curved belly scales?

my baby has a few belly scales that curve up at the end, like they don't lay flat like the rest of his scales do. I really only see them on his belly. he should shed real soon, so I'm hoping that's it? if that makes any sense..

I've just never seen this before and didn't find any answers online yet so I thought I'd ask myself.

I can get pictures but, he's probably annoyed with me checking on him 24/7..

help please :(


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A picture would help. I only notice curved scutes when I handle my younger BPs and their tensing muscles cause a slight inward curve.

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Originally Posted by shadowsnakes

A picture would help. I only notice curved scutes when I handle my younger BPs and their tensing muscles cause a slight inward curve.

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thank you for replying so fast! :)
it's not like the way his bending though.. it's hard to explain. :(

I'll get a picture, hold on


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I underestimated how hard that was going to be.. I first noticed it several hours ago but did not think to take a picture..


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They never cooperate when you need it, right? Sometimes I notice minor scale deformities close to shedding time. Chipped edges, very small tears on the old scale, jagged edges, etc. I suppose curvature could also be an effect. Does the snake appear to be in any distress? i.e. scale rot, red tinges, browned edges, etc.

he has minor scale rot on like 2 or 3 individual scales, and I'm hoping they will be gone with this shed, but nothing compared to pictures I've seen.

I just removed all aspen bedding and put paper towels down. I'm hoping this will make things better? I'm probably not making any sense! it's late and I'm a wreck right now :(

I feel like I can never catch a break and make him feel all better. I feel like a bad snake mommy and it's killing me!! I think he still has respiratory problems and now bad scales??

guys this is upsetting and I know I'm at fault so please don't make me feel any worse right now. I just need advice I guess. thanks for all that are helping!


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Firstly take a deep breath and calm down. You are worried about the snake and that shows you care, even if you need some help. :)

The curved scales, are those the rotted scales or are they near the rotted scales? That would explain the shape. Wait until after shed and see how they look. If the rot hasn't completely healed give your snake a weak betadine bath to ward off infection. Maybe a dab of neosporin, but that wipes off pretty fast on substrate.

Edit: And with all cases of scale rot, review your husbandry techniques and make adjustments as necessary. MAke sure proper humidity, temp, etc is maintained. Scale rot is usually caused by too high a temp or wet substrate that doesn't dry.

thank you :)

the rotted ones don't necessarily curve up but they do look flaky.

I heard that neosporin makes the scales worse??

I'm just hoping it'll be fine after the shed. I guess we'll see!


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Neosporin is fine but use the original formula that does NOT have added painkillers. I hope your little one feels better!

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Originally Posted by cassidyy327

he has minor scale rot on like 2 or 3 individual scales, and I'm hoping they will be gone with this shed, but nothing compared to pictures I've seen.

I just removed all aspen bedding and put paper towels down. I'm hoping this will make things better? I'm probably not making any sense! it's late and I'm a wreck right now :(

I feel like I can never catch a break and make him feel all better. I feel like a bad snake mommy and it's killing me!! I think he still has respiratory problems and now bad scales??

guys this is upsetting and I know I'm at fault so please don't make me feel any worse right now. I just need advice I guess. thanks for all that are helping!


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Oh I just want to give you a big ole' hug over the internet! We have all been worried parents and I still am one even though I've had mine for many years. They are just our little bundles of hot and when something happens to them it's devastating! But don't worry my friend :) your in the right place and we will help you help your little guy get better. Your an awesome caring care taker so don't feel bad at all. Everything will be okay :) after his shed it should take care of those couple of rotted scales. For the respiratory issues how long had he been having the problem? And how are you treating him for it. Sometimes RI's take quite a bit of time to completely go away so if your already on a treatment regimen it should hopefully be gone at the end of it :) is he making noises or have mucus or bubbles in his mouth that makes you think the RI is still lingering?


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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

For the respiratory issues how long had he been having the problem? And how are you treating him for it. Sometimes RI's take quite a bit of time to completely go away so if your already on a treatment regimen it should hopefully be gone at the end of it :) is he making noises or have mucus or bubbles in his mouth that makes you think the RI is still lingering?


