Friend noticing air bubbles (or something) under BP's skin

A friend IM'd me tonight freaking out because her young ball python has what seem to be air pockets under its skin. I had her send me a picture and of course, knowing nothing, told her that I'd ask around because I don't want to try and diagnose, etc. She said she's had the snake since December, but was away for 2 months recently with her mom caring for the snake. She just noticed it, and apparently the snake acts/eats like normal and doesn't react when the spots are touched. I did tell her that if she was really worried to talk to a herp vet, but I wanted to ask here as well to see if anyone had suggestions.

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=airsnake.jpg

Not sure how to get the image bit to work, once I figure it out I'll edit! In the meantime:

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=airsnake.jpg

I do not see the pics. But bubbles on the skin sounds like a potential burn....


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holy crap... im a newb but that cant be good.. never seen that before.

to me it looks like the snake is about to shed, and there is just some moisture under the old layer of skin(between the new on), kind of like how we get blisters. when i soak my BD when she's shedding(gets soaked 2 times a week no matter what) some water gets under the new layer and makes like little "water pockets" until she sheds.
wow sorry didnt even look at the bottom of the pic, i would say that looks like a burn that is blistering up badly. what is your fiends set up like.

Those look like blisters. I'd SERIOUSLY recommend a vet trip.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 1nstinct

to me it looks like the snake is about to shed, and there is just some moisture under the old layer of skin(between the new on), kind of like how we get blisters. when i soak my BD when she's shedding(gets soaked 2 times a week no matter what) some water gets under the new layer and makes like little "water pockets" until she sheds.
wow sorry didnt even look at the bottom of the pic, i would say that looks like a burn that is blistering up badly. what is your fiends set up like.

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She said it is in a tank with a heat pad/thermostat attached, and that it is about 82 degrees inside the tank. Other than that i'm not sure, she's in Florida, I'm in Indiana, so I haven't seen it.

can she send you any more pictures? like belly other parts of the snake? or any more?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 1nstinct

can she send you any more pictures? like belly other parts of the snake? or any more?

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I'm getting more pictures now, I'll upload them to Photobucket because I'm still confused on how to get them to work here!

copy the direct link, then use the insert image button here and past the direct link into it.

Or copy the IMG code from photo bucket and paste it directly to your reply.

that looks like a serious problem and I would see a vet asap!! PLEASE tell her not to do anything herself if its infected letting the white bloodcells and plasma out from the pockets will make it worse please send her to a vet

Here are some more pictures

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z...ick/snake3.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z...ick/snake2.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z...ick/snake1.jpg

Can't see much from such small pics, I'm guessing they're from a phone?

From your first pic it looks like a burn that's blistering up pretty badly, ask her if the heatpad is regulated at all.

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Oh nvmd, I see she said it had a thermostat. Is it an actual thermostat or a rheostat? If its a rheostat that's failed it can cause a massive heat spike on the heat pad

Okay, wow. It's a burn, folks. She said she went in to check the temp of the heat pad itself (she said she has a dimmer) and her son had put a heat rock in the cage. I'm speculating that because of that, its a burn. Ugh. She said she took it out and threw it away, she's going to a vet tomorrow. Thanks for your help, everyone. I'll try and find out what the vet says and update this thread.

I really wish companies would stop selling those heat rocks. Heard of too many reptiles that have been burned because of it. I hope the little guy pulls through.