Potential Injury after shed
Hello!
My new ball python (age 3) has just finished his first shed while in my care and I noticed a new, what I believe to be an injury. I can't seem to figure out what this is. His shed came off with 0 difficulties, I found it in his hide beside him. I just noticed this little area that appears to have 0 scales over it. It's not red, doesn't appear to bother him much if I poke/prod around it. The rest of him looks beautiful after his shed. Perfect white belly, black eyes, wiggling his tongue, exploring when I had him out, etc. I've only had this guy a few weeks, so it's POSSIBLE it was there before the shed. I'm just worried that if it IS an injury, if the eco earth will cause a problem (infection).
Temps: 91 F under on the hot side, ~ 80 on the cool side, heat lamp above to keep ambient temps ~80
Humidity: Been doing my darndest to keep it ~ 80 while he was shedding, otherwise 50-60%
Housing: 20G long aquarium
Substrate Eco Earth
http://imgur.com/rsM2gWL
http://imgur.com/Zps4p7F
From the picture it is hard to tell
It looks like a problem though. At this point, that area could be an injury, a small burn, or the beginning of scale rot. I would use a little plain neosporin (no painkiller) to make sure your snake doesn't get an infection. I would also switch to a paper towel substrate for a little while. Check husbandry, make sure the snake can't get burned on your UTH. If things get worse go to the vet. If things remain stable, the problem should go away next shed.
David
