My new acquisition!!

[Moe66]

Hey guys, I picked this guy up on Thursday last week, he’s kind of a ‘rescue’!!
I found him in a dingy little pet shop that I rarely go to as it’s not the nicest place around.
He was stuck in a tiny enclosure with a semi-exposed heat mat, no water bowl and no hide!!!
When I asked about him, the girl sort of shrugged her shoulders and said he was the meanest snake they had and it was probably going back to the breeder as no-one wanted him. She did say he was eating well... 5 live mice a week!! (I'll soon change that to an appropriate f/t rat) When I tried to take him out he was very hissy and just looked like he was not having a great time. He was clinging to a rock type decoration trying to get away from the heat. Once out, he clung to me and hissed at anything that moved but never struck once. I felt compelled to get him and once I showed interest, they practically gave him to me, bonus!!
Back home in a proper enclosure with the right temps he has calmed down a bit but is still a bit hissy but I’m sure he’s gonna turn into a great snake and he looks (in my opinion) awesome!!




p.s They say he is only 6 mths old but he's about twice the size of my other boa who is 9mths old, I think it might have to do with the feeding schedule he was on.
Thanks for looking.

[LukaTisus]

I was just about to mention the fact he looks pretty overweight.. Lol, time for a diet for that boy! ...Five live mice a week? Who the heck's teaching these people in that place??

But yeah, I'd maybe stretch him out on his feeding schedule a bit, try a 10-day one, with the appropriate sized-rat, or whatever he'll take, and let him out for a bit of exercise in between, if he'll go for it.. hopefully he'll metabolize that chubbyness right out of him. He's a nice looking BCI though! He's got some gorgeous coloring on him.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[spix14]

He is a beautiful snake for sure! Gorgeous colors! Good luck with him.

[leoares27]

i agree...very nice coloring to him! Dumb pet store people...congrats

[starmom]

What a great person you are!! With so many stunning little baby boas around the net right now, you got your hands on a beautiful boa who really needed someone to notice him, believe in him, and take him home. While he does look pudgy and hissy (that last picture; lord I know that look) I am banking on you to turn his life around!! That's just so good of you!! Dharma points for sure!!

[jbt123]

Very beautiful rescue, I say! Put that guy on a treadmill and he'll be good-as-new.

[Jem_Scout]

I think he's gorgeous! You made a great deal with that baby! You're both winners in my book
And the pet shop loses...too bad eh?

[Moe66]

Thanks for all the kind words and advice, guys. I really appreciate it.
He's been soaking in his water bowl off and on and I was hoping it was down to him trying to feel secure in a new environment, but I discovered, to my absolute horror... he has mites!!!! so treatment for that starts now. Thankfully I have a good quarantine going and he is in a totally separate room to my female boa, Tag.
On a positive note, when I got him out to change and inspect the water last night, he never hissed once and was exploring over, he seems a bit hand shy but I'm sure that will come right!!
Thanks again

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks