Raised scales? Beginning of scale rot? Mites?

I have some terrible timing, let me tell you. Go into a local family-run pet store to pick up a few things, and I overhear "Free ball python" and "he needs a home or he's going in the freezer". Yikes.

Mystery ball python was dropped off several months ago. He looked fine, but recently developed these weird bumps. Still eats fine, according to the people at the shop.

They did have a mite outbreak in the past 3 weeks, I'm not sure what they used to treat it but they did use a spray on the reptiles. (not sure if that is useful info.)

Vet isn't open until Sunday, so I hope someone has an idea what this is. It doesn't look like the pictures google showed me about scale rot, but I've never seen anything like this. Ideas?

(the link on the bottom goes to large pictures. There is no redness on his belly or around the raised scales. I've treated his new home with PAM and am being very careful about washing hands/not contaminating any of the other snakes in my care.)

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/d11443d5.jpg

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/59d4cce9.jpg

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/2764a703.jpg

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/fbe3febf.jpg

http://i876.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/6cd09699.jpg

http://img502.imageshack.us/g/045jg.jpg/

I have no idea, sorry I can't help you. But I would advise you to QT this snake on the other side of the house. Do not use any tools, gloves, clothing etc, in between each room. I hope it's nothing, but it doesn't look good.

Good luck!
Jim Smith

Already doing that. :) Until I know what it is, I'm not taking chances.

Hi,

I'm not certain but they look a little like rodent bites?

If you look they seem to come in pairs all about the same width apart.

If they are rodent bites that hints that the snake may not be eating as well as they claimed.

If they sprayed the animals theres a high probability that they didn't use Provent-a-mite which is the most effective thing to use.

If you have this animal at home I would definately order some and treat not only the quarantine tank but the door into that room and the room the rest of your snakes are in and probably their enclosures as well.

But follow the instructions exactly as it is strong stuff - so much so don't use it if you have any insects you want to live like crickets or tarantulas etc.

But good quarantine is a definate must when taking on problem snakes.


dr del

I've never seen rodent bites on a snake (mine have all switched over to f/t thankfully.) but they're not all in pairs. There are spots where there's just one off on it's own, and there is no redness/open wounds. He's a fat boy, about as fat as my 2 year old BP but about half a foot shorter.

They didn't use PAM, I told them about it and to look into it. I use it at home and always have some on hand. Have already treated his new home with it prior to putting him in. I treat my snake-enclosures monthly with PAM when I clean out the cages. (last time was about 2 weeks ago.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

I'm not certain but they look a little like rodent bites?

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That was my thought as well. He looks pretty beat up! I have an albino that came to me that way and it's hard to say for sure with the color difference, but it definitely could be. Or stuck shed, perhaps? The tip of his tail looks suspect, though.

My albino shed out really nicely and has a few little lasting scars, but the discolored scales are gone and you'd have to look hard to notice. Hopefully your little boy will, too!

It doesn't look like what I have experienced with mites at all, but treating with PAM is still a good idea.

I couldn't get a good picture of it, but there are a few places where there's just a raised scale away from anything else. I know this shop does feed live, but they have several herp-intelligent people there who do supervise the feedings. Do rodent bites go straight to looking like this, and not showing any kind of wound/blood?

Someone else brought up the idea of ticks. If he'd been infected with ticks, would it leave raised scales? I didn't see any bugs on him (mites or otherwise) but since he was recently treated at the pet shop, I have no idea if that would have knocked out ticks as well.

(and yeah, I always treat newcomers with PAM no matter the source. ;) I'd rather just stock up on prevention and never have to deal with annoying bugs.)

i would have to agree they do like like rodent bits but to be safe i would treat the snake for mites and do the same to all your other snakes. just as a precaution.

He looks like he may have some retained shed on his snout.

they sure look like rodent bites,especially the last pic.i'd put neosporin on them as a precaution.i'm glad you rescued him the poor guy has probaily been thru hell.

if he was feeding well why were the pet shop people going to put him in the freezer? i'd wait 2-3 weeks then try a F/K or thawed rodent.good luck.