Skin Problem with my ball python - HELP...

Spartacus


2013 (may) male pastel het red axanthic BP – 736 grams


Terrarium Contents/Cleaning


Ive had him since he was a baby. I started off by using plantation soil as a substraight in his 20 gallon exo terra terrarium, he has his hide and water dish alone with some imitation plants, and wood fixtures that I got from the local reptile store. I clean his home every week while hes being fed. I use part bleach and part water, disinfect everything, rinse it thoroughly, dry it off and put it back in place. Im very avid on keeping it clean properly since day 1.


Feeding


I feed live rats to him weekly. He had one down time for about 2 -3 months he wasn’t eating much, my records show that he consumed about 4 small rats in this time, which is what he usually eats in one month. This was last May-July, hes picked up his eating and everythings normal. Extremely active throughout this time.


Problem


Ive noticed when he was about 6 months old something that looked like “ scale rot” on his belly. I asked around, the breeder, reptile store professionals, and friends of friends who keep BP’s – their answer was “ its stuck shed it will come off” as it did. It wasn’t too bad at all. Everything cleared up and he was okay. Few months later it happened again, and a little worse… I figured it was the same problem as his temps and humidity is perfect, his home is very clean etc. It shed off with his next shed. These times I used non pain poly and gave him good soaks to help with the stuck shed. Worked perfect.


I was horrified when I saw this happening again this month. So I started again what I used to do, take out the plantation soil, use papertowel/newspaper while hes “ healing” – Gave him betadine baths, and used the poly while waiting for my vet apt I had immediately made, first opening sept 20 at noon which was the next day. Now Spartacus had just shed and it didn’t look so bad. Just the aftermath, a little red on his belly etc… the vet had told me its an allergic reaction to something. I narrowed it down to his substraight. In the past it seems that I removed it while healing, and I put it back after and with time the problem re appeared again. The vet assured me its not scale rot, he looks great, healthy, he checked him all out etc. Said I was a good owner for bringing him in as most people wait too long.


He suggested taking out the substraight that I was using for good (which I already planned to do) making sure hands are clean, no soaps, perfumes etc… no smoking around him, he suggested a lot of pre cautions for other things that could trigger his reaction to what I think is the plantation soil ( I could be wrong)- we have been doing this since. It seems after that shed, it happened again, and worse then ever. Ive called the vet again and brining him in again tomorrow (first appointment available) –


Mind you after the last shed, it almost appeared to have some stuck shed on his lower half where the problem area is… but its turning brown, and lifting, its not swollen and separating… just peeling in some areas, and discoloured. Almost like a blister popped in a couple areas. Also on his top, it looks like he has some of his coloured scales coming off. Just one by one, here and there? I don’t know if it’s the poly that’s causing it to slip off? The pictures look horrible… Hes completely active and seems normal.


My question is, has anyone experienced anything like this before. Is there any advice that anyone can give me that would be helpful. Keep in mind this is NOT a case of neglect and a dirty home for my Sparty, Hes very well kept and cared for.The vet didn’t give us any cream or medication just advice…


Any help would be appreciated. I feel horrible and I just cant figure it out.


Thanks for reading.

im trying to figure how to get pictures on here...

I use tapatalk for pictures (if using mobile device). Sadly, I do not have, or know anyone who has had this problem, but I hope someone who has more experience can help you.

I have never experienced something like this. But I hope someone chimes in soon that has. Good luck


Sent from iPhone 5 using tapatalk :)

I have never experienced something like this. But I hope someone chimes in soon that has. Good luck


Sent from iPhone 5 using tapatalk :)

Thank you - I haven't ever heard of it either... I went to the local reptile store here the owner breeds bp's and has a ton of knownledge - he told me it will shed off, I am going to bring him in tomorrow to see what the vet says, ill bring him by the reptile store too as the owner asked me to so he can take a look. I showed him pictures and explained to him the problem. Ive talked to him before about it, when it happened before. Hes adamant that it will shed off, but it just looks so bad? ill try on tap a talk to upload pics.

its so strange... my luck

Here are the pictures. http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...97e6064cde.jpghttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...563b52d914.jpg


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That looks like a burn...what type of heat source do you use how do you regulate it??

Its just heartbreaking - everyone who has checked him out say's it will shed off and its not as bad as it looks but how can I believe that when it keeps happening. What am I doing wrong?! I cant help but feel like a bad owner - when in reality im an amazing owner! It just looks so horrible! Perhaps the vet was wrong. Im trying to reach out to the forum hoping someone out there has more experience (hands on) then the vet and can give me some other advice... He doesn't soak often and his humidity is perfect...I know when he soaks obv because his dish is low from over flow, and the paper/paper towel you can see its been dried. hes only soaked about a dozen times IF that since ive had him. So it cant be scale rot - considering its very clean in his home, and not too humid, and hes not a soaker. What the hell happened to my boy! So frustrated.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skittles1101

That looks like a burn...what type of heat source do you use how do you regulate it??

