Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just got a columbian red tail from this guy i know and he didn't take proper care of it at all. It hasn't eaten in about 4-5 months now it has very bad muscle loss and is getting very week. It also has about 4-5 months of unshed skin on him/her
i was just wondering if any of u guys new of some way to get it off of him/her and get him/her back eating again.

and if i can't if any of you more experienced rescuers would buy him and help save its life
its about a year old now and i really don't know what to do because all my snakes are in perfect health
please and thank you

in the meantime I would soak him in room temperature pedialyte , he is probably very dehydrated. The vet is your best option.
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Got Bats?

I would also recommend a soak in room temperature pedialyte to rehydrate the snake. If you don't have pedialyte, room temperature water would be good as well (though like Charles, I think that pedialyte is the better choice). Aside from that, I would offer the snake a smaller than normal meal (for the snake's size) that is either prekilled or frozen thawed, in other words...dead prey. If the snake is weakened with poor muscle tone, it may or may not be able to kill its own prey (my rescued ball python was that way when I got him). I would recommend starting off with smaller, more frequent meals (i.e. one prey item every 5-7 days). As the snake builds up its reserves and strength, you can start to increase the size of the prey item and feeding frequency to what is normal for that size snake. In regards to the stuck shed, I wouldn't do anything to that but keep the snake hydrated and the old shed should come off. And again, a trip to a good reptile vet is a must.

should i raise the temp and hummidity at all?
and how long should i soak him for and how frequent?

i can't really afford a vet right now
its a hundread bucks i just don't really have
thanks for the advice

Part of the responsibility of owning a pet is being able to take care of it (taking it to a vet) most vets charge around $45 to $100 for just a visit and any treatment is extra. I would try and find a way to get money to take it to a vet or call the vet and see if the could make payment arrangments. I know what you are going through as far as not having any money, for the last 2 years I have been working off and on and right now I not working at all I also own allot of boas and I have had to sell some of my belongings to keep enough money in my snake account to pay for any vet visits I may need and also enough to pay for supplies and rat food.

I'd suggest you talk to your herp vet and explain the situation that this snake is a rescue and needs immediate attention. Some vets will work out payment arrangements if necessary, even though all of them state that payment is due when the service is rendered. It really sounds like the snake needs a vet.

Pimp, where are you located. If you are in the Lower Alabama area, I might be able to help you. e-mail me at:
sam4msu@ala.net

unfortunatly i live in ontario canada. so ur pretty far away
and i want to take it to a vet but i don't really see what she's gunna tell me that i don't already know she can't really do anything for it except charge me a hundread bucks. why hasn't the shed come off in the last 3 months for it????
once the shed comes off it should eat and if it doesn't then i will have to take it to the vet.

does any one on here want it cause i just took it with the intention of selling it once i got it healthy cause i don't really have room for it

Hi I'd happily take it from you.I have a friend that works for a vet and I have a vet that will work with me.I'd love to try and get it healthy!Let me know ok?I'm very serious!Thanks!