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  • 02-11-2013, 01:21 AM
    AndrewME1991
    Pinkish underbelly.. Possible Vesicular dermatitis?
    I have a juvenile Red-Tail Boa, BCI. He is about 7 months old. I am relatively new to snakes. He is acting fine and is eating regularly; however, he has some pinkish-orangeish tint on his underbelly. It starts around the middle of his body and goes down to his cloaca. I use Eco-Earth substrate, his humidity is kept around 52% and his temperature is always around 82 degrees Fahrenheit. He doesn't have any decaying scales or blisters of any kind. Is this normal for juveniles? Is it color developing or are they born with all of their color? It's barely noticeable, like you have to look pretty hard to see it, but I'm severely obsessive compulsive and a mild hypochondriac. I'll try and take a picture, but I don't think it will be noticeable at all in a pic.
  • 02-11-2013, 01:36 AM
    AndrewME1991
    Re: Pinkish underbelly.. Possible Vesicular dermatitis?
    There's a pic. It's not noticeable at all in it though.

    http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/...-24-25_779.jpg
  • 02-11-2013, 01:38 AM
    MisterKyte
    He could be going into shed.
  • 02-11-2013, 01:48 AM
    KMG
    Yep, shed process. Start to bump his humidity up to ensure a nice easy shed.

    Well this be its first shed in your care?

    Usually snakes will go through some color changes as they age but that's not what the pink belly is.

    1. Pink/red belly
    2. Blue (skin starts to loosen causing their eyes to fog up)
    3. Skin clears up and then sheds
  • 02-11-2013, 01:50 AM
    AndrewME1991
  • 02-11-2013, 01:50 AM
    BFE Pets
    Re: Pinkish underbelly.. Possible Vesicular dermatitis?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MisterKyte View Post
    He could be going into shed.


    ^^^ was my first thought. Mine get pink bellies for a week or two then go blue in the eyes for a week or so and then eyes clear up for a few days and poof fresh paint job when I check on them in the morning.
  • 02-11-2013, 01:50 AM
    AndrewME1991
    He just shed a week ago though. The pink coloration wasn't even noticeable until he began his shed cycle, but once he shed the colors became brighter.
  • 02-11-2013, 01:54 AM
    KMG
  • 02-11-2013, 01:55 AM
    BFE Pets
    Re: Pinkish underbelly.. Possible Vesicular dermatitis?
    Could be wrong I'm certainly not a vet. Boas seem to go through growth spurts. I've seen some shed every 3-4 week's for a few months and almost double in size in that time frame and then not shed again for 7-8 months. How often are you feeding him and in comparison to his body how large are the meals?
  • 02-11-2013, 01:55 AM
    MisterKyte
    Re: Pinkish underbelly.. Possible Vesicular dermatitis?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by AndrewME1991 View Post
    He just shed a week ago though.

    I don't have boas but I've had BPs shed rather frequently in the past. Like my largest girl starts to blue almost every week about four days after being fed, it's like clockwork. He find also just be warmed up from the hot spot (that is if you are using one), I notice some of my younger/lighter bellied snakes get a little rosey after they've been on their hot spots for an extended period of time.
    Really though, it doesn't look like much. If anything, give it a week and see if it continues to develop but I'm sure it will vanish by tomorrow.
  • 02-11-2013, 01:58 AM
    KMG
    Oh, the belly wasn't pink until the shed? If you touch it and slightly press on it does it go away of a second or stays pink?

    The colors will always be brighter after a shed because its new skin.
  • 02-11-2013, 02:02 AM
    AndrewME1991
    I feed him a small rat every week. They are a little smaller around then his body, and they are about 1/5 of his length. Also, I don't think it's heat because its from his tail to the middle of his body and I have his heating pad placed on the upper side of his tank so he can't lay on it and overheat himself. It was noticeable just before, during, and still after his shed. And yes it slightly goes away if I touch it, but It is still there slightly so the disappearing affect could just be from his skin stretching.
  • 02-11-2013, 02:07 AM
    KMG
    Maybe it is just natural color. I would watch it close but it doesn't appear to be serious. However I'm not a vet. I think I would contact the breeder. If it is natural they should know an in the tell you what to expect.
  • 02-11-2013, 02:16 AM
    AndrewME1991
    How fast does scale rot typically progress, if it is? I replaced his bedding with a soft towel temporarily just so I can keep a better eye on what's going on and I handle him every day so I should be able to keep a good eye on it.
  • 02-11-2013, 02:31 AM
    Daybreaker
    I'm not seeing any scale rot in the pics.
  • 02-11-2013, 02:35 AM
    KMG
    I don't know. I have never had or helped with that situation.

    Make sure it still has good humidity in case it is about to have a second shed.
  • 02-11-2013, 02:39 AM
    AndrewME1991
    If he had it, would it present itself immediately? Like these
    http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/...esPic3-med.jpg
    http://pet-snakes.com/wp-content/uploads/scale_rot.jpg

    This isn't my snake, but it looks similar to this just not as dark
    http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/3784/img0323x.jpg
  • 02-11-2013, 02:53 AM
    WifeOfSlasher
    Pinkish underbelly.. Possible Vesicular dermatitis?
    It could just be the natural coloring. My guy's belly turns coral pink when he's in dark phase.
  • 02-11-2013, 02:59 AM
    KMG
    Not immediately. All the pics I've seen of scale rot were of cases well set in so I'm not really sure what the beginning stages look like. With only a pink tint i wouldn't get to worked up yet. I don't think that is what your snake has. But I'm not there and only going off a pic.

    If it were me I would wait another day or two and see if it gets darker. If it did I would see a vet right away. It may surprise you and have another shed.

    But if you think it is more serious than we do go ahead and see a vet. Better safe than sorry.
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