| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| rfalla1980 |
Posted - 28/05/2012 : 17:28:40
Hey folks,
I've recently found my first BRB in a local pet shop and was smitten from first glance. Unfortunately they didn't look after her very well, I took complete pity on her (against my better judgement)and bought her straight away.
She had a hard knuckle of scabbed up skin over her nose, she was mouth breathing and hadn't seen a hint of humidity in weeks by the looks of it.
After some time in a viv with better conditions my girlfriend and I soaked her in the bath so start working on the damage to her face. The "retained shed" as they called it was in fact heavy scabbing which has been exaccerbated by poorly managed shedding. The scabbing looked to be down to lamp burns. Her face was in such a mess she had skin plugs in her nostrils causing the mouth breathing.
Anyways a couple of weeks of patient work on her face and the scabs worked their way off. She sat like a champ as we slowly helped her rub the majority of it off with wet towels and we helped where we could. We removed the plugs from her nostrils and the retailed eyecaps.
She ate her first weaner rat happily and has shed twice trying to repair the scar tissue on her nose which has healed much better than expectations. She's since been to the vet and our suspicions were confirmed, she has some upper respiratory damage from the original wounds, however she was given a clean bill of health and should make an almost complete recovery.
I know it's not a good idea to buy animals from shops especially if they don't looks after them right as it encourages them. In this case I'm glad I did. She is absolutely beautiful and has a very calm and inquisitive personality. She is around the 3.5ft mark and is eating and looking well.
I am a very happy BRB keeper indeed.
However the condition that some reptile shops can keep their animals in is horrific. I don't doubt it's down to a lack of knowledge but it's still fundamentally wrong. I keep animals or various kinds for a living so I'm prepared for the possible outcomes of rescuing animals. The average customer isn't and it would be a horrible experience for a newcomer.
Sorry to rant on my first post but couldn't hold it back ;-)
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| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| tango |
Posted - 04/06/2012 : 10:35:28
well done on your rescue, sounds that she knows that you are getting her better and in a place that cares
and it is a shame that these shops just leave the snakes in poor conditions. |
| BC420 |
Posted - 01/06/2012 : 17:27:55
congrats! i was in a similar boat about a month ago. it feels great to know you saved the animal from a certain painful, slow death. My brazilian is te same size, and hasnt bitten in 2 weeks :) cant wait to see some pics :) well done! |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 29/05/2012 : 21:25:25
Rory, well done, and great story! I agree with you, some shops keep these animals in deplorable conditions. You should speak with store management about it politely and privately, and give them a proper care sheet. It may have been due to ignorance you can correct, if approached quietly and correctly. If they blow you off...well, sometimes a discrete tip to the local animal enforcement department can work wonders.
Just so you know, you are not alone in your compassion. I was recently contacted by a customer who did the same thing. In that case, however, the damage was worse: a full respiratory infection, mouth rot, mites, and several retained sheds that cost the poor snakes its eyes. It sounds the like the animal will make a full recovery except for the eyes, but that example left me fuming. Kudos to the buyer, as with you, for being a snake hero...and pits to the shop for abusing an innocent creature.
Looking forward to those pictures! |
| rfalla1980 |
Posted - 29/05/2012 : 11:36:44
I'll post some pics later this evening, she's just shed so she'll be extra pretty 
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| Blackcat |
Posted - 28/05/2012 : 21:31:21
Wow well done you on the rescue, sounds like you are doing a grand job - but I'm no expert as very new to snake keeping.
quote:
I know it's not a good idea to buy animals from shops especially if they don't looks after them right as it encourages them.
I totally agree with this comment but it is difficult to walk away and leave an animal that is clearly suffering from poor management, I think alot of people would have done the same.
I don't visit many reptile shops, but don't think 'lack of knowledge' is a valid excuse for wrong/inadequate/poor 'housing' conditions for animals in their care - they are meant to be the 'so called experts' advising the customers so should be knowledgeable in order to 'advise'.
oops - have just realised I have had a 'minnie' rant of my own.
Any way, congratulations on your BRB rescue and look forward to pics |
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