Bad Tail

One of my BP's sheds fine, the other is always a struggle. We live in a very dry climate and need to really drive the humidity during sheds. This guy went opaque so we started his misting but instead of the week or so he usually takes he shed the next day (the day after he went opaque). Needless to say his shed was terrible so in the bath he went. Once out we were cleaning his skin off and noticed that its tail still had a ring of skin around it, we carefully removed it only to reveal some raw flesh underneath. Must have also happened last shed, but we missed it. So now the poor guy has a nasty looking tail we have soaked it in beta-dyne and treated with bacitracin. Now we noticed it has a very pink belly starting about half way down, it just shed. Could he be going into another shed to fix its damaged tail? Skin infection?

http://www.listedbywilks.com/images/tail.jpg
http://www.listedbywilks.com/images/belly.jpg

Looks like scale rot to me...off to the vet you go.

:O OUCH!! THAT looks like it hurts! I second a vet visit!

Until you can get to the vet stick with betadine treatments every day.

That looks like some scale rot. :(
Vet time, I second that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Powerspythons

Looks like scale rot to me...off to the vet you go.

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Thanks for your suggestions, I will keep treating but really doubt its scale rot. His enclosure is always clean, not too humid. The pictures make it look like there are ulcers on the scales but there are no ulcers present. Instead what you are seeing is very deep pink color underneath the scales. Much like before they are about to shed, but this quickly after a shed is puzzling.

The belly picture doesn't really reflect an accurate view, maybe I will try during daylight for a better pic. Its really just a coral pink from halfway down his body to his tail, the pink is visible thru its scales in the middle making it look in the pictures like ulcers, but they are not.

I dont care what it looks like under the scales, that tail alone is well worth going to see the vet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Powerspythons

I dont care what it looks like under the scales, that tail alone is well worth going to see the vet.

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x2
The site of that tail turned knots in my stomach, poor baby. Plus, it is now susceptible to infection. I'd be scheduling a vet visit as soon as possible.

A quick trip to the vet will do wonders.:)

Check the heat of your heat tape/ heat pad etc. and temp in your enclosure. Belly rot can be from laying on a hot spot that is way to hot because the enclosure temp it too low. That is according to book "The Complete Ball Python" by Kevin McCurley pg. 70-71

Hi,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skurj

Thanks for your suggestions, I will keep treating but really doubt its scale rot. His enclosure is always clean, not too humid. The pictures make it look like there are ulcers on the scales but there are no ulcers present. Instead what you are seeing is very deep pink color underneath the scales. Much like before they are about to shed, but this quickly after a shed is puzzling.

The belly picture doesn't really reflect an accurate view, maybe I will try during daylight for a better pic. Its really just a coral pink from halfway down his body to his tail, the pink is visible thru its scales in the middle making it look in the pictures like ulcers, but they are not.

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We know what we're seeing.

It's either scale rot or a burn. Either way coupled with the horrible open wound that is the tail it needs to see a vet.

I know it isn't the news you wanted to hear but it really does need to see a vet.

I would also double check the heat source and the thermostat to see if you can rule out a burn or fix it if it needs it.


dr del