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?

I was using under belly heating and I regulate with a thermostat - I know how sensitive he is - I keep a very close eye on him. Ive removed everything in his home except his hide and water dish. The vet told me to take the under belly heating off and use heat lamp. Which I have done. It never was hot enough to burn that bad? Unless he burrowed in his substraight (when I was using plantation soil) and stayed there for hours on end? He shed right before we went to the vet on sept 20 literally finished shed sept 19... it was just a little red at the time, did NOT look like this.
I took the underbelly off since Now this? it cant be burn?

How long have you have the UTH off? I would stop using that soil, since the problem always happens after you replace it. Have you tried keeping him on the paper towels for an extended period of time? What kind of thermostat were you using? How do you measure temps??

I have stopped using the plantation soil since he last shed on sept 19. I use paper towel on top and plain white paper under the papertowel.
I use a digital thermometer with a probe near the bottom to get the correct temp

I didn't mean to write thermostat sorry I meant to write I regulate it with a thermometer electric with a probe close to the ground

I do not have a thermostat

UTH off about a month now

I haven't tried papertowel for too long just when he would heal.
Now I think I know the problem... the soil. I will not use it again.

Im just worried if he will recover and be okay ?
how else can I help him?
is it a burn??? maybe a mix of reaction and burn

my partner and I handle him a lot, it happened within a few days

I think it could have been a burn from the UTH, especially if you aren't using a thermostat. A thermometer doesn't regulate a UTH, it only reads temps, and depending on what kind it could in inaccurate readings. It takes reptiles a long time to heal, so if it was a burn, it could be getting re-irritated and/or re-infected from being back on the soil and not healing quite long enough. I highly suggest switching to papertowels until it is completely cleared, at least a few months. Nothing else really comes to mind other than burn when I see that. I'd be doing those soakings daily until it is completely healed, and then keep the paper towels. I would also look into a different substrate once it is healed, just as a precaution. I would keep handling down to a minimum. If it's infected, humans carry a lot of germs not to mention stress won't help with the healing.

I think if it gets worse you may need antibiotics.

I'm sorry did you say you were soaking him with betadine solution?

Your right thermometer doesn't regulate it reads temperatures. Sorry its been a long day and for some reason on this site I cant type a lot it cuts off at times and I cant explain what im trying to say in detail

the vet told us to use betadine mix water for a soak.

what antibiotics do you suggest? If I requested some from the vet to try would it hurt him?

I only handle while caring for him since he is having problems. I disinfect very well before and after. I don't want to stress him out as well like you said. I use betadine solution and also apply some non pain - antibiotic to the spots. I don't know what else to do. Hes on paper towel and I removed everything except his hide and water dish to avoid transfer of any more bacteria... I disinfect with part water part bleach, rise and dry. every week...

is it a good idea to keep the uth off as I have been?

I think you should continue the betadine and water soakings every day and keeping him on clean paper towels, along with either getting a thermostat and keeping it at a lower temp or keeping your lamp and just making sure you keep the humidity up. I think if it doesn't clear up within a few weeks, or starts looking worse, I would request antibiotics. If it starts to heal you might not need antibiotics, just make sure you don't try and use any kind of OTC topical stuff like Neosporin. The petroleum based products can do worse for a burn than help. I'm sorry I don't have a suggestion for specific antibiotics, I've never had one of my snakes burned, but if you request it I'm sure your vet will know what to do.

I just read you put cream on it...what kind are you using?

The vet last week told me to use the Betadine that I had already purchased and was using prior. He also told me to use an ointment without painkiller. So that's what I did. I put a small amount where it's lifted, I've read and heard good and bad about using ointment. It's clear not like a lotion - life brand. So I guess it's a topical type OTC :S
I can't say for sure that he didn't burn himself as anything is possible. He kept saying it was a reaction. It did not look this way when I went to the vet last week 1 day after his last shed... Which it looked better then BOOM this happened ? No UTH and papertowel. So I'm confused as to why it got worse when it was getting better with no triggers to the burn idea?

I know it's hard to tell, and I've thought of burn too considering it's his lower half. His top half is as beautiful and normal as can be. I'm taking him back to the vet, I want to request something to put on it to help. I feel useless.

Thank you for your expertise. I will purchase a better set up for heat. Any recommendations?

