I suspect my ball python has something wrong with her

I have had her for about a year and a half now, and for the most part, everything has been a-okay, but since the last rat she ate, things have been worrying me. First off, I think it may have been slightly too big, but she went after it, and didn't spit it back up either. I knew it might make her less likely to move, so I made sure I moved her around every now and then so she would not be sitting in one space for too long. Unfortunately, it seems as though a rash of some sort has formed on her belly, she also did not shed normally, we had to help her shed. This is my first snake, so I am at a loss for what it could be. (I have done some research, and I cant find any pictures that match it well).


http://i.imgur.com/JnKfSRF.jpg

That looks like scale rot/infection, is the bedding wet, are you cleaning up waste as soon as possible? also you shouldnt be moving the snake after feeding, your just adding unnessecary stress to the snake, if they wanna move they will move them self

The bedding was very wet when we noticed. I drench the cage bottom, as my room has a dehumidifier in it and just sucks the water up. I spot clean her cage whenever I see any waste in it. I've been doing this for a while now (probably three or four months) and only a couple of days ago did I notice this.

We really noticed her belly when the rat she ate was too big for her. She ate it normally, but my girlfriend was afraid her belly scales where splitting apart, causing the deep red outlines on her scales.

If it is scale rot, what should I do about it? Is it bad enough to take her to the vet, or are there home remedies for this type of thing?

take your snake to the vet.

Yes take your snake to the vet asap, that is scale rot/infection from the drenched bedding, u should never have drenchrd bedding in the cage, creates an enviroment for bacterial growth... if your having humidity problems then mist or use damp moss but never soak the bedding

:O Vet visit! Right meow! Humidity problems do NOT mean wet bedding. Holy smokes. Mist, use moss, cover the top with foil if a fish tank, buy a reptile humidifier but OMG no....

Are u using coconut substrate ? Pythons of any sort cannot have it ! It causes rashes

Agree with the above posts. Vet, now. And never drench the substrate. Provide humidity in an acceptable way, either by misting or adding wet sphagnum moss to a hide.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by genova.andre

Are u using coconut substrate ? Pythons of any sort cannot have it ! It causes rashes

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That is not true. Cocofiber can be used as long as the appropriate humidity is maintained.

then remove all damp substrate from the snakes tank and clean everything. make sure everything is 100% dry before putting the snake back in.

Then see a vet, you need antibiotics asap.

This is scale rot and will get worse.

David