Brittle scales?

I have a 3.5 foot male bp. Hot spot low 90's cold side high 70's to 80.

I have noticed that my ball python has developed brittle scales on his underside over the past little while. Not terrible, but when I slide my hand against the grain the scales seem to get caught very easily.

My first impression was humidity trouble. I have been a little up and down with the humidity for the past little while. I think my cheap humidity reader is broken. The substrate is shredded coconut. I do not let it get dry but I certainly do not keep it moist.

My next guess was scale rot, but I am really not sure how that could happen as I clean his enclosure regularly and as I said, I don't allow it to be damp at all.

He is not going into shed either.

I have never heard of this trouble in the past. Has anyone had this in the past? Any ideas?

Thanks

Hard to say....

Any pictures?

I might be able to take some but honestly he looks absolutely normal. Nothing has changed as far as I can tell except for the noticeably more brittle scales.

His appetite has not changed and his behaviour has not seemed to change.
I have no clue.

Well when you say brittle, are they breaking off?

Are they flimsy?

Flimsy. No they do not break off. They just catch a lot now. They catch on my hand when I hold him they catch on his other scales when he rubs up against himself.
If I suspect scale rot, will it do the snake any harm if I take some precautionary measures and use some polysporin on him for a week or so? See if it changes things?

Try putting him on newspaper.

You might also try and soak him for a bit to see if it helps.

How often and what are you feeding?

Hi,

And you're absolutely certain he isn't going into shed? Because that feeling is the first sign my lesser is shedding usually.


dr del

I feed f/t mice. 2 jumbos every week. He is a great eater.

If he IS going into shed I have not seen any of the usual signs. In that case, a soak would be good for him. I'll give it a go and probably switch him onto newspaper on the weekend.

We'll have to see how it goes I guess. Thanks for the responses.

I am pretty sure this is just how their belly scales are, especially when they get older. The belly scales just kind of lift up a little bit.

I am almost certain what you are describing is a perfectly normal thing for belly scales to do.