Please Help! Question from new BP owner

New to this forum so forgive me if im asking this question in the wrong section.

Before feeding today, I had my BP "Spartacus" out and noticed this near his tail - Ive read about scale rot and im hoping this is not a start to it. If it is, I would obv like to get it treated asap. Please anyone with experience that may know what this is give me a hand and let me know! Ive had him about 5 months, hes 16 months old, BP Pastel het red axanthic. eats live rat pups, aspen substraight and I have him in a 20 gallon enclosure, he just finished a shed which he had a hard time with it was not complete shed but previous has had complete sheds, ive been making sure the humidity is staying where it should be and his temperatures are perfect. his enclosure is extremely, I change the substraight every 2 weeks. Not sure what else I can add about his background but any questions or comments please!!!

im posting a picture - just trying to figure it out

host the picture on imageshack and then get the direct link and link it here

http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7fd70c6b.jpg

I THINK I did this right

theres a brown spot right in the middle of the tail in the picture. Its like a single scale and I noticed it because he was on my arm and I felt a little roughness so I checked it out and saw this, It kinda sticks up a bit but not much. Maybe im overreacting but im worried it will get worse.

You mean the little claw-like thing there??
Or the discoloration at the tip of the tail??

from what I see that is just one of it's spurs. Some people say they are left over legs.

http://vpi.com/sites/default/files/i...e(VPI)001j.jpg

I don't see rot, are you mistaking his spurs for rot?

The spurs help with breeding (supposedly) and some species of snakes actually have little vestigial bones from their sacral vertebrae leading to their spurs

I dont know what it is its just a brown colour and its sticking up I know its a scale - Like I said im a new owner and kinda going off what I see on the internet which isnt always the best! I saw cases of scale rot start small and get huge and bad ( on the internet) so im kinda worried, I dont know what spurs are? ill show a close up pic. I apologize if im not using the right terminology, I just pretty much want to know what this is and if its bad, harmful, hurts my guy, do I have to go to the vet?! I appreciate the replies. Ill post a close up.

[IMG]http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps134adf01.jpg[/IMG]

In the picture cory9oh4 posted, it doesnt stick up that much - kinda protrudes a bit and goes down when he moves? like a dried scale?
And if it was a spur would it of always been there? and how many more of these will he get if it is a spur... sorry guys just stressing me out dont want anything to happen to my bp.

Looks to me like it is just one of his spurs. He should have one on either side of his cloaca. Supposedly they are what evolution has left snakes of what were once their legs. No trip to the vet necessary.

Thats a spur. Nothing to be alarmed about. ;)

sent from my incubator

Just a spur and not this horrible scale rot I been reading about - whew I was very worried. This is a great forum. I have never been apart of one but this is very helpful ill be back with more worries im sure! Rather be safe then sorry.

I thought it was a joke about the leftover legs?! So if he doesnt have one on the other side is that normal? Cause I just checked I dont see or feel anything.

Thank you very much for the quick response would of been a long night wondering whats wrong with him! Thank you very much once again!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spartacus

In the picture cory9oh4 posted, it doesnt stick up that much - kinda protrudes a bit and goes down when he moves? like a dried scale?
And if it was a spur would it of always been there? and how many more of these will he get if it is a spur... sorry guys just stressing me out dont want anything to happen to my bp.

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It's only stuck up in the picture I posted because the snake is being popped to show its sex and the anatomy of that area of the snake. The spurs are normally laid down and somewhat tucked into the snake. The picture you have posted is indeed a spur. You have nothing to worry about :). Some are larger than other, some stick out more than others, and some are almost hidden. It varies by snake.

Ohhhh:oops::oops:

Well thats good to know and ill trust your expertise and leave it to rest that hes okay and not to go to the vet!
I have not noticed a second one yet... Ill keep an eye out. Silly me, I actually thought his scales were starting to rot for some odd reason :S (embarrassed) oh well!

Thanks again!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spartacus

Ohhhh:oops::oops:

Well thats good to know and ill trust your expertise and leave it to rest that hes okay and not to go to the vet!
I have not noticed a second one yet... Ill keep an eye out. Silly me, I actually thought his scales were starting to rot for some odd reason :S (embarrassed) oh well!

Thanks again!

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Lol expertise by no means. I thought the same thing when I first noticed the spurs on my first bp. I brought him back to the breeder and was like WTF is this?!?! And your welcome, glad we were able to help ease your mind!

I was going to ask the breeder as we talk here and there - BUT I didnt want her to think I was a bad owner and gave him scale rot haha! :S sooooo I thought Id check this forum out and sign up and ask a bunch of other snake owners! Its kinda odd I never read about it, Ive done alot of research, clearly not enough! Learn something new every day!

Im sure you will be hearing from me again hehe :P

I give you kudos for being a caring, observant and diligent owner! :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spartacus

Ohhhh:oops::oops:

Well thats good to know and ill trust your expertise and leave it to rest that hes okay and not to go to the vet!
I have not noticed a second one yet... Ill keep an eye out. Silly me, I actually thought his scales were starting to rot for some odd reason :S (embarrassed) oh well!

Thanks again!

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In addition, spurs will break off and grow back again(not to freak you out again lol)....it is something normal n natural to happen. ;) So, that could be why your only seeing one.
sent from my incubator