My new rescue!

[wolfchan]

I took in a new rescue yesterday; I have some photos and a question...

Vlad was found as a stray, absolutely COVERED in rat-bite scars, and wound up at an animal shelter where he proceeded to scare the heck out of everyone there and escape repeatedly. Eventually he was taken in by a private rescue where his nasty attitude made him extremely difficult to place.

For whatever reason, I saw his ad on Petfinder and said "Oh! A six-foot boa with a nasty attitude! I must have him!" A few modifications to make his enclosure escape-proof and he was mine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/wolfchan/vlad3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/wolfchan/vlad1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/wolfchan/vlad2.jpg
Anyone who thinks feeding live is a good idea need only have a look at this guy

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/wolfchan/vlad4.jpg
Especially his poor tail...the last 18" of him is scar tissue!

As to his attitude....he's a lot of bluff. When the tank door is opened, he gapes his mouth at me and hisses like he's going to eat me alive. As soon as he's in my arms, he's as docile as a cornsnake. I can certainly see how he scared people though.

My question....He was seen by a vet who has experience with reptiles and given a clean bill of health. What concerns me is that he "wheezes" when he's being handled or when something alarms him. The only other time I've heard a snake whistle when they breathe was when I had a BRB with a respiratory infection. The foster home said that she was told that it's not unusual for these guys to wheeze when stressed. Is this true, or something that warrants a vet visit? I plan to take him in around the end of the month anyways (when my other herps go in for their annuals), but if this is something to be concerned about I'd rather get on top of it now.

[RIBBIT]

poor little or big guy.

[ohh_kristina]

The "wheezing" when stressed, if it only happens when stressed, is hissing. It's part of the bluff.

If the snake has been vet checked and doesn't have an RI, I'd make a safe bet that he's just hissing. I've had BCI/BCCs that never stopped hissing the entire time they were out.

[The Snake Guru]

Congrats on the rescue. Glad he found a home where some one will appreciate him.

The weezing could be a lower form of his defensive Hiss, many boas and pythons for that matter blow air through nose when they are are only slightly agitated, kind of the prelude to the open mouth hiss. Usually if there is no mucus, or discharge with the weezing than it isn't an U.R, however do to the fact it is rescued from obvious poor conditions, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take him in and have the vet give him a good once over, have him do a bacterial smear from the inside of the mouth that should tell you if it's a U.R or not.....my guess is he's just being a little vocal when mildly irritated, especially with the temperment that was already described.

~B~

[TailsW/Scales]

Yeah what Snake Guru said but also if an URI is brewing a lot of snakes blow bubbles out of there mouth and nares (nasal pits).

But like everyone said take the poor kid to a good reptile vet. I wouldn't trust my animals to be properly diagnosed by anyone but.

[reptiven]

watch out with their teeth they bite really hard and most of the time unspected i had several like this and the same behavior everytime i pick up they calm down but i had recibe several bites too