Giving a 5 star for a slew of reasons. I've come to this store for help with a very young ball python that I rescued late last year. It ended up in the possession of my aunt who called on me to pick up the snake, as I'm the only reptile enthusiast she knows since I've previously owned ball pythons before. She came in possession of this snake because her boyfriend found it in Old Shasta so he picked it up and left it with her. I visited for the first time in October 2025 I believe, after having trouble getting proper care from a so-called exotic veterinarian. The rescue was not eating, underweight, and had an apparent infection inside her mouth which was visibly swelling the underside of her head that the previously mentioned vet claimed was anatomical (Small Animal Clinic in Cottonwood), they also advised that the rescue was underweight(NO SHIT) and they gave me a print out of Basic ball python care information I already knew, I paid them 130$ for essentially an evaluation from Captain Obvious. Despite my frustration, humbly I know I'm not a vet and my expertise in ball python health only goes so far, so I thought "who am I to question a vet?". But the answers I got from the exotic vet (or lack of) knowing the rescue is in need of ACTUAL care and days passed as I felt crazy and this snake still has not eaten, I almost gaslit myself. I felt that I was out of options for this poor animal. First, I came by and the lady(I'm so sorry I'm Terrible with names) at the front helped me out after I shared my situation with her, She sold me a complete proper ball python set up since I initially had the rescue housed in a large Sterlite tub with a hide and water bowl as a short notice/short term setup to keep her comfortable. I don't recall the price of the setup and frankly didn't care, I practically slapped my credit card on the counter and said ring me up for anything that'll contribute to saving this snake. So starting from there to hopefully improve my rescue's condition. I got the rescue set up in her new enclosure and her humidity and temps locked in. A week later, I returned to Redding Reptiles to get a rat pup to attempt to feed my rescue, to no avail I returned the pup the next day for store credit thanks to their return policy for feeders and the lady offered to have me stop by with the rescue so she and her son could take a look. I believe I came by a few days later with the rescue, the lady immediately handled the rescue after sanitizing to evaluate her condition noting the stuck shed and old injuries, I pointed out the swelling on the underside of the rescue's head. She got assistance from her son, he was able to get the stuck shed off, sexed HER, and together they opened the rescue's mouth to find a viscous substance blocking her glottis I think the man called it, the opening where either snakes breath through and/or their tongue's sit in, which I mentioned I had never seen this snake flick it's tongue since she came into my possession. They removed the substance and a small object that they thought to be aspen, which led to quite a bit of speculation about the possible previous owners choice of care for this ball python. The prognosis of the glottis situation ended up being that her tongue likely became infected after the blockage occurred and then rotted away. They then offered to keep the rescue in their care to rehabilitate the snake since they had room in their rack system, I absolutely took the offer considering, they earned my trust without a doubt. The confidence in their voice when talking about ball pythons in general is enough for me, and I'm desperate at this point. It was well timed since a few weeks later I would be out of town on vacation visiting family and the rescue should not be left alone in her condition. I gave them a few calls while I was out of town to check in on the rescue, hearing good news, they were able to get her to eat a few times and she was having bowel movements over the course of the rescue's time with them. Which I was over the moon from hearing that from the lady who answered. I let them care for the snake for as long as they felt was needed. Then I got a call in February from the lady letting me know that the rescue is in good condition and good enough to come home! We are now approaching May and the rescue is in AMAZING shape. She has been a ferocious feeder after previously wanting nothing to do with her meals. It takes her no time to lock on to a feeder rat and go for the kill. I gave this review some time to build a story for the occasion that I'm able to sit down and write a long winded review, since I REALLY Appreciate the help of the people of this business and will be returning for my Super Healthy, Ferociously Feeding, Tongue-Flicking Ball Python's meals and any other equipment I may need, I owe ya'll big time. Thank you!!! P.S. I named her Travi. (1st pic before 2nd couple days after she came home) read more