So yesterday I picked up a new baby pastel ball python. I had sworn "No more snakes just yet!" after we got the rainbows, but the add on craigslist caught my eye. After a few emails, it sounded to me like the snake was having a few issues, and maybe a little bit of husbandry problems. He's a late '06 hatch, and just barely 60 grams. The previous owner was "assisted" feeding him, and sounded like she genuinely cared about the little guy but was frustrated with the problems he was giving her. Against my better judgment, I ended up picking him up, and he IS adorable, and beautiful, but I don't think he's doing so hot.
My vet comes back from his vacation on Monday morning, so I'm going to get him in right away, but in the meantime, wanted to know if you guys had any suggestions.
Last night when we brought him home, he briefly explored his new cage, and then started to WHEEZE really bad. He yawned for me (How nice of him!) and there is absolutely no liquid in his mouth, and it looks healthy and clean. But he struggled for breath like he was asthmatic or something.
When I disturbed him, he sort of coiled up and didn't move. Part of him was laying on his side, and he was just PANTING. Harder than I've ever seen a snake pant! So we dimmed the lights, and left him alone, but he kept panting and panting. He's since stopped panting, but he hasn't moved. He's RIGHT on the heat-pad, not balled up, but coiled.
He's in a temporary quarantine cage (in another room from the other snakes obviously), a shallow tub with b&w newspaper for substrate, two water bowls, two regular hides, and a humidity hide. It is about 88-90 degrees on the hot end, and about 80 on the cool side.
He feels crackly and dry to the touch, and his stomach is an odd yellowish gray color which could be perfectly normal for pastels, but I don't know, I haven't seen many. He's got a couple of odd looking reddish patches on his stomach, maybe burns, kind of difficult to get a good look because I'm trying my best to leave him alone to calm down. The previous owner said he's going into a shed, but he feels way more brittle and dry to me than just a simple shed. Should I risk stressing him out and soaking him? Should I just leave him alone until his vet appointment? What would you guys do?
And of course, obligatory pictures:
New rescue "Tigger"
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