Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went in to look at the Gray rat i have been talking to you guys about and im really worried. I know there is nothing more you can help me with but i just wanted to express my concern. His mouth is very red because he has been rubbing it a lot and he is developing dehydration wrinkles along his sides. I tried to look in his mouth but he was so little i was afraid to hurt him. I told them to give him several long soaks and black out his enclosure so he stops rubbing. I also begged them to take him to the vet or let me take him home with me. I dont think they are going to do either

I guess my one question is, is it possible this little guy is wild caught? I didn't really think that rats and corns were ever wild caught anymore, are they?

One other question, what kind of gecko would be best to try scenting with?

TIA
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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

Now you are getting into some areas that I wonder about. Why do pet stores have or get so little info with the reptiles they have? From what I gather, the pet store that has this gray rat snake has little or no information on this snake. Are you sure it's a gray rat snake? I'm not trying to pick on any one, but I'm trying to answer your posts the best I can with the little or spotty info you are posting.

The first things that should be done is to clear up whatever seems wrong with the snakes mouth or nose and get him hydrated if that's the case. I would recommend focusing on those items first, then let's get him fed. I don'tknow if the snake will be able to eat with an injury to it's mouth and/or nose. A dehyrated snake is apt to regurge if it eats anyway. Putting a water bowl in the cage may not necessarily get him hydrated if he doesn't soak. You may need to put him in a container with a little water in the bottom to force him to soak. Don't soak him too long mind you, but rather a few shorter soaks to start. Go slowly as a dehydrated snake is having a difficult time just surviving if he has been dehydrated for a length of time. I did think from your original post that he was doing O.K. except for the eating thing.

I scent my pinkies using substrate from leopard geckos. If the pet store has any geckos, then I would suggest using what's available. I see from your collection list that you have a couple leo's.

Terry Parks

Im not sure if it is a Gray Rat, i dont know much about rats really, but its a rat for sure, and its gray, i will try and sneak my digi cam in there and take some pics of him for you. I will take some close ups of his mouth too.

No, they dont know much about this particular snake. I used to work at that same store and its hard because the snakes come with NO information and the breeders and almost impossible to contact. The guys im working with are pretty good on snake care, but its a big store and they are understaffed so they just dont have the tme to give him the care he needs.

I feel so bad for him that im going to scrape up the money they want for him and buy him and try to help him. I know he isn't going to get better there. I know that he might die anyway, even in my care but i think he will have better chances with me than with them, and it will suck to lose the money but the snake deserves a chance.

I have told them all the suggestions you gave me, and they claim they will try them but honestly i dont think they have enough time to work with him.

Do you think it would stress him out too much to move him to my house?

Thank you so much for working with me on this!
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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

If i do take him home, what sort of enclosure should i set him up in for best results?

This is what i was going to do:

I was going to put him in a 10 gallon tank with several hides and an UTH and a water dish. He seems really intent on escaping, so i was going to cover the tank compltely with a towel, maybe the darnkess will help him calm down? What should I use for a substrate? Are paper towels ok, or would something more natural be better?

I was then planning to give him several small soaks a day to rehydrate him.

I have to look a lot closer at his nose to see whats wrong, i dont think he has any open sores, it looks mostly like he has just been rubbing, but i will have to look closer at it.

I will then, after he is rehydrated, try all the feeding methods suggested.

Does this sound like a good plan?
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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

>>If i do take him home, what sort of enclosure should i set him up in for best results?
>>
>>This is what i was going to do:
>>
>>I was going to put him in a 10 gallon tank with several hides and an UTH and a water dish. He seems really intent on escaping, so i was going to cover the tank compltely with a towel, maybe the darnkess will help him calm down? What should I use for a substrate? Are paper towels ok, or would something more natural be better?
>>
>>I was then planning to give him several small soaks a day to rehydrate him.
>>
>>I have to look a lot closer at his nose to see whats wrong, i dont think he has any open sores, it looks mostly like he has just been rubbing, but i will have to look closer at it.
>>
>>I will then, after he is rehydrated, try all the feeding methods suggested.
>>
>>Does this sound like a good plan?

I think I would start him in a smaller container.
I would use a 6-quart sterilite or rubbermade container.
I would put a heat pad under one third of it and put a small hide over that and a water bowl/hide on the other side.
I would use paper towels as a substrate and mist the paper towels until damp, not soaked. The paper towels should dry within about a day or so. Mist as needed.
I had an everglades that was dehydrated and had retained a previous shed (he was a rescue).After staying in the moist habitat for a few days I was actually able to "hand-shed" two layers of skin.
I think that once it gets hydrated and gets a good complete shed it will probably be willing to eat.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Ok, i can do a plastic container, i was worried about ventilation with this, will that be a problem?

Thanks!

Im going to the store today to try and convince them to let me adopt it. And take some pics. If they wont, then im gonna have to fork over the money.
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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

just don't make them big enough for the snake to escape through.
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phflame

>>just don't make them big enough for the snake to escape through.
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>>phflame

Yep, either burn some holes or drill 1/8 inch holes
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Call the dept of ag(you have to have a license through them to operate a petstore)and tell them what your seeing.They do investigate claims of any kind of mammal/reptile abuse.Dont buy it out of pity it just encourages them to buy more sick reptiles....Paul

I know about the Dept of Agriculture. See, the thing is, the rest of the animals at the store are not in bad conditon and i know all the people, well mosto f them, that work there because i used to work their myself. They really are trying with this little guy, they just dont have the time, i think he mostly needs some TLC. I am going to talk to the manager, who i know from when i worked there and ask him if i can adopt it. I can't just leave him there.
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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

Sounds like Inclusion Body Disease (a.k.a. Ophidian Paramyxo Virus) to me. Another good reason to avoid buying snakes at petstores, one out of many good reasons. Do yourself a big favour: let them clean up their own mess. If you take this animal to your home, your risk losing your entire collection.

Since Pantherophis species are rodent eaters primarily, scenting a mouse with a gecko won't help a lot. Whatever the cause, this one is definately a case for a veterinarian.

Greetings,

Herman Bronsgeest.

I thought IBD was only in Boa's and Pythons?

I suppose it could be that. That is a very good point too, i have my own animals health to think about...
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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha