Missing scales on top of head?

My baby girl is missing a group of scales on top of her head...An area just smaller than a penny, they just aren't there...I don't think it's from rubbing...
It's the black area where the brain is, just beside the neck...Anyone have a clue what I'm talking about...There is no sore, they just look like they fell off, and it's almost a smooth surface where they should be, but you can see an outline of where they should be...

Weird,


Cant say I've heard of anything like that aside from the "derma-ball" but then I'm hardly an expert. If it worries you I would say try and arrange a vet visit though just to make sure nothing is wrong.

In the meantime do you have any pics? - I am in no way suggesting anyone can diagnose it over the web I just wanted to see what it looked like.


dr del

Edited for spelling - I cant spell for isht tonight.

Here is a picture.....

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../0/Missing.jpg

Thanks,


Thats wierd looking alright - kind of like a healing scrape. But as I have never seen anything that looked like it I am officially a "don't know". :oops:

Is she shedding in the pic? Her eyes look blue but it could just be the camera. If she is shedding I wonder what the area will look like after.

Hopefully some of the more experienced keepers will be able to help you out with this soon.


dr del

That has happened to my snakes before, it happens with a shed. It seems like the top layer of the new scale comes off with the old- if you look at the shed, you will see an area of pigmentation matching that spot on the head. I don't know what causes it, but it hasn't caused mine any problems and is repaired with the next shed. I'd like to know myself how to prevent this if anyone knows. Maybe it's a humidity issue?
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...e/IMG_0825.jpg

It looks like a dry spot. Looking like the snake's going into shed so it should be fine afterward as long as it comes off in one piece. I've had some that lost scales from dry sheds. Later it healed over with new scales and look just fine after a shed or two.

these dry spots happen when humidity is too low during the shed cycle. next time you notice the snake going into opaque up the humidity to about 75%. i mist the cage once a twice day during sheds.

Sadie, are you keeping two snakes in the same cage, or is that just a pair in for breeding?

Breeding. Thanks for asking before dumping on me though.:P

Ahhhhh hey I think I know!!!! WHOOOTTT IM SMAaaaaaaarT!!! :D

ok my hatchling had a bad shed do to low humidity, after i gave him a bath a while later to get the old shed off I noticed a patch like this on his neck. So I think this is caused by the bad shed when it finally does come off. And it does go away with the next shed.