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I just recently got an adult Brazilian rainbow boa for a guy in the paper. He got it as a baby about 3 ½ years ago and he didn’t know the sex. The set up was horrible he had the 5 ½ foot snake in a 40 gal with a small heat rock. One of its “dinners”, it was fed in its cage due to its aggression, had chewed up the heat rock wire. The snake used to knock over her water dish all the time and get water all over her bedding. The snake smelled like rot or moldy stinky poop. The snakes belly is red and flakey. I put her in a big Rubbermaid on cypress mulch with a under tank heating pad and big hide hoping that it will help. I also do not have a water dish in the cage. I plan to soak the snake until conditions are better. Is there anything else that I can do to help its conditions? Also, I heard that if you see white between the scales that means that the snake is over weight. Ive seen a few snakes on web sites that have a little gap between scales. Are they born to do that or are they over weight? Is it hard to tame an adult? The snake was once tame now it’s a mean little brat! Ha ha ha. Oh yea one more thing is it hard to switch them to frozen because I know it’s hard to switch balls HA cause I’m still trying. Hope to have a quick responce. Thanks!
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>>I just recently got an adult Brazilian rainbow boa for a guy in the paper. He got it as a baby about 3 ½ years ago and he didn’t know the sex. The set up was horrible he had the 5 ½ foot snake in a 40 gal with a small heat rock. One of its “dinners”, it was fed in its cage due to its aggression, had chewed up the heat rock wire. The snake used to knock over her water dish all the time and get water all over her bedding. The snake smelled like rot or moldy stinky poop. The snakes belly is red and flakey. I put her in a big Rubbermaid on cypress mulch with a under tank heating pad and big hide hoping that it will help. I also do not have a water dish in the cage. I plan to soak the snake until conditions are better. Is there anything else that I can do to help its conditions? Also, I heard that if you see white between the scales that means that the snake is over weight. Ive seen a few snakes on web sites that have a little gap between scales. Are they born to do that or are they over weight? Is it hard to tame an adult? The snake was once tame now it’s a mean little brat! Ha ha ha. Oh yea one more thing is it hard to switch them to frozen because I know it’s hard to switch balls HA cause I’m still trying. Hope to have a quick responce. Thanks!

First, I have met some pretty but unpredictable BRBs. That age it is largely a question of how long they tortured her compared to her overall people experience as to whether she will settle back down.
Switching to frozen....make it nice and warm. BRBs hit heat and that will be a large factor.
I personally would have the snake on newspaper until you had her rot cleared up and I would have her vet checked. You might want to soak her in dilute providine.
Be careful you don't cook her......BRBs are not heat lovers like BC. I would have adequate humidity or you will have an URI to deal with too. BRBs love humidity. Give her a humid hide and newspaper on the rest.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

What is providine?? Ive never hear of it. Where can i get it? What does it do that diluted iodine doesnt do?
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While I would agree, newspaper, or even paper towels, would be the better substrate for your enclosure, I would avoid using Providine, as it is an iodine based, often 7.5% in either aqueous or alcoholic forms, and has been known to have adverse effects when administered to skin lesions on a variety of species.
I feel a better alternative, for your situation, would be the use of 2% Chlorhexidine gluconate solution mixed 20ml/1L Chlorhexidine to water applied liberally.
Also, the use of Silver Sulfadiazine (Silvadine) ointment will help as well, though a good triple antibiotic, such as Neosporin will suffice, should you not be able to obtain the Silvadine.

Good luck,

Jeff

It would be wise to take the snake to a veterinarian well versed in reptile medicine.

Jeff

At first I had it on paper towel because I dont particularly like newspaper cause of the ink. But then the humity wasnt high enough. Thats when i put the snake on cypus mulch. I know I need to keep her dry and humid, but thats quit difficult in colorado, although rubbermaids help. Another thing about the vet I am totally willing to take her to the vet but I have seen alot of vets here in colorado and im not impressed. There is really nothing that they cant tell me that i have already heard. I'll probably wait until the snake sheds to see how it looks. It looks like its about to shed this week or next and if it doesnt look like it clears up any on paper towels and after the shed then ill shut my mouth again and go to the vet. I swear all i hear out of the vets mouth is bytril and i will try anything before i give any of my reptiles bytril!! The only consern now is how do i keep the humity? Maybe put a towel down and wet it under the heating pad with her hid on top?? Im open to suggestions. =)
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Another thing the vet always tells me is soak it in betadine.
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