Help I know nothing!!

[new2this]

Hi everyone, I am so new to this its not funny....usually I would only go near a snake for a picture to prove I am not a fraidy cat....but my cousin has had his electricity turned off for God only knows how long and his poor snake has been starving and freezing...we live up here in southwest Washington state where the sun only shines once a year if we are lucky [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img] anyway I agreed to take it and keep in my 29ft trailor with me since I atleast have electricity and can plug in its heat rock...only to find the snake is sleeping on cedar shavings and has what looks like a small rock the poor thing is a skinny maybe 6ft snake and about as big around as my fist...oh ya its a columbian red tail....well I have no idea of where to even begin...except for one thing feeding time is going to be extremely tough on me because I have been raising rats in lieu of having real babies for years and well guess what this snake supposedly only eats...eegads! anyway I found this place and am hoping to receive lots of help and advice...I am planning on taking Cleo (male or so I am told) to our vet on wednesday April 3rd to see if its gonna make...its sooooooo coooold I felt awful and well now he's with me for who knows how long....thanks ahead of time for any and all helpful comments........Sarah
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[billycat215]

ok...my advice isnt as good as some you will receive from some of the experts that belong to this site...but hopefully i can guide you in the right direction.
1) remove the heat rock...it can burn the snake, what size tank are you keeping the snake in? or is it a homemade cage?
2) remove the cedar bedding, replace it with newspaper, papertowels, aspen, do not use cedar or pine.
3) read some caresheets on this site...to get a general idea of what kind of care these snakes need...and pay attention to heating, humidity and temperture gradients. its very important that these snakes get proper heating.

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[Reticu-Lady]

here's something that may help. I don't like feeding rats to snakes either. I like rats, they're smart and sweet.
I order rats from rodentpro.com. The rats are frozen and packed/shipped in bulk.
It's much safer for the snake to be eating prekilled rats anyway.
Good luck!
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[Dr.Oviparous]

yeah, i agree with BILLYCAT, not only should you remove th heat rock, but cut the cord also. I have a heat rock in with my G.B kingsnake, HOWEVER the cord is cut, and it's right below a heat light, so it absorbs the heat from the light. heatrocks are bad because they are very inconsistant, and many times can short out and get way too hot in certain parts, burning your snake! instead, use heat lights, and/or heat pads. also, do get rid of the cedar! cedar is toxic to reptiles, there are many options, such as paper towles, newspaper, non-cedar reptibark, just not cedar. from what you described, there is a good chance cleo has a respitory infection, if it's been cold, and breathing cedar for a while. if he not too far gone, he should be o.k. if it's just a small R.I., but you really should take her to a reputable vet today. just my .02 -Juggalo
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[new2this]

Thank you All! I am just so upset about all this...I took the snake hoping to give it atleast somewhat a better home...and now I am finding out that I really don't have the money or the area to keep it properly...at the time I agreed to take it all I could think was oh my God this poor thing is freezing to death....Cleo is in a pet carrier at this time and we have plenty of newspaper so I can do that but I have no way of keeping him warm if I don't use the heat rock. I just want to cry...I really want to help this poor thing and now it looks like I am taking the chance of just making it worse. I am taking Cleo to the vet this wed. I have a terrific vet they take wonderful care of all our rats/cats/dog...and I have seen them take care of other snakes as well...I am hoping they will be able to help me out someway also...Especially since right now my bedroom is a travel trailer....I don't dare leave the space heater on with out me being there....eegads...thanks everyone...I just don't know what to do right now...and I feel so very badly for Cleo....it is kinda funny this is how I got a cat/and my family got 17 rats...and now I am trying to save this poor snake....Thanks again.
Sarah
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[Boaguy]

Sure u can do it! you are doing the right thing by helping you friend out.. and the snake!
what u can do is. for not much at petstores or LLLReptile.com u can get a Reptairum its a screen cage.. they arent much for what u get. and u can use a heat lamp in it and a heat pad.
if u can get one of those u can also get a human heat pad the kind u would put on a muscle cramp and set it on LOW and put it in the cat carryier.. just make sure it doesnt get wet!
i would bring her into the vet and he can give u more help!
-boaguy12~
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[hisba]

It's great that you are trying to help! So far the advice has been great.. I wanted to
give you some options..
Do you have a $.99 store around there (like Big Lots?) or at least a KMart/walmart?
Go pick up some things..
1) large rubbermaid tub (about 3x1x1 at least)... you should be able to get one for under $10
2) buy a heating pad (you can get one made for human use for about $15)

To set this up for the snake...
Rinse out the rubbermaid tub, put about 5-7 layers of newspaper down, put in a bowl
or some sort of dish for water... place the heat pad under one side of the tub, turn it
on set on either low or medium. Make sure the tub can close and locks, or if it doesn't
lock, get some clips to hold it closed.
If you can't get that stuff and the snake has to stay in a cat/dog carrier..
just get a lamp, put in a 40-60 watt light bulb (normal household light), wattage depends
on the temps in the house, I just said 40-60 watt as an average one used.. and put it right
next to the carrier, by the wire opening, so the snake can get warm.

These are just temporary ideas, but at least they will let you have something set up
that will keep the snake warm.. then take it into the vet like you plan to... we can
help you figure out how to set up something more perminant later if needed of course.

Also, I understand the rat-thing.. I've had pet mice and rats before (they really are nice
pets!)... but a lot of times if you go to a pet store (esp one that specializes in exotics)
they will pre-kill the feeder rodent for you so you don't have to kill it yourself. (just
ask them to "process" it for ya) Good luck!!!
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[new2this]

Thanks again Everyone....I do have walmart here...and I just met a lady who owns snakes and is willing to come over and help me....woo hoo...I even have an empty tub at home that will work wonderfully so all I need is the heat pad...woo hooo....I even have a lamp that puts out a good amount of heat so things are definately looking up...now if only my vet was open after I get off work [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] but I guess I will just have to wait till my day off on wed...thanks again...it sure is nice working someplace that I can keep checking everything you all are saying.

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[Toreador]

If you put it in the plastic tub and use the lamp, make sure the tub has a top (with air holes, naturally) or rig some way of keeping the snake from touching the lamp. You should also talk to our dear friend Diane who is in a very similar situation as you. Hope that helps some.
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[Boaguy]

also if u want to use the heat lamp and the heat pad.. u can cut out part of the top of the rubbermaid and screen that area in with screen and set the light on top [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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[Reticu-Lady]

Here is a pic of my feed tub as an example of the sreen lid (I tried screen with boas, they push right through is, I use that hardware cloth stuff. I 'sew' in in with picture hanging wire, then cover the edges (outside only) with duct tape, looks a bit neater than my sew job. Don't use the duct tape on the inside, it does horrible things to snake scales/skin. Also, when sewing in the screen, make sure the edges of the screen are outside the cage, not inside where they can hurt the snake. This tub is taller than what I would suggest using for a 'live-in' cage. I use this one for feeding/soaking as this size is easier for me to move around and store than the longer tubs.
Good luck with the snake, you are going to do a great job.


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