White scale (Amazon rainbow boa).

Has anyone who has a rainbow boa from Brazil seen this? She recently shed her skin, and some of her scales have turned completely white.


https://scontent.fplu9-1.fna.fbcdn.n...mQ&oe=65983420https://scontent.fplu9-1.fna.fbcdn.n...7Q&oe=659831D6

It's worth remembering that the animal is fine.
Eating normally, normal weight gain. It lives in a terrarium with adequate humidity and temperature. I'm just bothered by this little white scale. Would this be a skin shedding failure?

It's in exactly the right place to be a 'head-rub" (a little scar from rubbing the top of the head- you didn't notice the scab because it wasn't white, then the scale came off with the shed, due to the slight damage). Nothing you can do about it- scale is not likely to re-grow or color up. Best to find any abrasive issues in the snake's enclosure & try to minimize them- including a larger home if that seems to be the cause.

This is very common with many species of captive snakes- some habitually rub their heads much more than others, but others, it's just a one-off. If the enclosure has a screen top (which I realize is unlikely, given the species) make sure the screen is not abrasive. (ie. Use nylon screen, not "hardware cloth" or metal screen. I make my own tank tops with a wood frame & 2 layers of screen: nylon on the inside, & hardware cloth-for strength & rigidity- for the outer layer. ;) )

If it's not a head rub, the only other thing is just a loss of color for no particular reason- & nothing you can do about that anyway. Some snakes can show color fade- it's not common though, & it's an odd coincidence considering the location on top of the head. I don't see any retained shed- that doesn't appear to be the issue.

Are you sure the scale didn't come off? It looks indented in the first picture, like it's actually just the skin from under the scale. Like Bogertophis said, just the right spot for rubbing. The skin itself if that's what's going on, looks healthy. So I wouldn't worry.

Otherwise, some animals do just change color with age. I wouldn't be surprised to see a few darker or lighter color scales depending on the species.

Good afternoon. thank you for the answer.
I'm sending you a video so you can view my terrarium.
I would say that there are some things that can be abrasive, like logs. but nothing she didn't find in nature.
I also believe it was "injured" by abrasion. I will keep an eye on any other signs.

https://youtube.com/shorts/pFWfOuj2MZU?feature=share