we found my roomates python outside after a week!

[caraj]

We went on vacation and my roommate fed her new python in the morning. she went back up a few hours later and it was ice cold and not moving. she thought it was dead so she threw it in the woods!
so about a week later i was walking and noticed that there was a snake very similar to hers wrapped around the exhaust of my boyfriends truck!
we live in a rural area with a lot of forest and swampland.
i put him back in his cage and he's been under his hideout since. His face looks very red and raw (unless thats what it is supposed to look like, i don't know) and I don't want to touch him because he has probably gone under a lot of stress in the wild.
any advice? I feel so bad for him

[gonesnakee]

Extra slaps to your roommate right off. Likely requires medical attention (the snake that is, maybe the roommate too?). I'd check for local surrenders/shelters & pass the snake off to them ASAP as it is blatantly obvious your roommate is not worthy of keeping ANY pet. IMHO Mark

[kittyrodriguez]

Wow. Strange turn of events. Ditto to mark. He should definitely be seen by a vet. I'm sorry, but what kind of snake parent would just through him out without question? If my snake died suddenly, without warning, I would definitely want to know what happened. And then he would be buried, not left for scavengers. Kudos to you for being concerned. Take him to the vet ASAP! He needs some loving care. Anyone have any ideas what would have made the snake appear dead?

[Aaron_S]

He probably was cold because there wasn't appropriate heating. Who throws a snake, an exotic snake out in the woods? That's how a lot of bad things happen in ecosystems.

[caraj]

all very very true. i went in last night and tried to pick him up but he got really nervous and tried to bite me. this from a 3 year old snake who has never bitten anyone. i really don't want to give him away but I don't know what to do. off to the vet today!

[gonesnakee]

If you really want help please list all aspects of its husbandry (how it is beig kept). Tank or enclosure type, type substrate, type heat (light, UTH whatever) hotsied/coldside temps etc. etc. anything you can think of. I'm of the impression the snake is being kept with little or no heat. Now that its got an infection & very likely a RI (respitory infection - "cold" or "flu") it definitely needs some special attention. A basic BP book can be bought for like $10 that will tell you everything you need to know about proper care & husbandry. If you are not serious about spending the time & $ required I would surrender it to someone that will. Good Luck, Mark

[CoilSqueeze]

First of all your friend should be charged with animal cruelty!!!

But you should be praised for coming here and asking all the proper questions and trying your best to get this snake back to health. First of all go buy a thermometer get a basking spot up to 90 - 92 C and a general temp of 82-84
This should have him feeling better within a week or so, If he is still looking and acting stressed, get him to a vet and not a dog or cat vet go to a herp vet... Or one with a broad based knowledge of reptiles as well as dogs/cats what have you