Recticulated python

Question
QUESTION: I rescued a reticulated python from someone that was not taken care of it. My husband named her fluffy. We do know that she was abused and not in a good habitat. We don't know how old she is. I have her in a 50 reptile breeder take with water, red heat light and a heat pad under tank. She is warm. She has not ate for over a month and the last time they tried to feed her a frozen chicken. She is about 7 ft long but is the size of a baseball bat if that. We need help on trying to get her to eat. They said she was born in the wild. Please Help anyone we don't want to loose her. Thank You Megan Liles

ANSWER: OK, at 7 feet her being that big around is not that far off.  Retics get long before they get fat.  Compared to burms they look skinny.  Once they hit 13-14 feet they start to plump up.  At 7 feet she should feed on jumbo rats, small rabbits, or medium sized poultry (half grown).  Your tank is not really big enough for something that large.  I'd suggest a Vision cage, they are expensive but worth it.  What state are you in, as if it is FL you're going to need a special permit to own that animal.  If she won't eat any of the things mentioned she may have some internal problems as retics are not usually food shy.  Let me know if you need more help!

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QUESTION: What is a vision cage? I used to have a 12 foot Argentina in that take. The reptile store said that that was a good size because we pull them out and mess with them like they should be. I do know that she would need a bigger tank but I just got her in. The people that had her kept her in a 20 gallon app. home made tank. What could be some internal problems that could be going on? I live in NC I hope you don't need a permit. We do have a company that will work with us and orders medicine but we need to try to elimit things? We did get jumbo rats last night and let the defrost and we are going to try to feed fluffy today or to night. How true is it when they say some snakes will only eat during the day or night? I have a ball python that is about three foot and thick. She was born out captivity and she is a good girl. Her name is miss miss. She eats anytime of the day and will consume up to 10 mice a feeding. Is the 50 reptile tank to small for her to? Approx what size does the tank need to be? My husband said that we will hook her up with what ever she needs. I rescue all animals but we don't come across snakes that much. Thank You Megan

ANSWER: A Vision cage is a brand of Plastic/fiberglass(?) cage that comes is many sizes, up to and including a model that is 6x3x1.5 feet (Which is what you will need IMHO).  They are light weigth, come with sliding glass fronts, and are easy to clean.  Expensive but worth it.  

Assuming your retic is not a dwarf species it will eventually need a room...  Yes, really.  So think about that before you get too far in.  Retics can literally grow to an excess of 30 feet.  At about 20 feet small people become potential prey.  Yes, really!  Retics have been known kill AND consume people, NEVER end up alone with a snake of more than 12 feet in length, no matter how long you've had it or how "tame" it is.  

There is NO WAY a 50 gallon tank is big enough for 12 foot anything!  Let me guess the 50 was the biggest size the store had...  Or the store had the snake and you told them all you had was the 50...  GRRRRR!

I haven't found day vs. night to matter as much as live vs. dead.

The 50 would be fine for the ball.

As to the internal problems the way to tell is to have a "fecal float test" done by your local vet.  ANY vet should be able to do this even if they don't see reptiles.  You place some FRESH poop in a ziplock and take it in (refridgerate up to say 12 hours if you can't get there immediately) they then scan the poo for parasites and their eggs.  I recommend treating only what is actually there no "shot-gunning" (treating for everything), as that can be bad for their digestive system.

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QUESTION: When we went to buy the snakes we told them that we needed everything for them and they told us that is what we need. I feel bad that it was wrong. I did not plan for this snake like I said earlyer. My husband and I have big hearts and did not want to see her die. I have been looking up things about her and yes, we will take alot of precautions with her. We will be looking for a new home after she gets better. Like I said we did not want her to die. So if you know of a place she can go to when she is healthy please let me know?

Answer
There is a man who does the Raleigh reptile show who owns big burms and retics.  Last time I talked to him he was looking for another retic or burm he could raise up to be used at the shows.  If you are anywhere near Raleigh you should try and make it to the next show and see if you can meet up with him.  He will be the one selling pictures of people posing with one of his big ones.  You might even find him online.  DO a search for Clyde the burmese python.