Scale/belly Rot

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mj_romo

Thank you all for the advice. I thought increasing the humidity sounded kinda fishy.



I also double-checked the herp-vet site to make sure I hadn't missed someone, but the one listed in my area is the one I talked to and the only one within a 90-minute drive.

Like I also said, I've never had this problem before and I can't figure out what caused it. My other snake is 12, this one is 10, and I've never had a problem like this. The only thing that has changed is the location of where they're kept in the house, and the location now isn't anywhere near as drafty as the previous location.

I monitor the temps very carefully and I have an accurate digital themometer. I adjust the temp seasonally so it ranges from 95 in the summer to 82 in the winter. Along with that, there's a basking spot that gets about 8 degrees warmer than the overall tank temp.

I clean out the waste as soon as they produce it. I clean the tanks thoroughly once a month. I make sure there aren't any water spills. I'm stumped.

---

Thats sad that you do not have a good real reptile vet in your area :( .Why are you changing his temps? Something is wrong because if he does infact have scale rot he did not get it over night.How far is the next vet? I would drive a little extra distance to have my snakes seen by a real reptile vet.Like i said not being rude towards yourself just confused as to why that "vet" is playing guess games or give incorrect advice about a animal he does not know about.Keep us posted

I increased the temp by about 5 degrees - bringing it up to 87 in Darby's cage. I put a smaller water bowl in there, although I don't think that'll be a problem because he's never been a soaker like Calvin. We also applied the triple antibiotic cream, but how often should we apply it?

Quote:

---

Why are you changing his temps?

---

I let the temps change seasonally because when I first got Calvin, I knew a herpetologist at the local zoo who helped me set everything up the way they control climate for their snakes. He was also the one who told me it was perfectly normal for snakes to go off their feed for a while in the cooler months, and I've got books that state the same thing, so I was never concerned about it. Darby going off his feed for 10 weeks between November and January never caused any weight or hydration issues, and it never caused any shedding issues.

I think the environment outside the cage must be the problem, but I can't figure out how.

Quote:

---

Thats sad that you do not have a good real reptile vet in your area. How far is the next vet?

---

I wish I could take him to the next vet, but it's at least a 90 minute drive - without any traffic - which is highly unlikely. My husband and I figured we'd be lucky if I could make it in 2 hours, and at 35 weeks pregnant, I simply can't do that, and my husband is disabled and can't drive. I will simply have to keep my fingers crossed that the vet I'm seeing on Thursday isn't as cavalier in person as he seems to be on the phone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mj_romo

I increased the temp by about 5 degrees - bringing it up to 87 in Darby's cage. I put a smaller water bowl in there, although I don't think that'll be a problem because he's never been a soaker like Calvin. We also applied the triple antibiotic cream, but how often should we apply it?



I let the temps change seasonally because when I first got Calvin, I knew a herpetologist at the local zoo who helped me set everything up the way they control climate for their snakes. He was also the one who told me it was perfectly normal for snakes to go off their feed for a while in the cooler months, and I've got books that state the same thing, so I was never concerned about it. Darby going off his feed for 10 weeks between November and January never caused any weight or hydration issues, and it never caused any shedding issues.

I think the environment outside the cage must be the problem, but I can't figure out how.



I wish I could take him to the next vet, but it's at least a 90 minute drive - without any traffic - which is highly unlikely. My husband and I figured we'd be lucky if I could make it in 2 hours, and at 35 weeks pregnant, I simply can't do that, and my husband is disabled and can't drive. I will simply have to keep my fingers crossed that the vet I'm seeing on Thursday isn't as cavalier in person as he seems to be on the phone.

---

I totaly understand your reason for not being able to drive to the next vet.If the vet you are seeing gives you any more incorrect info kindly inform him to become a member here and we will educate him :) .