u/Vivid_Soil_3203

best substrate and enclosure decor for my boy- RI and wounded/scarred

Hi! My boy is a recent rescue and we have seen a vet for his respiratory issues and wound. He is currently taking antibiotics. He was bitten by a dog 2 years ago and the wound healed badly, causes him no pain but the scales have not grown back. The vet had a look and theres no visible puncture/its not open. The vet says it could possibly be a skin mass such as a tumour or cyst that has grown over his wound. It doesnt bleed (we had him on paper towels.)

I don’t want to cause him risks of worsening or bringing back his respiratory issues, or risks of him opening the scar.

He’s currently just on some clean aspen bedding.

I just want advice on what substrate(s) will be the best for reducing respiratory issues, and if there are any types of decor i should avoid so i dont cause his scar to bleed.

(Pics of wound can be seen in my previous post on my profile.)

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u/Vivid_Soil_3203 — 3 days ago

injured rescue. cw- injury, neglect.

Bought this boy a few hours ago as i saw they were rehoming him and his enclosure didnt look amazing in the low quality photos (some snake shed, very bare enclosure). I did not realise the extent of his neglect.

He had old snake skin, old and new fecal matter stuck to the walls and in the substrate. Algae stuck to the water bowl. I noticed a wound and he then started shedding on the car drive home. His scales are missing.

I was 100% expecting to spend a few hundred, to even 5-600 on upgrade for his enclosure. Im presuming this is an emergency vet visit. I will have to take money from my own surgery savings. Im horrifically sad about this, but i dont regret saving him.

Debating whether i call in sick so i can ring the exotic vets asap tomorrow. Their website is for some reason restricted on my phone (oddly enough, was not several days ago), so i cant see whether they offer payment plans but im guessing because it’ll be an emergency vet visit for an exotic pet it likely wont have a payment plan option.

Im sorry about your previous owners, Bo.

u/Vivid_Soil_3203 — 7 days ago