Ball Python loosing scales

Help please,

My ball python is really crackley feeling and certain scales are dull all over his body and where he lays pressed on the glass are all brown scales. They are coming off in a fine layer...I don't know what's wrong with him but he looks terrible, any help is greatly appreciated.
thankyou

Pictures would be a big help.
Are you sure he is not shedding?

he is not shedding because my other snake also has this ailment, he is also a ball python and to think of it he recently shed so I am sure that is not the case since I have had them both for 3 yrs. My digital cam does not taKE GOOD CLOSEUP SHOT AND THE QUALITY WOULD NOT BE SEEN THAT IS WHY I HAVE NEGLECTED TO POST PICS.

What is your humidity inside the enclosure?

Sounds like a shed to me

Could also be dry skin/scales

Have they been subjected to any chemicals lately?

Hi,

Have you found a good herp vet near you?

The descriptions so far do not really rule anything out. It could be a retained shed, scale rot, a burn or something else entirely. If both of them have the same problem I would really be thinking a vet visit to find out what the problem really is. :(


dr del

Without knowing your setup or pics it is very hard to determine what may be the problem.

My first impression is low humidity and or retained sheds.

Have you recently applied neosporin, or any other oil based product to him?

well, before yesterday I was using aspen bedding....cage is cleaned weekly and spot cleaned when they deficate. Now they have white paper towels lining the base of the tanks.

I have applied neosporin recently, do you think that is what is causing this???? It isn't retained shed because I inspect the snakes after they shed just for that very reson and to make sure the tail tip came off easily.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Core3lement

well, before yesterday I was using aspen bedding....cage is cleaned weekly and spot cleaned when they deficate. Now they have white paper towels lining the base of the tanks.

I have applied neosporin recently, do you think that is what is causing this???? It isn't retained shed because I inspect the snakes after they shed just for that very reson and to make sure the tail tip came off easily.

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Neosporin will cause the outer layers of the scales to fall off.

For just a few bucks more, you can ask your vet for some silvadene ointment - which will not only help with any external bacterial infections, but will also not cause scales to flake off.

Without pictures (even with pictures), all anybody can do here is take shots in the dark.............if you applied neosporin to the area and the scales are falling off, it's a good bet the ointment was the cause. However, the underlying issue needs to be addressed and treated. Take your snakes to the vet and get a real diagnosis and a treatment plan.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Have you recently applied neosporin, or any other oil based product to him?

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I think you are supposed to use cream based aren't you???