Is this scale rot?

[SlyBlackDragon]

I have a roughly 18 month old unsexed banana ball python.

I'm assuming he's male as he's been off feed most of the winter and has been very active the last month or two. If you open the tub, he immediately comes out and makes his way toward the slot above him containing a known female butter ball python.

I had been having trouble keeping his humidity up in the rack, so last week I changed him from paper to cypress mulch.

I bought pure cypress from a local nursery and baked it for an hour at 250 to kill off any bugs, etc.

Last night, I noticed some scales on his throat and neck are discolored. His belly scales and vent area are completely clear.

At first I thought it was just debris from the cedar and I tried to wipe it off with a paper towel. I didn't have much luck, but he wasn't exactly cooperating either.

He's housed in a V35 rack from CSerpents. His hot spot is 90 degrees, cool side around 78-80 during the day. I hot glued in a divider made from sign board pvc with a notch cut out. The back side of the divider in the "hide" over the heat tape is paper, the front side of the divider is cypress. After putting the cypress in last week, humidity shot up to about 80% but I've been airing it out and has since dropped to around 70%.


Here is the best shot I could get of the area in question: http://m.imgur.com/Y2M5gH4

Thanks in advance for any help, I'm freaking out a little bit.

[SlyBlackDragon]

I don't see how to edit my post. It's definitely cypress and not cedar!

[Jon14]

I don't see how to edit my post. It's definitely cypress and not cedar!

You are only able to edit within about 10 minutes after posting. As for your snake, I have no experience with scale rot and what not. Is it possible that the discoloration was there before?

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[SlyBlackDragon]

No, the discoloration is definitely new. He also has a few clear scales sloughing off on his chin and neck.

I picked up some Betadine today and I am going to start the Betadine soaking treatment and switch him back to paper, just in case.

I feel like a terrible owner for allowing this to happen