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Scale rot? and proper temp/heating
Hey guys. Sorry for the total n00b questions, but I really want to make sure my little guy is doing okay. I rescued a baby ball about a week ago. When I got him, his belly was slightly pink (I figured it was just an upcoming shed) but now it keeps getting darker. Do you think it could be scale rot/burn? My boyfriend said it didn't look too similar to any of the pictures I found on google, and he said he thinks it could honestly be dirt from the coconut fiber. I just don't want to bathe him just to find out it is scale rot caused by humidity. None of the scales seem to be coming up or flaking, but I just wanted to make sure. If it's scale rot, how do I go about treating it? (Specific products would be nice.)
Pictures (tried with and without flash):
   
Also, about the cage set up: how am I supposed to be taking the temperature? I have a digital thermometer/hygro (with the probe placed about half way between the soil and the aquarium bottom), I have a cheapo therm/hygro, and a thermometer gun. When people say '90 degree basking area' or '80 degree cool side' do they mean surface temperature, or ambient? The ground on the warm side is about 85, the top of the hide (where he tends to bask) is 90, the ground on the cool side is 79, hide top is 80. I have a UTH hooked up to a thermostat on the warm side, along with a lamp with a 25W basking bulb. Does that sound alright? Also... he never hides. Is that a good thing??
Sorry for the long post. I'm a bit obsessive over him. >.<; Thanks!
Last edited by herasi; 10-24-2012 at 11:24 PM.
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Welcome to the site!
Hot side = surface temperature if you are using a UTH, cool side = ambient
The hot side probe should be on the floor of the cage centered on the UTH. Where is your thermostat probe?
The thermometer/probe on the cool side doesn't matter as much as long as it is on the cool side.
I would suggest that you try to wash some of it of, you need to know what is going on with your snake. The stress induced from a quick dip isn't as bad as letting things get worse. If it is a burn or scale rot he will need to get to the vet ASAP for treatment.
~Aaron
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Yes it's true and that looks like a severe burn to me...hate to say that.
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Registered User
Well, gave him a quick soak (and I do mean quick. He didn't seem to like the water, haha.) Most of it washed off. I'll probably try to take a washcloth to him next to get the rest of it. ^_^
My thermostat probe is slightly buried in the substrate on the warm side. I figured I'd put it there because I never wanted the surface to be warmer than ninety.
Also, I'm thinking of getting an infrared light, but I can't seem to find any in less than a 50W. My 25W basking bulb seems to be perfect as far as maintaining temps, but of course I can't leave that on all the time. Is a 50W infrared comparable to a 25W basking bulb? Or do you know of any bulbs that I CAN leave on 24/7 that come in a 25W variety?
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I would just get a 50 watt and use a lamp dimmer. I'm not aware of an infrared heat bulb with a wattage under 50
~Aaron
0.1 Pastel 100% Het Clown Ball Python (Hestia)
1.0 Coastal/Jungle Carpet Python (Shagrath)
0.1 Dumeril's Boa (Nergal)
0.1 Bearded Dragon (Gaius)
1.0 Siberian Husky (Picard)
0.1 German Shepherd/Lab Mix (Jadzia)
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Your thermostat probe should NOT be in the enclosure. Your Bp can move it around, pee on it, etc.
I'd suggest moving it to the outside of the tank ontop of the UTH/flexwat.
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Registered User
Re: Scale rot? and proper temp/heating
First things first.
Follow the advice of previous posters with regard to scale issue, and placement of the probe outside the tank, between The uth and tank
Next-he needs a warm spot (not necessarily basking) between 88-92, and a cool spot around 80. He needs these temps 24/7, so if you are shutting off the 25w lamp at night, he does not have an adequate cool side. Before I switched to tubs, I had a 50w red heat lamp (snakes cannot see this light, so it can be left on all the time), and a uth set at 95. A few degrees are lost between uth and inside tank. This allows the snake to thermo-regulate as needed.
Finally, "not hiding" is a bit vague. For some, burrowing under the substrate/newspaper is good enough. If he is not doing that, it means he cannot find the right temp, and he is forced to choose between good temp, and security of hide. This of course stresses the snake, and if he is dealing with other issues as he is, it will be more difficult for him.
Get your husbandry right, and it will really help him battle his scale issue.
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