Scratch or "belly button"?

[hypnotixdmp]

So, I just noticed what appears to be a scratch on my pythons belly (a picture will be included at the bottom) but was doing some research and saw it MAY be the where the umbilical cord was attached, but these seems to long and the color of it seems like it is more than that. I have read it is ok to put neosporin withOUT pain relief on the snake and it should heal after a couple of sheds. My main point of posting on here is to find out if its a scratch or not and also, if it is a scratch, what caused it???

He is still a baby, hes only about 15" long, this is my 1st snake EVER. He is in a nice sized terrarium which came with substrate of red bark, I was thinking MAYBE this caused it? But I will let you all decide and throw opinions. Also, I am sorry if this is the wrong place to post this, could not find a better place!

http://imgur.com/H3PjD

[SRMD]

I have got a baby ball and he also has one of these looks identical to this one but just a bit smaller, and he is perfectly healthy

nothing to worry about I don't think

You should post in the General BP's (next time) if its about a Ball Python you may get more responses


What's your temps/humidity?
do you have a thermostat?

[The Serpent Merchant]

That is a belly button.

NEVER use neosporin or any other oil based cream on a snake. Oil based creams will turn the scales to mush and make a terrible mess. if you need to disinfect a cut you should use betadine (available at most drug stores over the counter) you dilute it 1 part betadine to 10 parts warm water (water temp in the mid 80's) remember that what feels warm to you will feel hot to a cold blooded snake.

check out these 2 threads:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...04#post1845904

[hypnotixdmp]

I have got a baby ball and he also has one of these looks identical to this one but just a bit smaller, and he is perfectly healthy

nothing to worry about I don't think

You should post in the General BP's (next time) if its about a Ball Python you may get more responses


What's your temps/humidity?
do you have a thermostat?

good to know I am NOT the only one!!!! I do have a hydrometer and 2 thermometers, one thermometer on each side keeping his hideout around 75-80 and the basking area around 85-90. The humidity I keep around 55-60% and I use an UTH under his basking area to keep it more warm here. I have heard that Aspen is the best substrate to use, so I am thinking of switching to it although I really like the color of the bark in there now!!!

The Serpent Merchant

That is a belly button.

NEVER use neosporin or any other oil based cream on a snake. Oil based creams will turn the scales to mush and make a terrible mess. if you need to disinfect a cut you should use betadine (available at most drug stores over the counter) you dilute it 1 part betadine to 10 parts warm water (water temp in the mid 80's) remember that what feels warm to you will feel hot to a cold blooded snake.

check out these 2 threads:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...04#post1845904

Thanks for the reply, I will never use neosporin after what you said, and am thankful that is his belly button. It looks a tiny bit red in the middle of it, which is what brought it to my attention. But I am less worried now, and if it does seem to get worse, I will be taking him to the vet asap!!!!




Thank you both for your replies, hope to see you around!

[The Serpent Merchant]

I don't think a vet trip is necessary. it looks normal to me.

What are you using to heat the cage? his belly looks a little pink which leads me to think that he is going into shed or is slightly burned by a heating pad.

[SRMD]

good to know I am NOT the only one!!!! I do have a hydrometer and 2 thermometers, one thermometer on each side keeping his hideout around 75-80 and the basking area around 85-90. The humidity I keep around 55-60% and I use an UTH under his basking area to keep it more warm here. I have heard that Aspen is the best substrate to use, so I am thinking of switching to it although I really like the color of the bark in there now!!!

You should have the main hide on the hot side which should be around 88-92 Hot Spot
and the cool end around 80-85 if i am correct?
and your humidity is great, when he is in shed you should bump that up to 70-75% by misting.

Do you have a Thermostat? If not i would advise you to get one ASAP

Here is a pic of my setup:



As you can see the hide on the hot end (88-92)

and a Piece of wood on the cool end which he likes to hide under which is around 80-85 (never let it drop below 70)

As you can see i have a thermostat at the back the small black thing which controls the heat, This set up is a bit old now though, i have new heat mats, thermostats etc...

Could you upload a picture of your set-up?

[RetiredJedi]

Yea, it surely looks like the infamous snake "belly button" to me also.

[hypnotixdmp]

Here is my set up, the temp above the red boxes is the temp in each area, and the brownish box is just where the UTH pad is!

I can switch the hideout and water around and what not, and I don't really use the lights you see on top unless I HAVE to! The UTH keeps it pretty warm in there on that side, so its all gravy, and the day light in there is not very bright at all, so it just seems like its "daylight" in there when it it turned on (UVA Bulb).

[SRMD]

Here is my set up, the temp above the red boxes is the temp in each area, and the brownish box is just where the UTH pad is!

You should try putting the hide on the basking spot, and also the hide looks like it has more than one entrance?
you should try to use a hide with one entrance/exit this will make your snake feel more secure, and maybe have one hide on the basking side and the hide out(cool side)

And do you have a thermostat?
and do you have digital thermometer and a digital hygrometer?

The dialogue one are very inaccurate

[hypnotixdmp]

No, I do not have any digital YET. I am still saving up some extra $$ to get the digital stuff. I do not have a thermostat yet either, as I said, I will be getting all of that SOON, I am actually doing that this week with my pay check, so it will be upgraded to digital soon. I would also like to know if the bark in there is a good substrate or not, I will also need to get some aspen if its not as well!!