Red Tail Boa Needs a good home $50

[Lizardz]

To make a long story short.
My friends room mate has been kicked out and gave his snake to my friend.
He has no money, does not have the proper environment or any money at all for this snake. He just told me that the snake hasn't been fed in over a month, and it has mites that he is trying to get rid of with Mite RX and has no idea what he is doing. I was told that the snake is in a aquarium with a 60 watt bulb on 1 side of the tank and that is all..

He says that he can't see anymore mites, but there still could still be some.

Enough of that.
This snake needs a good home
Please give a description of your experience with snakes and I will sort threw who is interested and try my best to choose the right person.
You must post your experience on this posting in public view to be considered.

I was told the snake is very tame and friendly and does not try to bite.
I also told my friend to get some frozen mice to feed the snake, problem is he only has $20 bucks to last him 7 days. I told him to take $5 of that and buy the snake some food, so hopefuly he will do that today.

I have not seen this snake yet.

Here's the description I got and a picture from his cell phone camera
He lives in Mount Vernon

Red Tail Boa is about 4 Feet long

Glass cage
4 tall 4 feet long with mirror back and about 20" deep.
End doors open.
He thinks it might be home made tank.

1 Dome light type fixture

He wants $50 for everything

[snakelady]

I'm frankly concerned that he wants any sort of money at all. You realize that who ever takes this snake in, will potentially put their entire collections at risk of a mite infestation, along with whatever potential parasites or other diseases the snake may have acquired from said mites. On top of that, the cage sounds inappropriate for the size of a snake that it is - 20" deep isn't enough space for a good curl.

It's a beautiful snake, and I wish you the best of luck finding it an appropriate home, but given the situation that your friend has allowed the snake to be kept in, it seems a bit selfish to expect any financial benefit at all. What has the friend done to "earn" the $50 in a snake he admittedly acquired for free? He hasn't fed it, cured it of its mites, vet treated it, properly housed it, etc. Without proper heat, the snake is also at risk of contracting an RI.

Sorry if I'm a bit harsh with all of this, but I can't help but feel upset that someone is trying to profit off a snake that will inevitably cost it's new owner so much more in treatments, etc.

[Hugs & Hisses]

I'm gonna have to agree with snakelady. This poor snake is suffering and your friend is doing nothing to help it plus wants to benefit from it. If your friend was truely concerne about this snake he would find it a good home and place it there for free. Mites is so much more than just a bug infestation, there are somany thing that can pop up from it.

There are many wonderful people here I would vouch for that would give this snake an amazing home. Perhaps you should speaki with your friend and see if you can convince him to simply place him with someone that can care for him.

[tinkerbell]

I have to agree, the vet bills alone are going to cost someone out the wazoo, let alone time and risking infecting an entire collection. I do not mean to sound harsh about this either, but he needs to do what is in the snakes best interest, instead of worrying about profiting from it. That is just my opinion though.

[Lizardz]

He just got the snake a day or so ago
I told him that many time but he insist on getting at least $50 bucks for it..
I can try some more to convince him to give him away for free like I told him before. Hes a good friend and I should be able to convince him to give him up.
Same message as above, if anyone wants this snake for FREE to give him a good home, leave a message here and I will get back to you soon.

I thought about taking the snake until someone else could take him, but the whole mite things kinda weirds me out..
Anyone wanting this snake for free let me know by posting in this thread

There is many types of animal hobby people.
Ones who know nothing or not much of anything at all about the animals they keep, usually people who do not have Internet access or the ability to use a computer to do research. Many times these are the people who walk into a pet store and buy a aquarium and a light and think that's all they need.
This seems to be a large % of people who keep animal and are allowed to buy them with no knowledge of animals period. Allot of times these people don't even know they need humidity, and the thought never comes to mind that they need so much more then just that.

and the others who know allot from on-line research and do what it takes to provide them with the proper care. Many times these people are greatly more knowledgeable then most of the workers you find at any pet store.
People with Internet access who are always asking the proper questions and getting the right answers who are the most knowledgeable on top of actual experience in keeping animals.
There is no one telling these people that it is the wrong way to care for these animals. You buy a snake or any other animal and who is to tell you what you need and what you don't need?
No excuse, but this happens too much in the pet hobby and something needs to be done to prevent it before any animal leaves its original care giver. People should always do research on what they are interested in before thinking about actually keeping the type of animal they want, but as we all know that doesn't happen most the time..

