Help with Pastel ball python

I you are still using triple antibiotic stop using it. Anything like that will turn the scales into mush. It actually does more harm than good. Unfortunately not many people know this. What you should use instead is Betadine (which can be purchased at most pharmacies over the counter.

Heating pads get far too hot, without a thermostat to regulate they can easily get to 150 + degrees this is hot enough to kill your snake.

no one thinks that it could be scale rot right? I brought him into my local pet store and had the reptile guys take a look at him. They told me it could be a form of scale rot. But if everyone thinks its a burn then i will feel a bit better. Also thank you so much for letting me know that there is a thermostat for the heating pads. They always made me so nervous with them being uncontrolled.

The website that told me to join here said everyone here was knowledgeable and they are right.

Also does anyone recommend a certain book to read up on ball pythons. At this point I feel like I don't know anything. And I should do me research since he is a big part of my life.

I haven't put anything on him I soaked him and that was it. While he was soaking I joined this website and asked my questions. Right now he is back in his tank.

Ok. I would start off by getting some Betadine and soaking him in a diluted solution (water temp in the mid-80's) I believe the correct water to Betadine ratio is 10 parts water to 1 part Betadine. It should be a light tea color if diluted correctly.

Keeping the cage in the proper temperature ranges (78-82 degrees on the cool side, 88-92 degrees on the hot side. No part of the cage should ever get above 95 or below 75. The cage humidity should be right around 60% and make sure that the substraite isn't wet.

ok. thank you so much. They are on the zoomed carpet. But you believe that separating them will be the best thing?

Personally I would never house any 2 of my snakes together unless I was breeding them. Then they would only be together while they are breeding. Housing them together can cause just to many problems for me to want to risk it.

Based on your pictures that looks like a burn to me. Reason it didn't happen with the wood chip substrate is because it was thicker than the reptile carpet. That carpet over an unregulated UTH can easily hit over 120 degrees.

You need to turn off that UTH until you can get it on a thermostat. You also need to separate your snakes. They each need their own enclosures with thermostat controlled heat, hides and water bowls. That should solve your eating problem as well.

You already have the info on where to find Betadine and how to use it. I would suggest you put your snake on paper towels or newspaper until that burn heals. That reptile carpet is very hard to completely clean, and can hold some really nasty bacteria in it. That's not what your burned snake needs right now.

As far as ball python books, there are a couple of good ones out there, but to be honest, you have found the place where you can get the most up to date and interactive information.

also what do i do about the whole eating thing. They haven't even been interesting in anything that I try and feed them. Whether is live or dead. Rat or mouse.

Now after he heals what kind of substrate should I put him on? At this point I want to put him on what ever is going to be best. I did have them on coco-soft but where I got it from had a major problem with mites and I now refuse to use it. I will not put all 4 of my snakes through that again.

Also what is best for red-tails to be on in terms of substrates?

Seperate them, and I bet you a dollar to a doughnut they start eating again. But, don't be suprised if your injured snake goes off feed for a while. Sometimes they do that when they're healing.

When it comes to substrate, there is no one best. The best one is the one that works for you. The topic has been debated here many times. A quick search will show you several threads on the topic.

I would personally separate the two. The only time that snakes should be housed together is when you are breeding them, and that is only for a short amount of time. Also check the other snake for any medical problems that may have spread to the other snake. Is the new snake captive bred? Also what is the size difference of the two snakes?

Really the snakes should be separated and place in their own enclosures. Once separated make sure your husbandry of the animals is on point. You want to make sure the animals have what they need to live a healthy life.

Best of luck with them, but get them separated and make sure you have all their needs met.