Problem with my snake's scales?

[theoremofgoats]

So I've noticed at a few points for the past couple months that the scales on my ball python's belly have felt a little rough in a few places. When I look to see what the issue is, I see nothing. Her belly is the normal creamish color with little black stripes, but there's nothing else there. It's not pink or any other color; it just feels ROUGH in a couple places. The only thing I can say is that one spot looks a little flaky, but that's it. I tried to take pictures but it looks like nothing, it's something you have to feel to notice. I also used a heat pad on a thermostat, and both have been a little wonky lately. The heat pad doesn't warm up like it used to-when I place my hand over the glass, I can BARELY feel it-and the thermostat had been working weird and finally sparked on me last week, so I ordered a new one and stopped using the old one. I don't know if maybe these rough places are just very mild burns?

This time of the year has been a little rough as far as humidity (we're talking winter in Minnesota, so pretty dry), so sometimes it's a little low for a ball python. I try to keep it at about 60, but during the night and when I'm at work or in class, it's dropped to as low as 30ish-which I fix immediately by spraying the enclosure with warm water, and for the rest of the day, it's at the 60ish mark. Could it be possible that her scales are a little dried out? Again, I tried taking pictures, but it looks completely NORMAL. She's also been eating fine, had a shed last on March 20th (which came off all in once piece), and has been behaving normally, if not a tad bit more active now that she's used to her surroundings.

Any and all thoughts are appreciated. I'm torn on whether to be concerned or not; again, everything about her is completely normal except for the few rough patches on her belly.

[kitedemon]

It is good the pad early feels barely warm extremely crudely that is close to correct. 90ºF is below your body temp. You should trust a thermometer not your hand!! No a burn would be red, and the pad would feel quite warm. modern pads rarely get hot enough to burn these days, buy a new low density unit rather than a high density one. Ultratherm, zoo med are my favs.

Without a photo it is hard to say much of anything. Belly scale striations happen much like the ridges your finger nails get. There is no darkening of color (not pigment spots) around the rough areas? I would guess this is scuffs in the scales themselves. They are essentially the same as human fingernails (both carotene) so they mark the same way.

I would suggest two things a very close inspection for a sharp place where the damage could happen. Check the enclosure and all the items inside as well hides bowls etc.

I would correct your humidity issue. The first thing would be a larger water bowl, larger meaning a shallow large area not deeper. This will increase the water vapour. Depending on the enclosure you could alter the way the air flows as well. Never block off all the venting! A simple change will work. Sometimes obstructing vents located high on the sides helps a lot. Picture blocking half of each of the high vents. If you have a fully open top (like a scree top tank) I would block the middle third leaving openings on either ends. Placing the water bowl on the cool side can make a difference as well. Substrates can make a difference as well, coco coir or cyprus hod more than most, papers reduce humidity.

Without images this is a best guess. Nothing more, from the information you have given it sounds like scratching or some sort of abrasion to me. Try to get a photo there could be a number of other quite serious issues.

Is there any foul smell at the areas? (get close and sniff, old or going bad smell)

[theoremofgoats]

Again, I tried to take photos but it literally looks like NOTHING except the underside of a ball python. It just FEELS rough. No foul smell, no brownish-black spots, nothing. That's why I'm confused.

[kitedemon]

It sounds like scratches I would just check for sharp spots in the enclosure myself.

[JoshSloane]

Yeah you need to use a temp gun and a lamp dimmer/rheostat to modulate the hot spot temps. Both can be purchased at Home Depot/Lows/Ace Hardware. You can always invest in a thermostat but not really necessary if you stay up on checking the temps. Just make sure that if you're ambient room temps change dramatically that you are altering the heating pad accordingly. Try giving the snake a humid hide, will likely help soften up rough areas. Snakes are very resilient animals. Usually a couple sheds will allow any abrasions to recover. In clinic I've seen rat bites and scratches literally disappear once a couple sheds occur. Remember, these animals evolved to slither over rough/sharp/abrasive surfaces.