[snakelady]

I think you'll find that the vast majority, if not the majority, are the latter of the groups you mentioned. This is a society based on the education of the reptiles we keep - so we aren't your run of the mill sort of person. I wish you the best of luck in finding the snake a home - as I mentioned, it's a very good looking snake. Take care

[Lizardz]

And that is why I signed up here :yes:

Anytime I talk about animals with people away from forums, I feel like a teacher. It's surprising on how many people who keep animals are so UN-educated on animal care.. :(

[cecilia]

Lizardz, when you talk to your friend, please try to explain to him that the adoption committee of our society accepts free snakes like this frequently, then various members halfway-house the animal, (difficult because they have to quarantine it from their own animals) work with curing it of whatever diseases it might have, get it to a vet at PNWHS expense if necessary, evaluate it's temperament, and finally find it a home when it's healthy, and the adoption fee usually runs closer to $20.00 than $50.00. No one in this society is getting paid for any of these services, and I doubt anyone here is going to give your friend any money at all for a sick snake. Perhaps the adoption committee has room for it, but they are already caring for a good many snakes, so I don't know about that. He could contact them.
He also need to know that a hungry 4-foot boa is very likely to bite, even if it has never done so before.
If you want to take over the care of this snake yourself, their are many members here who would be happy to advise you on proper care, and how to treat it for mites. Best of luck to you.

[Izzy]

The last mite infestation I dealt with I spent over $400 at the vet with getting rid of the mites, treating my entire collection (only 11 animals at that time) for mites and the associated illnesses that came with them. I had quarentined the source of the mites, but not long enough, and probably caused the problem by poor sanitizing practices while the source was in quarentine.

These animals of your friends' potentially put all our personal animals at risk, and there simply aren't very many people who take in foster boas in the first place (Snakelady and I are two of the few), let alone pay someone for an animal they KNOW is going to run them a couple hundred bucks in vet bills in addition. PAM and Frontline only go so far to alleviate the fear that mites and disease bring.

[bmb527]

I agree with Katie as well as the others on this. I have the space, sterile and sealed tub and ivermectin to treat the snake, but, I would not PAY to take on a snake with mites. If it was free, I would think about taking it, but otherwise, it isn't worth it to me.
Bill

[Lizardz]

I just got off the phone with him

He said he can not see any mites on the snake anymore.
I told him to take him to the vet to get the snake checked out.
He noticed some small brown bump on the snake that he says does not look like a tick..
How would I go about finding a cheap cheap vet to examine this snake for a health evaluation in the Snohomish county area? He doesn't have cash now, so if it was free he should be able to bring him in much sooner if possible.

I'm trying to help him get this snake back in top condition.
I told him I would loan him $20 bucks to get a couple things for now until he gets paid.

He bought the snake a small rat today and he ate right away.

I told him he needs a Hygrometer and a thermometer and a spray bottle.
With that he can check the levels to see if he needs more light or if everything is ok with his lighting so far.

Next he needs a good substrate for his tank, any cheap recommendations?

He said that the snakes is able to coil just fine at the bottom of the cage he has, there's plenty of extra room he said.

He also need a cheap solution to wash out the cage that had the mites just encase there is still some left, he wants to make sure they are all gone.


He's waiting to hear back from me witrh what I can find out on a vet check up

I told him to invest some money and give the snake a couple months to get back in great health and he will be able to make his money back and maybe a little extra.

[Lizardz]

He just kicked him roommate out of his house and now hes stuck paying for the full months rent plus everything else, so he's more tight on cash then usual..

[bmb527]

For substrate in a tank being treated for mites, I would use newspaper, if any at all. Fow a vet, I doubt any are going to do an exam for less than $50, and you really do want to find a vet that specializes in reptiles.
If he is saying that he doesn't see any more mites, try this. Get a large sweater tub from WalMart, about 1.5 X 2 feet. They run about $8. Line it with plain white paper towels. Put the snake in said tub, and put the lid on, making sure it is securely attached. Leave the snake in there for a few hours. Remove the snake, and look for any little dark specks on the paper towels, they may move or not. If the towels are COMPLETELY CLEAN, then it is a safe bet that most of the mites are gone. But you still have to make sure the enclosure, and area around the enclosure is free of them as well. If he is really lucky, they are indeed gone, but, usually it takes a few spraydowns with Ivermectin over the course of a couple weeks or longer to beat mites down.
Whatever direction your friend takes, good luck, and he needs to forget about "making his money back" it won't happen. He just needs to worry about doing what is right for the animal.
Bill

[Emily]

I totally feel for your friend's financial issues, especially considering that he wants to do right by the snake. It sounds like he really is trying, and that he's totally learning on the fly. You definitely have to respect that.

[bmb527]

After seeing a spelling goof in my last post, it appears I am learning to type in Ebonics or sumthin'! ;)

[Lizardz]

Also I forgot to mention that no one seen any mites until after Eco-Earth substrate was added.

[Izzy]

I agree with Bill.

Substrate should be either papertowels or newspaper. Just because he doesn't see mites, doesn't mean there aren't any. The eggs can be hiding in corners of the cage if the full treatment course isn't followed, you can end up with a re-infestation. I personally treat for mites a minimum of 6 weeks for a minor case, and for two months or longer for severe cases.

A can of PAM (Provet-A-Mite), will run you $16-19 depending on where you get it. A bottle of Frontline will be more, and a vet bill on top cause you'll need an Rx.

