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I received this boa a few days ago. I was told she fed well and they had no problems with her.

Um...Perhaps they sent me the wrong boa?? (this is the correct boa, unfortunately, just not what I was expecting.)

This boa has not been eating regularly, it is dehydrated, starving, and nearly dead. It is mostly bones with several seemingly stuck sheds on it, like it just kept collecting dead skin on the outside and never shed it. If she was of as good as a feeder as proclaimed, then her problems run even deeper, as she is all bones.

She came to me with mites, which I have since rid her of. But, she will truly be a miracle if she bounces back.

She is lethargic and cannot seem to control her muscles that well; she has to struggle to uncurl herself.

Has anybody seen anything like this before?

In the first two pics, I took them closer, but the flash bounced off her dead out skin and made her appear white.

Pics taken further away:

The pics do not truly show the lack of muscle/fat that can be felt when holding her.

I had such hopes for this little girl, here would have been her future mate:


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Photos

has no clue on how to keep boas or just doesn't care, which is probably worse.
That person should not be dealing with any animals whatsoever.

If I were you I would demand a refund and deal with someone else.

I would also let the rest of us know who that was so we can steer clear of them.

It just turns my stomach to see a snake that has become this way because of someones lack of care and concern.

If you have trouble exchanging or caring for him/her, please contact me and i'll do whatever I can to help.

Thanks, Joe
rollojoe@hotmail.com
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

I cannot mention names here in this forum.

But, in all fairness, I got two boas from them. One was ok. She has eaten twice for me, and just shed & pooed her first meal today.

The fact that the other boa escaped notice is sad.

Here's the ok one:

yesterday's dinner evident (post shed):

Pre-shed (when I got her):

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Photos

Hi Laura. I'm sorry to see you were sent an animal in that bad condition. I'm sure any pics you saw prior to buying did not look like these. There's no way you should accept an animal in that rough shape as it surely must have been misrepresented. I have seen adult animals that were covered in more than one layer of skin that looked much better after loosing it. It took a few months and a few sheds to bring the animal back to normal health. I strongly suggest you soak her for as long as possible in luke warm water and try to gently remove the shed and rehydrate her. I'm not surprised she won't eat under the duress she must be in. I'd appreciate your e-mailing who sent you an animal in such tough shape so I know to stay away. I'd send that animal back for a full refund if possible. Feel free to call me if I can help. Good luck.

The thing is....first off...get that animals to a vet. If she was eating, and still looks that bad she has worms or some other malady. Also, the lower jaw look shrt to me...like she is stunted..so even if she bounces back, she may never look normal, or be breedable. Definately get your money back, you go robbed.

Shawn

Poor thing. I am fairly new to keeping boas, myself (A little over a year now), but I would like to offer some advice that I have read about. Others on the board may correct me if I'm wrong, and you might want to run some of these ideas by a herp vet, before trying them.

1. I have read that you can soak dehydrated/malnourished boas in pedialite.

2. There are injections that you can give them, simlar to intravenious feeding, when they are starving and unable to eat. I don't know the names of the injections, or where/how to insert the needle, but if you ask a vet or other herp professional, they will probably be able to steer you in the right direction.

3. I agree with previous poster - soak in LUKEWARM wter to help get that skin off.

4. Keep it away from your other snakes - you don't want to spread parasites. Talk to a vet for specific quarantine instructions.

Ultimately, I think you need to take it to a vet, regardless of what you may be able to do on your own. But I understand the financial implications involved, however, and I hope that this information will help you ask questions to a vet or other expert that can give you more detailed instructions, int he event that you are unable to afford a visit...

I hope you find this information helpful. I wish you the best of luck. Poor snake.

You have already gotten some great advice, and I can't really think of anything else. My first thought is that even though you got ripped off, if you send her back, it will be back into what kind of care??? She looks so pitiful and sure needs some TLC. You may have a little diamond in the rough underneath all that dead skin. If you keep her, post some more pics as she starts blooming and getting healthy.