surprisingly, they are decently active and alert. Clear eyes, lots of smelling, some reaction to being touched, great feeding responses, drinking, favouring the warm side.

Their temperament so far, is actually pretty good considering. If there's no food out thawing so they can smell, they're pretty docile. I just give them a little boop on the head and they know I'm not food and I can take them out without 'fear' of being bit no prob. Then again, going in with confidence, they can probably sense that and just let me 'manhandle' them. When they start getting better, we'll see if they're temperament changes...
My nic that I mentioned, he was always a testy one. Not overly aggressive, but certainly one you'd handle with caution (and he'd never come to shows despite him being a looker). But when he was sick, he'd never fight back or even hiss, which he'd do a lot back then. Once he started getting better, his a-hole 'personality' came back.

The suri is loving the hide box of moss I gave 'her'. (waiting til they're better before probing)

Hyokenseisou · 11-25-14, 06:41 PM

The suri's shed was looking a bit tight and uncomfortable so I gave it a soak and helped off about 95% of it. A little bit on the upper part was really stuck so I didn't want to force it.
It already looks much better. Look at it's colours!! The tail is stunning, like my guyana.
Poor thing is still a bit dehydrated, I can tell by how the scales still are (hard to tell in the pics), but at least it's not still wearing those tight pants.

Albino is still the same-ish. Loving it's eyes though!!

JinxtheBP · 11-27-14, 11:24 PM

My goodness. Those poor things.

Good for you for taking them in.

SnoopySnake · 11-28-14, 11:15 AM

That's terrible..glad you could take them. That suri is gorgeous!

Katt · 11-29-14, 01:07 AM

WOW! These are such amazing looking animals. I can't believe someone let them get into this condition. Insane! Good on you for taking them in and if they make it you'll have a couple of sweet looking boas.

Hyokenseisou · 12-10-14, 01:08 PM

A comparison pic between my albino and this one (about a week after I got it, not current)

It drinks like a fish all the time.

Look at this guy/girl! It's like night and day!!
After 4 meals (2 mice, 1 mouse, med rat, lg rat), it's improved drastically! Visible ribs are almost gone.

The suri is doing just as good, just didn't take a pic because it had pooped and I didn't have time to clean it that day and didn't want to take a pic of poop. Although, it wouldn't be too bad of an idea - because even it's poops are looking good! First poop they each had was a little iffy and not the best looking - now they're normal looking (stinky) poops!

I'll post the suri soon. But here's an older pic in the mean time! Second feeding. It dropped the mouse so I went in to pick it up and man, the suri's feeding response is crazy... it's normally pretty docile. But if there's any sort of 'food' smell in the room, it's hunting time and it's super active and looking around. Tasty glove.