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well he's been squeaking and stuff for a while, after I did research I found my problem, tank wasn't hot enough and it was too humid, so I think I corrected it but I still hear him 'whistling' sometimes.. I've checked inside his mouth and it's not gross or anything, there's a few bubbles (I heard that was normal) and it's a light pink color. if he has a RI I hope it's very minor..



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I'm a little hesitant to use an antibiotic ointment as a preventative. As another member was advised by her vet recently, that's how drug resistant organisms evolve. Aside from that, I don't have much to add other than to keep doing what you're already doing. I don't think there's any reason to allow anyone to make you feel bad, because it seems like you're doing everything you should be.

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alright well thank you guys! hoping he'll just shed soon and it'll be fine.

again, thanks everybody :)


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Originally Posted by cassidyy327

well he's been squeaking and stuff for a while, after I did research I found my problem, tank wasn't hot enough and it was too humid, so I think I corrected it but I still hear him 'whistling' sometimes.. I've checked inside his mouth and it's not gross or anything, there's a few bubbles (I heard that was normal) and it's a light pink color. if he has a RI I hope it's very minor..



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If he's just making a whistling sound sometimes but not all the time he may just be making noise lol. I have one that lets out little puffs of air sometimes when she gets frustrated with me for not letting her go under the couch haha. But them making noise isn't the main thing to look for when it comes to RI's it's the sign of bubbles a lot of them not just a couple, and mucous coming from the mouth or nose, which you'll usually see smeared on the sides of tubs or tanks. Them making noises could be a piece of skin in front of the nose that's making noise when they breath. But after the shed tell us how he's doing :) I bet everything will be all cleared up and you'll have no more worries :D


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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

If he's just making a whistling sound sometimes but not all the time he may just be making noise lol. I have one that lets out little puffs of air sometimes when she gets frustrated with me for not letting her go under the couch haha. But them making noise isn't the main thing to look for when it comes to RI's it's the sign of bubbles a lot of them not just a couple, and mucous coming from the mouth or nose, which you'll usually see smeared on the sides of tubs or tanks. Them making noises could be a piece of skin in front of the nose that's making noise when they breath. But after the shed tell us how he's doing :) I bet everything will be all cleared up and you'll have no more worries :D


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I just think that it's worse than just him making noise.. sometimes it gets pretty loud! he hasn't shed in a while so maybe this new shed will make a different! thank you :) :)


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by cassidyy327

I just think that it's worse than just him making noise.. sometimes it gets pretty loud! he hasn't shed in a while so maybe this new shed will make a different! thank you :) :)


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I hope so! Keep us updated on your little one :)


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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

I hope so! Keep us updated on your little one :)


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will do :)


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update!!! plus questions

he's no longer in deep shed - like his eyes aren't cloudy anymore but he had not actually shed his skin yet (hoping that will come soon)

but he looks really really dry, especially on his face/head:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/19/apatu2uv.jpg

and he used to "squeak" rarely but now it's like he's wheezing and I can hear it in almost all of his breaths. mostly when he's moving around but it still kills me to hear them. is it possible that it could get worse during his shedding cycle but be fine once he's shed his skin?

he's still on paper towels right now and his scale rot looks better (not as red) so I'm hoping they'll be gone with the shed.

is there anything I can do to make sure he has a perfect shed?




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Curved...I think you mean the very end of the scale is folded inward, toward the skin? I've experienced this when a snake backs up too quickly and folds a scale or two...mostly happens to keeled snakes. It should be fixed by the next shed; I wouldn't worry about it too much.

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Originally Posted by The Flying Henry

Curved...I think you mean the very end of the scale is folded inward, toward the skin? I've experienced this when a snake backs up too quickly and folds a scale or two...mostly happens to keeled snakes. It should be fixed by the next shed; I wouldn't worry about it too much.

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they flip out, actually..

I finally got pictures, too

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/20/yre4u7e4.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/20/zy8ebesy.jpg


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Shedding.

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Originally Posted by dr del

Shedding.

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x2

This is one of the easier ways to see if your snake it just about ready to shed after they clear up from being bluish.

Oh, you got a definite shed there!

so the scales like that just mean he's going to shed? great to hear :) it feels like it's taking him forever to finally shed!

thank you everybody! :)


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good news! He shed over night and left me a huge present smeared all over the glass tank. yay


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