help! scale rot? looks terrible!

this is my sub-adult Ball Python, IRIE
I found that she was shedding again, and was surprised since she had shed in the last 2 or 3 weeks already.
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6130/p1010569jh6.jpg
Since she was having difficulty (patchy shed), I inspected her, and found redness on her belly, accompanied by crusty stuff.
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/7624/p1010570na4.jpg
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9742/p1010571gs0.jpg
I worried, but then thought that the crusty stuff was just substrate stuck to her body from a more humid environment.
I washed her off, but she was still quite red.
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4235/p1010573ok9.jpg
In some places, it looks infected.
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1382/p1010574sa5.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8274/p1010575gl8.jpg
What's wrong with her?
is it scale rot?

taking her to a vet tomorrow morning

For tonight, I've removed her from her tank and put her in a tub with newspaper and the towel as you see.
I'll clean the tank completely tomorrow

Bring the snake to a vet immediately. That looks pretty serious, and i would be worried about things getting worse, and causing infection. If you do not, its very likely that the snake could die if it is not properly taken care of.

You have to be absolutely dilligent in keeping that enclosure clean, and AT the PROPER temperatures. and DRY ( Humidity is OK, WET Substrate is NOT)

What are you using to heat the previous enclosure? and what were you keeping the snake on? Can you take photos?

Honestly you should see a vet but since they are most likely closed right now I would go to CVS/Eckerd/Right-Aid/Walgreens ect... and pick up a bottle of sugical scrub it is blue and should have 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate. Dilute this with water to a sky blue color and soak her for10 to 15 minutes. The water doesnt need to be deep. Do this 1 time tonight and 1 time tomorrow morning then call your vet and make and appointment and make sure that this treatment is okay with him/her before you do it again.


This treatment will help her start to heal but she still needs to see a vet ASAP.

WOW...that will take antibiotic ointment and injected antibiotics probally. Vet asap!!! Really need to work on the husbandry to avoid this happening again...poor snake. :(

could be a burn WOW!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mooingtricycle

Bring the snake to a vet immediately. That looks pretty serious, and i would be worried about things getting worse, and causing infection. If you do not, its very likely that the snake could die if it is not properly taken care of.

You have to be absolutely dilligent in keeping that enclosure clean, and AT the PROPER temperatures. and DRY ( Humidity is OK, WET Substrate is NOT)

What are you using to heat the previous enclosure? and what were you keeping the snake on? Can you take photos?

---

I'm using a ZooMed undertank heater and a (100w?) white lamp when the UTH is not giving enough heat to maintain temperature

I'm using ZooMed ReptiBark substrate
looks like this:
http://www.zoomed.com/Library/Produc...ptibarkalt.jpg

I've kept it dry, only increasing humidity about 50% if she's in shed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kellysballs

Honestly you should see a vet but since they are most likely closed right now I would go to CVS/Eckerd/Right-Aid/Walgreens ect... and pick up a bottle of sugical scrub it is blue and should have 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate. Dilute this with water to a sky blue color and soak her for10 to 15 minutes. The water doesnt need to be deep. Do this 1 time tonight and 1 time tomorrow morning then call your vet and make and appointment and make sure that this treatment is okay with him/her before you do it again.

This treatment will help her start to heal but she still needs to see a vet ASAP.

---

Do others concur with this treatment? I don't want to do something that may affect whatever the vet will do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FatBoy

WOW...that will take antibiotic ointment and injected antibiotics probally. Vet asap!!! Really need to work on the husbandry to avoid this happening again...poor snake. :(

---

I know, I feel terrible! I can't believe I let this happen :(

its most likely a burn those zoo meds get HOT! thermostat aways!

Do you have anything regulating the heat pad? It does look like it could be a burn, as well. The under tank heaters can get way too hot for a ball python if left unregulated.

What are you measuring your temps with?

I would first call all the vets in your town, and see if they can see you for an emergency.



i've never delt with scale rot or a burn, my question really is how often have you handled her lately? that looks like its been in the works for a few weeks.
but either way, vet asap.

as for the UTH, make sure you're regulating it, it would make sense if she got burnt and now is shedding so quickly after the last