ribbon at the rescue

[drache]

Sean got this little guy in and I keep feeling I should take her, but she's so beat up, and I don't know that I need the extra work right now
but does anyone know what kind of ribbon it is?
the colouring is quite a blueish green

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2098/2557495255_0615ef91db_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2557496707_cbf3c60253_b.jpg

and here's a couple of shots of her really bad kink in the spine

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2558321100_d8f65ca875_b.jpg

she's already at the rescue
I don't need to rescue her, right?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/2558322608_4926fa1ab6_b.jpg

[GartersRock]

Aww... Cute little girl!
I have a Western Ribbon Snake from LA that looks just like her. A male, and he is very blue as well. Western is my best guess.
I say take her! =)

[Elliot]

I would say that is definately a western ribbon. I can't really help with whether to keep it or not, but if it's eating, then I'd give it a chance.

[Sid]

Rhea, was this Ribbon rescued from the wild in NY or from an individual who had purchased it? If it is local then it could would have to be one of the Eastern species.

[Zephyr]

Thamnophis proximus orarius.

[Zephyr]

And are you sure it's a kink? It looks like a cut or something got infected.

[adamanteus]

T. s. sauritus.

[Zephyr]

James, I don't think it's a northern ribbon snake. If it was found in the wild of her area, it was definately released by somebody who didn't want to care for it.

[Stefan-A]

I'm leaning towards proximus, although I'm no expert on ribbons.

[drache]

I'm pretty sure that this one's not from the wild
I'll have to ask Sean again
and there's definitely a spinal injury, but it's old and apparently not bothering the snake
there's some nasty scarring around the same area
the snake also has some small spots of scale rot and assorted other bumps and lesions
I'm thinking, I might offer to foster it for a week or two, seeing as Sean just seems to have gotten a flood of animals, and I've got a spare 10G which is better quarters by far than what that girl is getting at the rescue
if it looks like a western, it probably is one
can they be gotten to take rodents?

[Loren]

Thamnophis proximus orarius.
I agree. Gulf coast sub-species of western ribbon. Mine looks just like that, right down to the golden color.

[Elliot]

Rhea, my ribbons will take mice just fine, so yours probably will too. You'll just have to scent the mouse the first few times, and then it'll be fine.

[Loren]

I feed mine thawed large pinkies/peach fuzzies scented with guppy. Hi has taken them without(hesitantly), but I have to get guppies out for a couple other snakes anyways so I just give the mouse's head a quick rub and he takes it real good.
I keep guppies in the freezer, 2 or 3 per ice cube in a tray- very convieniant for scenting.

[jeanette]

And are you sure it's a kink? It looks like a cut or something got infected.
i have to agree, it does look like an old injury gone bad, if you decide to keep it, it will be worth a trip to the vets to make sure thats not an abcess affecting its spine

[Lori P]

I wish I was closer to you Rhea, I'd love to help. I hope this one does well, she has a nice face. Keep us posted!!

[drache]

Lori
I'm fostering the ribbon from the rescue
it looks just like the one in the photo from this thread
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/3271-garter-pics-07-08-duw.html except it's got an old spinal injury
here - look (I still can't get the colours to come out quite right)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2560006770_24f8ae4468_b.jpg

I'd be just happy as pie to tell Sean I got it adopted out
I bet he'd give you a break on the adoption fee
of course I'd get her all healthy and fed first - she's a lovely snake

[GarterGirl]

Its really pretty. I've been calling it Blueberry.
At the pet shop, it kept on getting squished by this big Ball Python.

[Lori P]

Rhea, I would really, really consider adopting Blueberry but at the same time I feel like I am not deserving of a new snake until I find Squiggles. :-(

[drache]

oh Lori
I know what you mean
not to give you false hope or anything, but I cannot imagine Squiggles not turning up again
even if she doesn't, you still deserve another snake, particularly since you're just having a very painful lesson that's turning you into a more careful snake owner
most of us have lost snakes, and I've committed much graver sins

in any case, Blueberry seems happy in her new environs, generally not hiding, but observing her surroundings curously, unfazed by cats hanging out on or around her tank