Shouldn't I be worried or not?

I recently got a ball python and when I was holding her I noticed something with her belly scales. They look brown, a little wrinkly at the ends and they catch really easily. I don't know how to post pictures onto here otherwise I would. should I be worried or not? and if I should be, what should I do?

How To Post Pictures

is/are your heating element/s regulated with a thermostat or similar type of electronic control?

No, I haven't been able to find in my budget yet

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Originally Posted by ThunderBeast18

I recently got a ball python and when I was holding her I noticed something with her belly scales. They look brown, a little wrinkly at the ends and they catch really easily. I don't know how to post pictures onto here otherwise I would. should I be worried or not? and if I should be, what should I do?

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Has she shed for you yet?

Could she be going into shed? Are her eyes getting opaque?

And yes, check temps and humidity and make sure she has access to clean water.

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Originally Posted by ThunderBeast18

No, I haven't been able to find in my budget yet

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Not good. If you can't afford thermostats now, which again is not good, at least get dimmer switches for a few bucks at Home Depot, etc. You absolutely need to regulate the temps and make they do not get too hot!

Dimmers have to be adjusted all the time and are far from ideal, but at least you can keep from FRYING/BURNING your animal.

Also, do you have a heat gun and know the temps at the surface?

For future reference, make sure you can afford what the animal needs before you buy the animal. Not trying to be harsh, but a sick animal is much more expensive than a thermostat. Remember, reptiles rely on us for everything!

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Originally Posted by ThunderBeast18

No, I haven't been able to find in my budget yet

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you need to unplug all heating sources IMMEDIATELY. ALL heat sources MUST be regulated; this is non-negotiable. what you are describing sounds like a bad burn, but we can't know for sure without pics.

here's an affordable thermostat from Amazon or here's a rheostat that you can use while you save up for a more permanent solution. here's a dimmer for like $10 at lowes. if you can't afford one of the most important pieces of equipment you can have for your snake, then you need to consider if you should be keeping them at all.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

you need to unplug all heating sources IMMEDIATELY. ALL heat sources MUST be regulated; this is non-negotiable. what you are describing sounds like a bad burn, but we can't know for sure without pics.

here's an affordable thermostat from Amazon or here's a rheostat that you can use while you save up for a more permanent solution. if you can't afford one of the most important pieces of equipment you can have for your snake, then you need to consider if you should be keeping them at all.

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Thanks tttaylorrr!

Again, not recommending dimmers instead of thermostat. Just an immediate band aid for until one can be delivered/bought.

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Originally Posted by dakski

Again, not recommending dimmers instead of thermostat. Just an immediate band aid for until one can be delivered/bought.

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bingo. a rheostat takes some practical knowledge to use safely and correctly, or just messing with it for a half hour to see how the heating element works with the dial.

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Originally Posted by ThunderBeast18

No, I haven't been able to find in my budget yet

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If you can't afford a thermostat, then sell your snake to someone who can. A thermostat is required and the FIRST thing you should be buying before getting a snake, or you risk (and you've seen it now) severe burns and injury to an animal that is supposed to be in your care.

If you can't care for an animal properly without causing it harm because it's out of your budget, you need to sell it.

A hydrofarm thermostat, which is $30 and gets the job done at least for a few months.
https://www.amazon.com/MTPRTC-Contro...arm+thermostat

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01I1...f=yo_pop_mb_pd

anyone use this...? It’s not even $20

redshepherd- why do you say that $30 one is only good for a few months ?