I also appreciate your time to help with your input.




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I kept using the plantation soil as it was recommended to help me keep humidity levels to par. I didn't realize it may of been hurting him or a problem until this time around when I removed it immediately.

I will keep the UTH off and use his heat lamp until the better set up.

I'll also take your advice and quit the ointment - I don't want to hurt him.





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Here is a good thermostat that is pretty cheap. Burns can get worse when using ointment on them, which could explain why it looks worse even with the UTH disconnected. I would maybe try just a betadine soaks for a while without the ointment just in case. Burns are tricky with reptiles. Good luck! I hope you find out what's going on, I would steer clear from the substrate.

I agree. I'll try anything else other then what I have been at this point I'm obv not doing something right. Which is hard to admit! My pride aside, I want him better.

I'll get the thermostat, thanks for the reference.

I appreciate your help!! Thanks!


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That's what a burn looks like. I have a bp that had a belly burn, and have since thrown the uth that plug into a wall in the trash. The vet gave us oral antibiotics to use for 6 weeks and a topical solution to put on the burn area once a day. It smells like oysters so you'll know if you have the right stuff. You should wear a glove when applying the topical cause it will make your skin smell like oysters and apparently will leave the same taste in your mouth... Our vet owns BP's and some other snakes/reptiles. It doesn't look like a horribly bad burn but is a burn none the less. Get it checked out...

Thank you! And your absolutely right. The problem with Spartacus is. It was very mild and shed off prior - marking it as " allergic reaction" ... It NEVER looked like this until a few days ago when I originally posted. Another member said the same thing. I am on the way home from the vet now. I thought my appointment was yesterday but it was today :S either way, the vet ordered an injection for Spartacus, 3x I think he said , and a florenza---- something cream - silver something :S
He apologized as last time it didn't look this way, was just a scar down his belly and a fresh shed. Then boom this broke out ? I removed the UTH a while ago. I'll never use it again now I know for sure It's a burn.
My poor guy.

Thank you for your input.

On the upside my vet is absolutely amazing and didn't charge for this visit.



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He said even without the UTH what happened was after the fresh shed he looked good just pink. Then his skin infection broke out . Crazy.


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The cream is likely silvadene, or silver sulfadiazine. While most places normally sell it as prescription only, it's available without one from http://www.mountainside-medical.com/...=0&q=silvadene.

Ours is actually a clear liquid, not a cream.

The vet said silver something so I guess it's something different ? There's also an injection that the vet will give first and he offered to do the other 2 but I can do it myself... I hope the meds come tomorrow. I guess the shots stop the infection in it's tracks and then treats it - I really hope he pulls through this. I feel horrible .


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When I get the medication I'll post the exact name. If it's the same stuff I'll know for future to further educate others ... Because I sure won't make the same mistake again.
Thank you all for your help. Hearing others expert opinions help.


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I'm glad you found something that will treat him. Don't be completely turned off by UTHs, they are not evil, they are actually best for ball pythons since they aren't arboreal. They just have to be regulated by a thermostat. Keep us updated!

Skittles101-
I will update as soon as the vet calls to pick up the meds he ordered. At this point I think the UTH is evil, when it's my fault for not having it regulated with a thermostat in reality. I can take responsibility. I do a ton of research, i like to think im pretty educated with my snake... It was a simple mistake. The UTH wasn't even attached to the tank, it was sitting half an inch under the tank - not sure how this happened. That was be being precautions. I know they are best for bps ... It will be a while before we can use it again anyways (while he heals) by then I'll have a new set up.

Thanks again will keep posted.


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Meds are in on the way to the vet shortly for 3 pm ( ontario time ) !! Will post shortly


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http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...c9ebe057a0.jpghttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...9d7cdd7119.jpg

Here's the list of medications they have him on. Also the vet suggested that I soak Spartacus in Epsom salt bath? I haven't heard of that one? Would Betadine be as good for a soak?

Spartacus needs 7-10 injections every 3 days of cefrazidime $12.70 per shot.

silver sulfadiazine cream 2x a day

Daily Epsom salt soaks 5-10 min
Depending how he takes the soak if he's getting stressed out obv just remove him and dry him off put his cream on, let it get Into him before putting him back, so it doesn't just get wiped off inside his home.

I'm taking him in for his next shot then doing it myself after wards.
I'll ask the vet, but just wondering should this injection be muscled or under the skin.
Spartacus took it like a champ, little bit of a wiggle at the end.

Poor guy. I pray he makes it through. I wouLd be so devastated.

Thanks for all your help. I'll keep an update if anyone is interested in his progress.






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