I aquired a mistreated BP 4 days ago. He was kept in low humidity on sand and his cage wasn't the cleanest. The guy I got him from had no idea he was supposed to disenfect the cage. He was using a shoe box for a hide but he only put it in the cage for a few hours every other day because that's what the guy at the pet store told him to do. Pretty sad.



He went to the vet today and the worst he could find was a minor bacterial infection on his belly scales. I expected worse. The vet gave me some baytril and a syringe with a tube and a needle. He got his first injection today and is supposed to get 4 more every 3 days. I am completely on my own with this (i.e. I have no one to help me hold him). He is just under 4' and 1800 grams. I don't think I can get that tube down his throat by myself. I need to inject the stuff into his food.



He has only been fed live rats. His eyes were blue when I picked him up and it hasn't changed. There is now way I would put a live rat in while he's shedding and I can't find anyone around with frozen. I'm not sure he'll eat anyway, he still hasn't come out of his box on his own. His setup is 48"L X 20"T X 13"D and a screen top with most of it covered. I'm still having humidity problems but it's around 42 now. Temps are 81 and 88 using a ceramic heating element. He's staying on the cool side in a cheerios box and I have a humidity hide on the warm side.



If anyone has any ideas how to get that tube down his throat by myself I would love to hear them (it took both of us at the vets office). If anyone knows where to get frozen rats in the KC, MO area I would like to know where. I ordered from rodentpro but they'll be about 4 days late. I have plenty of mice but I would prefer to stick with rats. I don't even know if he would go for a mouse and don't really want to waste the med trying. Sorry about the novel. Any tips on how to get this stuff in him?



BTW, don't rely on spurs to sex a BP. I know it's been said before, but this guy's are almost non-existint. The vet found sperm in his fecal. Even more acurate than probing, isn't it?

[ Show Entire Thread ]