scale questions...

okay guys i have question, i was lookig at my new ball python and it has a scale on its belly that has almost like a crust type substance on it. im kinda affraid of it turning into scale rot or something. does anyone have any pictures of a really mild case of scale rot? i cant take any pictures because i need to pick up a new camera my old one broke. =/ perfect timing right.:weirdface lol


so please if you have a picture of like a really mild case of scale rot please post it thanks guys!!!!:)



Mike. H

Scale rot usually shows itself as a browning scales. I don't have any pictures of mild scale rot but if you use the search function you might be able to find something.

Could the crust be stuck shed? is it only on one scale? As a precaution you could switch the snake to paper towels to keep it clean if it is scale rot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Scale rot usually shows itself as a browning scales. I don't have any pictures of mild scale rot but if you use the search function you might be able to find something.

Could the crust be stuck shed? is it only on one scale? As a precaution you could switch the snake to paper towels to keep it clean if it is scale rot.

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thanks! well theres like 3-4 scales that are crusted over. I was thinking it was shed, but i wet the snake down and tryed to get it of it was like almost part of the scale.........:O
I have had her on paper towels since last night. but im affraid that the UTH is gunna burn her, so should i put more layers of paper towels down?
or is that gunna hold back some of the heat?


thanks, Mike, H

You should be controlling your heat with a thermostat. If you can get it around 95-95 below the paper towels, they should read a nice 90-92. The paper towels won't block that much heat.

If your UTH is that hot, maybe it's possible your bp came in contact with it. The scales could be burned. You can put a dimmer on there to turn it down if thermostats are too expensive. What are you measuring the temps with? And where are you measuring them from.

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Originally Posted by Mrgbb

thanks! well theres like 3-4 scales that are crusted over. I was thinking it was shed, but i wet the snake down and tryed to get it of it was like almost part of the scale.........:O
I have had her on paper towels since last night. but im affraid that the UTH is gunna burn her, so should i put more layers of paper towels down?
or is that gunna hold back some of the heat?


thanks, Mike, H

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Are you using a thermostat or a rheostat with your UTH? If you aren't, make a quick trip to home depot and grab two things.

1. The accurite indoor outdoor thermometer. It is about $12 and measures ambient temp, temp from a probe, and ambient humidity. You can use the probe to measure the hottest point that your snake can get too. Right above the UTH under the substrate.

2. A piggy back light dimmer (rheostat). Many people get the lutron light dimmer that has a plug built in so you don't need to wire anything. Just plug the UTH into the dimmer and the dimmer into the wall. adjust the rheostat until your thermometer reads between 90-92* going no higher than 95*F.


Crusty scales sounds kind of not good. I would take the snake to see a reputable vet. They will be able to diagnose your snake better then a bunch of people on a forum using only a brief description.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Are you using a thermostat or a rheostat with your UTH? If you aren't, make a quick trip to home depot and grab two things.

1. The accurite indoor outdoor thermometer. It is about $12 and measures ambient temp, temp from a probe, and ambient humidity. You can use the probe to measure the hottest point that your snake can get too. Right above the UTH under the substrate.

2. A piggy back light dimmer (rheostat). Many people get the lutron light dimmer that has a plug built in so you don't need to wire anything. Just plug the UTH into the dimmer and the dimmer into the wall. adjust the rheostat until your thermometer reads between 90-92* going no higher than 95*F.


Crusty scales sounds kind of not good. I would take the snake to see a reputable vet. They will be able to diagnose your snake better then a bunch of people on a forum using only a brief description.

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yea i have 2 of the indoor outdoor thermometers one on each side of the tank. the hot side is at around 90 for most of the day, and the cool side stays around 80. i mean its deffinatly not a burn, beacause the glass on the bottom of the tank isnt really that hot. also, the substrate is dry. maybe she just sits in the water bowl to much? shes been doing that alot lately, but if shes in for to long i take her out.:) im gunna go put a maller water bowl in the paper toweled tank with her so she stops soaking in the water.:D


oh also how much do those piggy back light dimmers cost?


Mike, H

Oh. I see. Maybe she is dehydrated. What is your humidity? I think it's winter time soaking. I had one bp in my rack that soaked almost all winter. None of the others have and everything measures the same. She shouldn't get scale rot from soaking as long as when she climbs out, she has something to dry off on.

I would still get those scales looked at by a vet. It's better to be safe than sorry.

piggyback light dimmers cost about $10.

Have you checked your snake over for mites? that is the most common reason for soaking.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Have you checked your snake over for mites? that is the most common reason for soaking.

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ummmmmm.....:oops: no i didnt think about that. what am i acctually looking for? are they like tarantula mites, that are white? or are they different? lol:)

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Originally Posted by Mrgbb

ummmmmm.....:oops: no i didnt think about that. what am i acctually looking for? are they like tarantula mites, that are white? or are they different? lol:)

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little black dots with legs. Check her water bowl and see if there are any floating in it. Also check around her face and heat pits.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

little black dots with legs. Check her water bowl and see if there are any floating in it. Also check around her face and heat pits.

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okay im gunna go do that now

There are also mites that are red, and they are worse than the black ones. The red mites usually stay around the eyes and heat pits on their nose though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

little black dots with legs. Check her water bowl and see if there are any floating in it. Also check around her face and heat pits.

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okay i checked her before and there wasnt any mites on her or in the water bowl. now what? lol:P

I am still a little worried about the temps. You stated for the most part it is around 90...but if you do not have a thermostat...it can spike at times and you may not know. She could be in her water bowl due to the spikes. When we touch stuff....it might not seem to hot to us as we are around 98degrees. So what is warm to us is totally different. I think that the burn thing was a good guess.

As K stated....I would take her to the vet to find out for sure. If you do make sure it is a qualified reptile vet. There is a list on this site.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BPelizabeth

I am still a little worried about the temps. You stated for the most part it is around 90...but if you do not have a thermostat...it can spike at times and you may not know. She could be in her water bowl due to the spikes. When we touch stuff....it might not seem to hot to us as we are around 98degrees. So what is warm to us is totally different. I think that the burn thing was a good guess.

As K stated....I would take her to the vet to find out for sure. If you do make sure it is a qualified reptile vet. There is a list on this site.

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can you send me the link?:)

okay nevermind i believe she is going into shed because her belly is turning pink. any pointers?:D