Vet bills, and you SERIOUSLY need to see a vet that specializes in reptiles (I can not tell you how many "but my vet said...." cases I have heard from the rescues I've picked up) to ensure that you're getting the correct advice and treatment course, will run you between $50-$80. The labwork will cost an initial $110, meds if necessary another $25+

To wash the cage, and ensure proper cleaning, I cheat and use my Zep hand sanitizer that has benzethonium chloride for small jobs, but a bottle the size that I have will also run you $18.

I tell you this, not to show off, but for you to relay to your friend just how much we invest in the proper, safe care of our animals. I understand that your buddy got the snake in a sort of windfall, but this is the math we all do every single time we pick up a new animal.

We HAVE to do this kind of math, because there are transmittable diseases that we're not sure exactly how they are transmitted, but mites is the leading guess at the moment. Boas are carriers, and can transmit from boas to pythons and can wipe out entire collections. The snake your buddy have may be his only animal, but it wouldn't be the only animal in our houses.

So you see, to try to get any money out of this animal is pretty futile, because most of us are not going to risk the thousands of hours and dollars we have in our animals over a $50 addition. Your friend needs to do what's right for the animal, and we would be happy to lend any advice, a couple of pre-sprayed papers and help.

Just my $0.02

[patrickv80]

I applaud the effort you are making with your friend but I have to point out a couple of things you might pass on to him.

He will not find a vet to treat it for free.

If he pays for any amount of treatment (even the initial exam fee at the vet) he will end up spending more than the $50 he wants for it that he will likely not get.

Mites (and especially eggs or young instars) are extremely small and hard to see. even if you don't see them they are likely still infesting the bedding or still in scale edges at the vent and mouth. A good way to TRY to see if they are mite free is to dampen a white paper towl, squeeze it firmly around the snake and run it from head to tail and look at the towel for mites.

the bump on the snake if it is internal could be a cyst containing another type of parasitic worm.

The actual treatment for mites in snakes (provent-a-mite) is expensive.

I will not knowingly take a mite infected snake as I also keep tarantulas and have tubs with feeder crikets and feeder roaches. I have to be extra careful with treatments designed to kill invertebrates. I can't provent-a-mite my whole snake room without taking measures to avoid killing my tarantulas.

your friend's only viable option if he does not have the money and interest to care for the snake himself is to give it up for free. He will either spend more money than he will ever get for it taking care of its medical problems, or it will continue to get worse until it is in a condition where no one would want it for free either.

I could understand him holding out for $50 if money were tight and he had any amount of time or effort put into this animal or if it were in great condition. The fact that he not only got it for free, but he got it for free in the last couple of days and has not had to do anything for it of any expense yet makes asking for $50 to rehome it unethical.


I just got off the phone with him

He said he can not see any mites on the snake anymore.
I told him to take him to the vet to get the snake checked out.
He noticed some small brown bump on the snake that he says does not look like a tick..
How would I go about finding a cheap cheap vet to examine this snake for a health evaluation in the Snohomish county area? He doesn't have cash now, so if it was free he should be able to bring him in much sooner if possible.

I'm trying to help him get this snake back in top condition.
I told him I would loan him $20 bucks to get a couple things for now until he gets paid.

He bought the snake a small rat today and he ate right away.

I told him he needs a hydrometer and a thermometer and a spray bottle.
With that he can check the levels to see if he needs more light or if everything is ok with his lighting so far.

Next he needs a good substrate for his tank, any cheap recommendations?

He said that the snakes is able to coil just fine at the bottom of the cage he has, there's plenty of extra room he said.

He also need a cheap solution to wash out the cage that had the mites just encase there is still some left, he wants to make sure they are all gone.


He's waiting to hear back from me witrh what I can find out on a vet check up

I told him to invest some money and give the snake a couple months to get back in great health and he will be able to make his money back and maybe a little extra.

[patrickv80]

Oh, something of interest for everyone here with a potential mite problem ever.....some of you may know this secret already, some may not.

If you look at the ingredient label on Provent-a-mite (at ~$15 per can and you know you always need more than 1 or 2) it is 0.05% permethrin. If you go to Rite Aid or a Walgreens and look at their cans of bedding spray for cat/dogs it is also 0.05% permethrin as the active ingredient and is ~$5 per can.

If you have a can of PAM with you, you can take it and do a side by side comparison. The Walgreens brand and the PAM even have the exact same chemical formula so it isn't just a different permethrin family spray, it's the same exact thing.

I have seen other store brands which have a different chemical formula which may not be an issue but I generally look for the ones with the identical formula to trust them as safe.

[Aimee]

thanks, Patrick! I've been buying the RID lice treatment version of the same drug, at $10 / can. I can cut the expense in 1/2.

[outsidetruth]

hi my name is brian i was wondering if the snake was included with the tank.

[Hugs & Hisses]

the post is almost a month old.