Tula_Montage
It's Jager time!
This happened a while ago, but I shall tell the awful story from the start.
As some may know, trying to put boas back into tubs can be tricky. I have always found in every single boa I have ever owned that they want to go UP instead of IN the box. So when Beaux decided to dart up and out he got himself caught in a 2.5cm hole in the tid of the tub where the handle clips in.
Hes a big boy, and only managed down to his neck. I tried to pull him back as soon as I realised what was happening but he pushed himself further in. Now we are in trouble... hes completely stuck. I am trying to push and pull him out without ripping his neck off (yes he was that stuck).
5 minutes later i'm in floods of tears trying to figure out what the hell to do, he turns on me understadably and tries to bite. But hes short on breath when hes hissing. So now I realise hes squishing his lungs! Theres so much pressure building up, and hes stressed out and agrressive and I'm in a complete state.
I manage to cover his head with a towel whilst im still trying to pull him out. Another 5 minutes go by, I run to the kitchen and grab a knife thinking I can cut through the plastic and make the hole bigger but then I realised how stupid that idea was. So I just sit the box lid on the flood (snake attached) and cry... If I pull him too hard I'm going to break his ribs. He continues to thrash and panic whilst trying to bite me in every possible way. I decide that if I don't just get him out now hes possibly going to suffocate. So I pull as hard as possible whilst pushing on his nose in an attempt to make him go backwards and SUCCESS! One free snake lying limp on the floor. At first I think hes dead from shock or stress, then he takes in a HUGE breath and starts to slither away. I gently pick him up and ceck his scales. They look ruffled but not too bad. I feel for broken ribs but theres no lumps and he seems to be OK.
Fast forward a few weeks later (tonight) and the scales on his neck are badly damaged. They have turned a blueish black colour. I have seen scale damage before and it usually goes away after a shed or two so I'm sure hes going to be fine.
Anyway, heres some shots. If anyone has had experience with badly damaged scales could you please share anything you have to say about the healing process. I just feel like the worst boa mum in the world. Although he is acting perfectly normal, he had a lovely big adult mouse tonight and is active and alert as usual. I don't think hes going to die anymore lol and I'm not too worried about his scales because they are easily fixed.
As some may know, trying to put boas back into tubs can be tricky. I have always found in every single boa I have ever owned that they want to go UP instead of IN the box. So when Beaux decided to dart up and out he got himself caught in a 2.5cm hole in the tid of the tub where the handle clips in.
Hes a big boy, and only managed down to his neck. I tried to pull him back as soon as I realised what was happening but he pushed himself further in. Now we are in trouble... hes completely stuck. I am trying to push and pull him out without ripping his neck off (yes he was that stuck).
5 minutes later i'm in floods of tears trying to figure out what the hell to do, he turns on me understadably and tries to bite. But hes short on breath when hes hissing. So now I realise hes squishing his lungs! Theres so much pressure building up, and hes stressed out and agrressive and I'm in a complete state.
I manage to cover his head with a towel whilst im still trying to pull him out. Another 5 minutes go by, I run to the kitchen and grab a knife thinking I can cut through the plastic and make the hole bigger but then I realised how stupid that idea was. So I just sit the box lid on the flood (snake attached) and cry... If I pull him too hard I'm going to break his ribs. He continues to thrash and panic whilst trying to bite me in every possible way. I decide that if I don't just get him out now hes possibly going to suffocate. So I pull as hard as possible whilst pushing on his nose in an attempt to make him go backwards and SUCCESS! One free snake lying limp on the floor. At first I think hes dead from shock or stress, then he takes in a HUGE breath and starts to slither away. I gently pick him up and ceck his scales. They look ruffled but not too bad. I feel for broken ribs but theres no lumps and he seems to be OK.
Fast forward a few weeks later (tonight) and the scales on his neck are badly damaged. They have turned a blueish black colour. I have seen scale damage before and it usually goes away after a shed or two so I'm sure hes going to be fine.
Anyway, heres some shots. If anyone has had experience with badly damaged scales could you please share anything you have to say about the healing process. I just feel like the worst boa mum in the world. Although he is acting perfectly normal, he had a lovely big adult mouse tonight and is active and alert as usual. I don't think hes going to die anymore lol and I'm not too worried about his scales because they are easily fixed.
