u/IfYaDontLikeItLeave

First post for Full background

We've had Aries for just over a week now.

I was so excited that we were able to easily transition from live mouse to thawed mouse to thawed rats that I texted my Uncle (lifelong python and Boa owner) to tell him and I was scolded 🤣🤣

The vet had said "weekly feedings" which I summed up to being every 7 days.

My uncle said that since he was basically starved for so long, weekly feedings may cause stress not only mentally but also physically. He recommended feeding every 10 days.

I'm just looking for more advice input as so much of what I'm being told/reading seems so polar opposite 🙃

(Aries weighed 500g and measured 38in last week after 48 hours after feeding. Has not been weighted again since the Rat feeding)

Pics of my thin boy for reference

(Included a picture of his thermostat since it's an upgrade from last time. Accepting any advice on that as well 🙃)

Background if you didnt see my other post:

Got this little boy on Monday (May4th) off Facebook and have had him for almost a week.

Poor boy is roughly 6yrs old was without light or a heat source, was in a 2.5ft x 1ft x 1ft, what looked like backyard or desert dirt and only had one "hide" and a tiny water dish.

I gave him a larger water dish, redid his bedding and gave him an actual hide within the first 3 days. He also went to the vet and we discovered he had the start of an RI and was malnourished.

Today he now has 4 hides, jungle mix/coco husk bedding, T5light bar, 2 CHE (150w and 100w), and a busy 4x2x2 tank!

Alright, bare with me this may be a bit long.

Photos:

Image 1 is his current setup (minus a newly added Cavachew smart thermostat, second heat lamp, and ReptiZoo T5 light bar). Below that is the tank he came in and lived in for the last 2+ years. I don't know if he EVER had heating/lighting but he had not for at least 2 years.

Images 7 and 8 are the old tank set up prior to me getting his new one.

Image 9 (last) is how the tank came. One small water dish, 1 "hide" that was open on 3 sides. It was also filthy and the substrate was some sort of red DIRT (not coco husk)

Background:

I've only ever owned a Cornsnake. I was a child around 8 years old, and he was not well kept by my parents, I did the best I could. Our cat slept on top of his cage, which broke the mesh and he escaped after 2 years. Now I'm 29 and feel I've done extensive research. I sought out my first BP. I found one with "full set up" 6yr old female on Facebook for $200. A teen who "didn't have time or money for her".

I set up a bin and picked her up (1.5hr drive) on Monday. Made a vet appointment on the way home because she looked way smaller than expected and thin. I was told she ate "one live mouse every other week." Last fed on Saturday April 26th

Day 1, Monday 5/4 Penny (her name) weighed 495g, measured 38in

It had been a week+ since her last feeding and she was showing what I depicted to be hunger signs (quick tongue flicks and investigated the cage over 2 hours)

That night we fed a F/T Large Mouse (~25g) without the expectation of her actually taking it due to 1 she just got here 2 it's not live. "She" did immediately. Got a 150w ceremoc heat lamp set up and a UVB bulb on 12hr cycles. Added a larger water dish and a new hide. Removed old water dish. Changed bedding to coco husk.

Vet check Day 3 (Wednesday) Penny weighs 504g

First time handling went well. Penny wasn't contracting/tense. Vet confirmed malnutrition. He Sexed the snake and determined "She" is actually a He. New name Aries. Vet also stated that Aries was dehydrated and had a slight RI. No injections with hopes of self-recovery now that he's actually being cared for. We went over signs of RI and if he has a wet/dripping face or raspy sounds he goes back to the vet. He also recommends weekly feedings with larger prey. He said "he could eat the largest rat you can find and be happy" which I don't fully agree with considering he is quite small...

Other advice from the vet that I'm unsure of "BPs actually don't need very high humidity, you can keep it around 50%, high temp 80 low temp 70, soaking daily will help the bad shed (he only sheds about 45% in chunks), use Aspen chips for substrate." "He's fine to handle daily except wait 48hrs after feedings." Vet noted that he has a very calm demeanor, doesn't seem stressed just curious.

New tank arrived. It's PVC so by my uncle's (he owns 3 BPs, a king, and a milk. Previously has owned Boas his whole life) advice I aquarium sealed the bottom.

Day 4 (Thursday) added substrate (coco husk bottom layer about 1.5in and Zilla Jungle mix 1in top) though the vet recommended Aspen, from my research, that's not "best". Cleaned all the new enrichment with vinegar water and ordered some more because the tank was looking a bit empty. Handled Aries for the second time, for about 10 minutes before putting him in his new tank. He explored for an hour before picking his new favorite hide (he has 3 plus the old "hide" he came with)

It's day 6 (Saturday) now. And here are my questions:

1. Husbandry/heating:

Humidity is sitting at 70% with heat 88/75. If I remove the top Humidity Mat that's over the mesh, Humidity drops to 50-60% but heat also drops to 77/71.

Do I keep the Mat on for higher temps or remove it for lower humidity? Keeping in mind his RI

Is the substrate I'm using okay or is it causing the humidity to be too high? I have not missed at all, the jungle mix came moist.

He seems to like climbing, looking for recommendations on things to add to his tank to make it busier

2. Correct me if this is wrong but the feeding plan: Going to feed again Monday night. I've bought 4 frozen small rats (48g, 54gx2, 56g). These look huge compared to the last feeding size though they are within 10/11% of his weight. Med rats range from 86-174g in my area and weaned rats range from 30-44g. I assume he will be on small rats for a bit as they range from 45-85g.

3. Health: Any other advice to help him recover from the RI? The vet didn't give me much after showing me the puss pocket other than keeping him in ideal temps/humidity

Shed help: we've been able to help rub most of the shed off. He has about 7 inches after his head to upper body that are still stuck

Images 2-6 of my poor baby