[Health-General] Serious Lack of Care from Previous Owner!!!!

[Pickles924]

Hello everyone. First I'd like to say thank you in advance for anyone who replies to this thread.

Okay for starters I 'rescued' a YEAR OLD Columbian Red Tail off of the Free section of Craigslist. This is not something I normally do but this little fellow needed help. This man told me 'she' (I don't know if it is a she) is a year old but I kid you not I went to pick her up and she's the size of a newborn! I was more than willing to jump on the opportunity to save her. He said she was his daughters snake but then she left college without teaching him how to care for her. Out of the nine months he had her she's rarely eaten. He mention that the last time she ate was almost a month and a half ago and she ate a hopper mouse. I'm not new to snakes but I am new to red tails; however I am aware that she should eat more often than the time span above.

So I am here to ask how should I care for her? Is the fact that she's underweight and small a big factor in the future or if I'm able her back to top notch could she become healthy for her age? She's probably only 22 inches or so, not much bigger. She's active and doesn't have wrinkled skin. She was extremely thirsty when I brought her home and hovered over the watering dish for over 30 minutes. Are there any precautions I should take with her other than quaratine? How often should I feed her to help her gain some weight without threats of regurgitation? And what should I be feeding her at her age still mice? Any tips are welcome or other words of advice. Please keep it friendly I didn't come here to get bashed I'm just wanting to help the snake out and this seems like a good place to start. Thanks.

[Pandorasdad]

Re: Serious Lack of Care from Previous Owner!!!!

Welcome! Kudos to you for taking on this kind of a project. Fortunately, he/she/it doesn't seem too worse for the wear.

Start with this:

http://www.redtailboas.com/f110/part-1-ultimate-boa-constrictor-care-guide-view-line-40589/

Are there any precautions I should take with her other than quaratine?

This is by far the most important. You don't know what that snake is carrying.

And what should I be feeding her at her age still mice?

She needs prey that is of approx the same girth as she is. Weaned rats should be a good place to start.

Please keep it friendly I didn't come here to get bashed I'm just wanting to help the snake out and this seems like a good place to start. Thanks.

That's what makes this place different from Facebook and other forums. This is a supportive community. Maybe you weren't ready for a boa, but you have one now so it's time to study, study, study!

Try to keep her humidity up around 50-60% Otherwise, you're going about it pretty well. Fresh water and appropriately sized prey. She'll be right as reign in no time. Boas are pretty resilient animals.

Good luck with your new adventure!!!

[Greenwood]

Re: Serious Lack of Care from Previous Owner!!!!

22" can be close to a year old or s I'm told. My little sunglow girl is around 22" and is 11 months old. If it helps at all, I feed her 1 adult mouse a week. You can also feed rat pups but I don't simply because I feed fresh pre killed and the closest place for me is over an hour drive round trip so I just feed mice and will switch her as soon as she can eat small rats. Also pretty much what Pandorasdad said. You'll love boas, they are such characters.

[zamora]

Re: Serious Lack of Care from Previous Owner!!!!

Welcome to RTB which by the way, is the best forum around so I think you came to the right place. [MENTION=7657]Pandorasdad[/MENTION] pretty much covered everything except for the fact that we really like pictures . Any questions you have, feel free to ask.

[Pickles924]

Re: Serious Lack of Care from Previous Owner!!!!

She needs prey that is of approx the same girth as she is. Weaned rats should be a good place to start



She's not nearly big enough for a weaned rat, shed probably explode if she could even get it passed her jaws.

[Pickles924]

Re: Serious Lack of Care from Previous Owner!!!!

[Pickles924]

Re: Serious Lack of Care from Previous Owner!!!!

Welcome to RTB which by the way, is the best forum around so I think you came to the right place. [MENTION=7657]Pandorasdad[/MENTION] pretty much covered everything except for the fact that we really like pictures . Any questions you have, feel free to ask.

I posted pictures on my profile, I wasn't exactly sure how to do so on the thread. I tried once already but I can't see it so maybe it's needs approval first? I really don't know but there are photos on my profile. She's really tiny and underweight.

[natieb]

Re: Serious Lack of Care from Previous Owner!!!!

I inserted one of those pictures for you above. Pando gave you some good tips to start out. She's definitely skinny, so I would start with small mice or rat fuzzies/pups, whatever she can take down easily, every 2 weeks until you know she's holding them down and defecating regularly. It sounds like you're on the right track, best of luck!

[weird_science04]

Re: Serious Lack of Care from Previous Owner!!!!

I agree she is skinny. You don't know the age though and she could be just a couple months old and hadn't started eating yet. Babies can be born at the 20" mark easily. I am not saying this is the case. She looks small but not on deaths door by any means. Do what Nate suggested with feeding small prey sizes every couple weeks for the reasons Nate suggested. Good luck and if you have any issues, don't hesitate to ask.

Star

[Pandorasdad]

Re: Serious Lack of Care from Previous Owner!!!!

She's definitely skinny, so I would start with small mice or rat fuzzies/pups

Yeah, now that I can see the pics, I agree with Nate-Dog. Adult mice should be OK and have developed bone mass with will help your boa grow. Rat fuzzies also work, but with any malnutrition, I worry about the milk in their stomachs causing regurge. But then again I am pretty paranoid when it comes to stuff like that.