ball update *pics*

concept3 · 09-13-04, 11:15 PM

I got this ball python last december, 2003, The previos owners neglected her and left her for dead. When I received her she had mites, a burn on her stomach about 1/3 of her body lenght from the uth. She also had two quarter size scabs on her back. Her skin cracked the owners did not spray her or give her water. I live in alberta the humidity is about 35 percent. here is a pic of her burn.

concept3 · 09-13-04, 11:20 PM

here she is today, she has tripled in girth and has grown 9.5 inches. The olny food i can feed her unfortunatley is live (restrained) mice. Her last owner olny fed her live for the first 6 months of her life. her belly has healed 100 percent with no scarring. Thank god for polysporin. She has two faint scars on her back where her skin spilit but other than that is beautiful and in perfect health.

concept3 · 09-13-04, 11:24 PM

I forgot to ad, she is 38 inches long ad about as thick as a pop can. Is this normal size for a year and a half old bp? is she stunted? Is it possible for them to get stunted?

Tim_Cranwill · 09-14-04, 12:45 AM

GREAT job!

She's looking really, really good.

She looks like a decent size to me. Most of my '03s are bigger than that but they also haven't had the life she's had. I would say she's doing fine.

Have you tried to feed her a live rat?

Ron · 09-14-04, 10:45 AM

She looks great!

As for size, I have some that would be bigger and some that would be smaller. She definitely looks like she's growing well especially for her rough start.

Maybe try this for getting her on to dead prey; as she is finishing her first mouse, wave a warm dead mouse in front of her. I have found they usually can't resist and take the second one. Then she may get used to a mouse being waved in front of her and take a F/T to start with the next time.

Good Luck!

treegirl · 09-14-04, 12:45 PM

she looks great--thanks to you!

Kimo · 09-14-04, 02:05 PM

you know...no matter how many times i read about all these poor animals making it through to a better way of life...

not once have i gotten bored, or tired of hearing it!

Congrats to you, and your obvious skill in helping to bring back even the roughest looking herps!

Josh!

TheRedDragon · 09-14-04, 02:46 PM

Glad to hear that you managed to save her. It's so sad to see that so many reptiles are neglected this way and left for dead, but, it makes my day to see that at least one is taken in by someone like you and taken care of.

Good for you, she's a real beaut.

malaysianbloods · 09-14-04, 03:59 PM

just for people that don't know live rats are illegal in alberta because WE ARE RAT FREE!! (haha yeah right)about the rat free part but yes live rats are illegal in alberta

but yes does look like she is doing good
nice color

concept3 · 09-14-04, 04:40 PM

thanx for the kind words guys, and Ron that is one method I have never tried, and definetly will. The funny part about this story is the guy actually made me pay 15 bucks for her LOL (I didnt mind) I felt so bad for her.

zero&stich · 09-14-04, 08:08 PM

OOOOoooo.....She looks ten times better. I like her light golden color by the can. Makes her contrast look brighter. She looks to have decent girth. Congrads!

Last year I rescued a BP found mid-afternoon in temps of 55 degrees

from someone that found it on a dirt road. If the gentleman had not found it, mostly likely it would have died.

Sad to say, people will disregard any responsability they should have taken on from Day 1! Like leavin this animal in a romote area and expecting it to survive when its native home is a continent clear cross the ocean.

Again, good work. She looks beautiful.