Liquid under scales

My ball python just recently started shedding. For the first time in about 5 years, he had a pink/red belly during his shedding period. One thing I noticed, and am concerned about, is he has scales that are full of liquid, looking like blisters. I'm not sure if it's water or possibly urine that got trapped under the new scales causing the redness.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Are you sure that he hasn't been burned?

A picture would be really helpful.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Are you sure that he hasn't been burned?

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X2

Pictures would be helpful

sent from my EVO

It is really hard to say for sure. Shedding with a red belly is odd for sure. I too am concerned about a burn. However there is liquid between the layers of shed and new skin under it normally. That is why a shed just after it is discarded is damp. It could be just the shed damp but I have never seen a snake actually shed with a red belly. It could be a burn.

Are you using a T-stat?

What are the surface temps.

What are the ambient air temps?

I don't think it is a burn. But I will try to get some pictures tonight when I get home from work.

Thank you all for the responses.

Hi,

We need pictures really but with the description alone I'd be booking a vet visit.


dr del

Ok, here are some pictures:

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2259/dscn0988p.jpg

Here is a picture of where the liquid filled scales are (even though you can't see in the picture):

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/3782/10043305.jpg

Here is another sore/burn?:

http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/3276/21769942.jpg

That looks really bad. not sure if it is burn or something else but that snake needs to see a vet ASAP

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

That looks really bad. not sure if it is burn or something else but that snake needs to see a vet ASAP

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X2 vet visit is needed what are you using for an UTH and is it on a T-stat?

I agree. That snake needs to see a vet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RestlessRobie

... what are you using for an UTH and is it on a T-stat?

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I'm not sure what those are... what exactly are they?

I have a reptile heating pad that is underneath the tank, and then there is a 1/4" layer of snake bedding. I have been using the same heating pad for the past five years. I've never had this happen before, so I would imagine that is isn't too hot. The temp inside the tank is 73 degrees.

UTH stands for Under Tank Heaters. so your heating pad is a type of UTH. I guarantee that it is getting too hot, they all do. You need to get a thermostat (you can get one on Amazon for $30 called a hydrofarm)

Make sure that your tank is between 88 and 92 degrees on one side and between 78 and 82 on the other.

VET!!! Looks like a scale rot or a burn hard to say but it is NOT a shed.

I have a girl who gets a very pink belly pre shed, but is always still looks like healthy skin. That looks pretty bad. The yellowish tinge on the scales along with the fluid looks more burn than shed.

Did it pop open on its own?

looks more like a burn than scale rot. he needs a vet trip and a thermostat

That definitely looks like a burn and it requires betadine soaks and silver sulfadiazine cream. Only a vet can treat that and give you what you need for it.

A UTH should never ever be used without being plugged into a thermostat to control the temperature.

*edit.. Whatever you do.. Do not put any ointment on that. You risk causing infection if there isn't already one by using over the counter stuff because it's all oil based. Get that snake on clean paper towels, turn off the UTH, use a heat lamp for some ambient warmth until you can get a thermostat but hurry and get one, and take it to the vet for the proper cream.

Put a couple inches of almost warm (tepid) water in a container, add a few spoons of betadine (enough to make it a light tea color) and let the snake soak for about 15 minutes. Do this daily to help dry that out and ward off infection.

But you still need a vet visit. The cream I mentioned is important. Remove the bedding and keep it on clean, dry paper towels until it's completely healed.

You've been using the same UTH for 5 years? They do go bad.. The first sign of going bad is temperature spikes. I can guarantee you that if you had the proper set-up with a digital thermometer/hydrometer that has a probe, and you had the probe directly on the glass where the UTH is, it's a lot hotter than what you think it is. The ambient air temp is going to be a lot cooler than the hot side surface temp.

The accurite weather station is only about $13 at Walmart and is what many of us use to monitor both the hot side, cool side, and humidity in our enclosures because it reads all 3 at the same time.

The thermostat you need to control your NEW UTH, which I hope you invest in, is going to run you a little more than that but it's well worth it to keep your pet healthy and injury free.

The care sheet provided on this site is probably the best one online. Please look at it and feel free to post another thread in the husbandry section if you need more advice.

Please let us know what the vet says. Poor thing.

THAT is a burn. Vet immediately! Now now now. The only option is a vet.
You also need to replace your uth and get a dimmer (immediately) and then a thermostat(ASAP) the uth should never be left unregulated. This is why.
This will happen again and again if you do not.
He also should be on paper towel and his enclosure needs to be kept hospital clean while you are treating this. Hopefully you can prevent infection.
But vet is not an option. At all.


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