My lesser is loosing her scales!?!?

Other than quick spot checks, I haven't been spending much quality time with my new snake. I wanted to ensure she was eating well before I did so. Today I decided to take her out. On the rear of her back I noticed that she is missing a lot of scales. Almost the entire lower portion of her back is missing them. The color and blushing is still there but no scales. It feels almost like leather.

I am reflecting on my husbandry. The only thing I can think of is that I have been feeding her every 5 days. She is growing really nice. Could it be possible that her scales arent catching up with her body growth?

What should I do?

-Marc

weird wish I had an answer for you . I am sure someone will come along with one .

could you take an in focus picture? I dont know about anyone else but i'd like to see whats going on.

I hope someone can help. A vet visit from a qualified reptile vet may be in order.

Thanks. I'm very concerned.

so would I...

DO you feed live? Do you feed live w/o watching your snake eat?

If you feed live and aren't watching your bp actually eat its prey maybe its some kind of wound from a mouse?

I feed f/t pups.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by marct

I feed f/t pups.

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that rules that out...

thats some weird stuff man, get that pic up ASAP!

My wife has the camera.. I'll get the pic up later on tonight... I don't get it. My snake is very alert and healthy (other than the missing scales).

Thanks for your help.

with my first normal, b4 i corrected the humidity, when my norm was going into shed, he i would find a scale here and there. when i handled him, i would sometimes have scales on my hands. it also happened after a bad shed.

double check ur humidity. and definately get those pics o_O

Thanks... I thought about the humidity too. It's been good.

Picture will definitely help to see how it looks and the extent of the damage.

Also, this is not a scale missing here and there. The entire lower (about fifth) portion of this snake is missing its scales.

That is a known thing with some ball pythons becoming half scaleless. If everything is spot on and healthy you might end up with a scaleless ball python is spots.

here you go
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/pics/derma2.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

That is a known thing with some ball pythons becoming half scaleless. If everything is spot on and healthy you might end up with a scaleless ball python is spots.

here you go
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/pics/derma2.jpg

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im pretty sure the derma actually hatched scaleless, it didn't suddenly lose scales. someone correct me if im not right about this.

So i'm still reflecting. I said she is loosing scales. But, I actually haven't found any fallen scales. I'm looking at her right now. It doesn't look like the one in the pic of the scaleless pb. Ill get a pic up asap.

I am currently trying to video the snake but I don't think you can see the detail enough.

Thank you everyone for helping out.

Hi,

Until the pic gets here;

Have you been treating her or her enclosure with anything?

What are you using as substrate?

And you can definately ignore the derma-ball picture - it was born like that.


dr del

Thanks for helping.

The only thing I have done to her tub is clean it along with the water bowl with a water/bleach solution. I did the same with the other animals. Also, I use newspaper as the substrate.

wow thats a big issue i would say. I had a simmilar issue with one of my corns. Ifi were you i would watch him and see how hes loosin them. min was trying to burrow so i fixed the problem so he would try and burrow. So after i fixed it i upped the humidity and after the next ched he was all good. good luck

~Ryan~

http://pythonkings.nl/game/ballpytho...hp?id=5451&s=2

http://www.nathanledet.com/sigs/crochunter.jpg

Its like the scales have been ripped out it certain parts. I remember her last/only shed being a difficult one.

We still need pictures to make any kind of a rational judgement.

Hi,

So how long do you think it has been like this?

Have you looked at the bottom of the waterbowl?

Just wondered if she had scraped herself on the underneath of it.

I'm assuming you used a 10% or less bleach solution and rinsed it out well?


dr del

Well without pics no one will be able to help you properly. Take a pic and we will see where it goes from there. If you can't get any pics then just take it to a good herp vet.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...5/1/scales.jpg

From that picture it just looks like it was from a bad shed. The scales are still there...at least I don't see any missing, but it looks like the top layer of a good few of them has come off. That can happen during a shed if the humidity isn't high enough. You had said she had a bad shed, right? When that happens it does look discolored or not as shiny as the rest of the snake. That's all I see from that picture. If that's the case it will clear up with the next shed.

However, if it really does bother you, I would take her to the vet... a picture can only say so much.

She is acting normal. If she displays any signs of stress I will take her to the vet. I will pray your thoughts are correct.

Thanks
Marc

Bump your humidity next shed.

That was just due to a crappy shed, which may have been caused by poor humidity.

YEah they look like they are still there. I have had a few of mine do that. Well not to that extent but a few little patches here or there. Almost feels like a rubbery coating? I say wait until next shed.

I was totally freaking out. I'm no ball python expert but I have had them for years. I have never seen anything like this. Thank you all.