Strange chalky powder on my snake...

[Azaria]

Has anyone ever run across this? I took out my ball today for a snuggle, and he had some patches of powder on his scales. I touched it and it transferred to my fingers. It didn't have a smell, and it was very smooth and dry when I rubbed my fingers together. I washed him afterwards, and examined his cage. I couldn't find anything out of the ordinary, except some of the substrate under his hot hide was pretty damp.

Does this ring any bells to anyone?

[Azaria]

Is aspen usually kiln dried? I'm extremely suspicious of the aspen I have been using. It smells so strongly and I can't stand it. I am seriously going to go out and buy some cypress mulch instead, I think. I don't know how to feel about this aspen. I bought it from the rodent section because it's like no pet store in town seems to stock the reptile brands. it says 100% aspen, but the only thing I can think of is maybe it's dried differently and perhaps some residue is coming off it??? I just don't know! and it's really bothering me! It just smells so weird.

[PythonsbyParris]

The chalky powder may be dried poop. Snakes poop both dark and white if it went through it after it dried it can transfer and it is chalky when dry.

[Azaria]

I couldn't find any poop in his cage, and it is freshly cleaned, as of friday. :/

[j_h_smith]

It's urates. Or in human terms, urine. Nothing to be worried about.

Jim Smith

[Vypyrz]

I touched it and it transferred to my fingers. It didn't have a smell, and it was very smooth and dry when I rubbed my fingers together.

It's urates. Or in human terms, urine.

EWWWWWWW!!!!!!

I agree. He probably pee'd in his hide and crawled through it...

*Edit to add* I'm off to the Out of Context thread...

[Azaria]

oh, can it be passed as liquid then, not just a solid?

I guess that would make sense if some got on his body and then evaporated?

Relieving, if so!

[Alexandra V]

oh, can it be passed as liquid then, not just a solid?

I guess that would make sense if some got on his body and then evaporated?

Relieving, if so!

Yeah, as you said the substrate in his hide was damp, so it was probably some liquid urine (they can pass both). Mine sometimes does combos lol - part urates and part liquid. He probably just urinated and got into it, and when it dried it left some stuff on him! No worries.

[Azaria]

Whew. I'm so glad it makes such perfect sense now thanks everyone!

[Azaria]

EWWWWWWW!!!!!!

I agree. He probably pee'd in his hide and crawled through it...

*Edit to add* I'm off to the Out of Context thread...

Lol, should I be grossed out? I accepted that I might have to touch gross things when I bought a snake, lol.

One time a piece of poop got in the washing water I was using for the plastic plants, and I squished it up with my fingers to discover it was ALL FUR. That was interesting, but doesn't trip my gross-o-metre.