WonSecCol
New Member
hi, new member so hope I'm not duplicating previous entry or committing any faux pas
we have just inherited a children's python from a student who had lost interest in it
it's roughly 1/2 meter long and at its thickest only about the size of my thumb
its skin moves a lot, like it's too big for the body underneath (I'm used to my python at home having firm skin) the student who gave it to us said it had just been fed, but I've heard since that he'd been neglecting it; is this a sign of malnourishment? It's been fed pinky mice which I think are too small for it
student also said he didn't handle the snake because it was very snappy, however I've found it extremely placid
it's tongue is dull brown, I'm used to my carpet python's bright blue, is this another problem?
it came covered (apart from head - eyes are fine - and a couple of patches) in unshed skin
I've been soaking and rubbing off, the tail peeled off nicely from a sloughed patch, but the rest I'm having to remove backwards as I can't get it started from the front - this morning after another hour or so soaking I tried again to get a start at the neck and think I've hurt it further - dead skin lifted however l think it took a live scale with it as I saw a spot of white which I thought might be flesh
snake didn't flinch & I smoothed the skin back down
I had planned to remove the old skin (still about 1/2 covered) before feeding it, but have decided to stop soaking and have just fed it the last 2 pinky mice - student said it was very snappy when feeding but it took the mice quite gently
I'm hoping someone can give me advice on how much of the above is normal, and on how to treat the problems - given it's a 3hr round trip to specialist reptile vet I'd like to handle it myself if at all possible
oh, and if anyone can give me some idea of how old it's likely to be that'd be nice too!
many thanks
we have just inherited a children's python from a student who had lost interest in it
it's roughly 1/2 meter long and at its thickest only about the size of my thumb
its skin moves a lot, like it's too big for the body underneath (I'm used to my python at home having firm skin) the student who gave it to us said it had just been fed, but I've heard since that he'd been neglecting it; is this a sign of malnourishment? It's been fed pinky mice which I think are too small for it
student also said he didn't handle the snake because it was very snappy, however I've found it extremely placid
it's tongue is dull brown, I'm used to my carpet python's bright blue, is this another problem?
it came covered (apart from head - eyes are fine - and a couple of patches) in unshed skin
I've been soaking and rubbing off, the tail peeled off nicely from a sloughed patch, but the rest I'm having to remove backwards as I can't get it started from the front - this morning after another hour or so soaking I tried again to get a start at the neck and think I've hurt it further - dead skin lifted however l think it took a live scale with it as I saw a spot of white which I thought might be flesh
snake didn't flinch & I smoothed the skin back down
I had planned to remove the old skin (still about 1/2 covered) before feeding it, but have decided to stop soaking and have just fed it the last 2 pinky mice - student said it was very snappy when feeding but it took the mice quite gently
I'm hoping someone can give me advice on how much of the above is normal, and on how to treat the problems - given it's a 3hr round trip to specialist reptile vet I'd like to handle it myself if at all possible
oh, and if anyone can give me some idea of how old it's likely to be that'd be nice too!
many thanks