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I have a ratsnake (possibly a western coach or whip) that was stuck on tape at a construction site. My mom tried to take the tape off (I was at school) but it riped some of his skin off. It looks like it just took of the scales and the sof underlayer of skin is still their. It doesn't seem to be bleeding so i was going to put neilsporn on it for a couple day then let him go. Anything else i should do to help it heal?
TY

if its a minor injury they usually heal on their own after a couple of sheds. you could care for it for a few days to make sure its healing then let it go. snakes can go a while with out food so keeping if a few days to make sure it will heal should be ok. just provide a warm/cool areas, hideing spots and water.

what kind is it and how big? just wondering. i'm no expert just a pet owner with 6 snakes of my own.

Yea that sounds good but if your going to hold onto it for a couple days please dont be keeping it in some 10 or 20 gal tank... Its already in enough stress from its injury, in doesnt need double the amount of stress being trapped in a little glass tank when its got acres to roam.... id prolly rub some neosporin in... hold onto it for 5 hours after that... so it absorbs into his skin by then and no dirt get stuck to his wound and then let him go. I know your intentions are all in good favor for the snake but the best is to let it go.... that snake is in a whole lot of stress and as i said earlier.. keeping him in a glass tank when hes got acres to roam is going to add so much more stress which really isnt healthy at all... snakes sometimes stop eating from intense stress... arent them selves and can be turned into prey easily... so do the snake a favor... rub so neo in the wound.. let him chill for a couple hours then take him to a nice woodsy shady spot around where you found him..... not so close to that construction site tho... could be bad news... but close enough hes back in his terrotory.

I would simply place him back out in his surroundings away from the construction site. As long as he is not bleeding he is really in no real danger and not really injured. If you are really concerned, you could put some neosporin on the affected area (a thin coat) and then keep him in a tank for a few hours with some paper towel on the bottom to prevent substrate and such from sticking to the wound. Then take him a little further away from the construction site.

Normally, for a standard injury such as a fight with another animal or something like that, I would recommend allowing nature to take it's course. However, since it was humans that had technically caused this problem, I guess it would be great for a human to fix the problem. He should be ok. Dont hold him for too long however, and when you place him back out, try to do it at a slightly cooler time when they are more prone to actually move.

Hope this helps,

Chris

>>I have a ratsnake (possibly a western coach or whip) that was stuck on tape at a construction site. My mom tried to take the tape off (I was at school) but it riped some of his skin off. It looks like it just took of the scales and the sof underlayer of skin is still their. It doesn't seem to be bleeding so i was going to put neilsporn on it for a couple day then let him go. Anything else i should do to help it heal?
>>TY
>>

Do I have a mimmick? I beleave a "chris" also like me pretty much just summed up what I also said? well... thank you there chris

I agree with letting it go immediately. If it is a coachwhip or racer, it's not going to adjust to 20 gallon tank, even for a little while. The end result will be snake that is stressed and probably will have additional injuries from rubbing the glass. Use a liquid bandage spray like new skin, it is far more effective with reptiles then neosporin. It will also protect the injury from dirt etc.

OK TY very much for all the advice. He was already in a small tubeware container that isn't even completely clear (I have 8 snakes so I knew that would reduce the stress.). I will apply a thin coat of neilsporn and release him tomorow.
TYVM

Everyone had great suggestions. In the future with any injured reptile, silverdine (the white cream ointment used on burns) is the absolute best treatment for any irritated or open wound on a reptile. Antibiotic ointments have little to no effect on reptiles. This is what I was told by my herp vet, dont quote me on it but I have had great results from the silverdine in the past. Just food for thought. Good luck!