Belly scales "popping"?

I bought my first BP off of a guy a week or so ago and he didn't keep him in good conditions and definitely didn't handle him much if any...anyways I've noticed when he crawls over my hand (he's SUPER inquisitive so he does that a lot lol) some of his belly scale sound and feel almost like they're cracking (not like breaking but like how we crack or knuckles)...maybe popping would be a better word but I've never heard of a snake doing that and it has never happened with my RTB....oh and for the record it isn't the prey item inside of him this is definitely his belly scales.....any ideas??

soak him in water? can we get pictures?

Going though shed maybe? I would post some pictures so we can get a better idea.

Do you see anything on his belly? Blisters, red or anything? Do his scales look normal?


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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

soak him in water? can we get pictures?

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Yeah I need to soak him anyway he's got a stuck shed on his head and he wont even let me get close to his head.....and I can try to get pics...but he's more jumpy than any snake I've ever seen the slightest movement and it scares him so bad....I feel sorry for the little guy :(

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Originally Posted by martin82531

Going though shed maybe? I would post some pictures so we can get a better idea.

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The guy I got him from said he had shed recently...he even has a little stuck shed on his head...so I don't think he's ready to shed again...I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow though

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Originally Posted by Homegrownscales

Do you see anything on his belly? Blisters, red or anything? Do his scales look normal?


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

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He's definitely not blistered or red....I don't remember but I think they looked normal.....kinda hard to get a look because he will NOT sit still lol....I'll get some pics up tomorrow morning.....I've already got him out once today and I don't wanna put too much stress on him

If there is nothing odd or out of place sometimes when they move a scale catches and flips it makes a little click. They sometimes get a bent scale here and there and this too is fairly normal they too catch and make a little sound. if this is what it is it is nothing serious at all. Just part of normal snakey sounds.

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

soak him in water? can we get pictures?

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In general you don't want to soak your snake in water. I've seen that advice many times on these forums. It removes natural oils they need and does more harm than good. Now, if he has a really bad shed and you need to get the shed off, then I do believe soaking is in order. There is a sticky I think somewhere on here that explains how to do this the right way. I wouldn't just go soaking him willy-nilly though.

A lot of times when my snakes are getting close to shed but don't have a pink belly or any blue to them, their scales seem dry and catch on every little bit of cloth, making a pop/crackling sound. Drives me nuts, but it's temporary. After they shed the scales are fresh and flat, and the popping stops :) It may be the issue, couldn't say till your snake sheds again