Firstly, apologies for the lack of pictures at the moment. I will be able to get some images tomorrow with my phone. For now, let me do my best to describe the situation.


My ball Python, Noodle (Noodle K. Doodle), did not feed since birth to the point where assist feeding was necessary. However, they have started strike feeding with no enclosure changes (they've always had three hides, a water bowl and a heat-safe caged lamp). As a result of this, however, Noodle has always been a bit underweight, especially in the early days. They're catching up now, but they still had saggy skin around the head and neck. And here is where the problem lies.


I do daily quick checks on Noodle to ensure they're doing alright, and they usually last about one to two minutes. The saggy skin around the head and neck has always been saggy. However, during today's check, something changed. The scales on the saggy skin have become hard. I don't mean hard as in "a bit rough" scale levels of hard; I mean hard as in scab-like and jagged. The skin barely moved as Noodle moved and is incredibly rough to the touch.


Confused by this, I decided to give Noodle a little bath, hoping it would fix anything; it did not, possibly. However, while bathing Noodle and gently feeling the rough area, the scales began to peel off. I don't mean individual scales; I mean one collective chunk of scales that cover once saggy skin. It peels off much like a human scab does if you were to pick at it or peel it off yourself. So I didn't touch it after that and very carefully dried Noodle.


Noodle themselves is not showing any signs of pain and is acting as they've always acted. They still display curiosity, noodle about, and happily chill in my palm. Furthermore, I don't think any skin has been penetrated or wounded; there was no bleeding, and under the peeled scales it's a whiteish grey. The transition from scale to the skin is also very minor; it's not a cliff in steepness; it's the opposite. Finally, the peeled scales are still attached to Noodle.


Again, I know it isn't helpful that I don't have an image at the moment, so here's my temporary illustration:


https://ibb.co/dtGGfnc


The ambient temperature is 27C cool side 29C hot side. Humidity can vary from 56%-70%; it starts the day at 70%, then very slowly declines until the next misting; sphagnum moss is used.