I need help!

I have a female Ball Python, & noticed last night something wrong with her scales on her belly along with her tail. I'm thinking it's scale rot? Its a betadine solution a good remedy? W or W/O polysporn?
Should I expect scales to fall off in the bath? Help!

Please post a picture if possible, it would be a big help to help identify what's wrong. :)

What are you using as a heat source, and is it regulated (on a thermostat)?

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Originally Posted by Ashiie

I have a female Ball Python, & noticed last night something wrong with her scales on her belly along with her tail. I'm thinking it's scale rot? Its a betadine solution a good remedy? W or W/O polysporn?
Should I expect scales to fall off in the bath? Help!

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You didn't even describe the issue but expect help!?! Post a pic and describe the problem to the best of your ability.

You have to help us help you.

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Originally Posted by KMG

You didn't even describe the issue but expect help!?! Post a pic and describe the problem to the best of your ability.

You have to help us help you.

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I wrote this in a panic, sorry.
I would say the outside of the effected area looks tender, slightly swollen and light pink. The center scales have a yellow tinge to them, almost deflated looking. I'll post a photo once I figure out how to

Take a pic and load it on a site like Photobucket. Then copy and paste the "img" code into a post here. Once you hit submit the photo will appear in the thread.

I have an over hangining light, and an under pad heat source.
The top lamp is regulated but the bottom one is not - just a plug in and go type thing.
The temp is always between 65-80 degrees (night/day)

Unplug the under tank heater(uth), the pad!!! You need to have the uth on a thermostat to protect the snake from getting burned. If you do not have a tstat it is a good chance you now have a burned snake.

What is the light regulated with?

With the pic of the snake include a pic of the setup so we can help you further.

UNPLUG THE UTH NOW!!!!

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Originally Posted by KMG

UNPLUG THE UTH NOW!!!!

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Quoted for truth!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMG

Unplug the under tank heater(uth), the pad!!! You need to have the uth on a thermostat to protect the snake from getting burned. If you do not have a tstat it is a good chance you now have a burned snake.

What is the light regulated with?

With the pic of the snake include a pic of the setup so we can help you further.

UNPLUG THE UTH NOW!!!!

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It's unplugged!!!
I cleaned out her tank, & laid paper towel down instead. Its regulated by a dial. I'm still having trouble uploading photos here even with photo bucket like you suggested.

Good.

I have trouble with Photobucket in the mobile mode. I have to be on my laptop or windows tablet and select the regular desktop mode to get to the pics and get the "img" code.

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psied8qrco.jpg

Hopefully this works.

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psied8qrco.jpg

Not a expert by no means but that looks infected sorry for your troubles

From what I understand, if it was infected she wouldn't be moving much, eating or passing waste.
All of which she doesn't seem to have any problems doing right now.

Thank you though, hoping to figure this out sooner rather than later

It could be an infection, it could be a burn.... Towards the bottom, that black line across her bottom, that looks like it could be scale rot. The pink looks burn or shed like, but it obviously does not extend the full length of her. Scale rot occurs with an enclosure which is too damp and/or not well cleaned. The initial treatment yes, would be weak tea colored betadine/water soaks. Not too warm! What feels warm to you is too warm for her. Change that bedding if any sort of anything gets on it from her or her bowl. What is your humidity like? Temps for hotspot and the cooler end? How are you measuring both your temps and humidity?

PS One of the more experienced keepers will be around to offer a thought or 2 as well, but I at least know enough to give my $0.02

Hmm, it doesn't really look like the burns I have seen from unregulated UTH's... They generally look more pink/red. I'll let the more experienced members chime in as well though.

Is there any possibility that she's had this issue for a while without you noticing?

I would also seek out a veterinary's advice, particularly one that has experience in Herp.

It is really hard to see in such a small picture.

Go into Photobucket and select that photo in the album. On the right side about half way down you will see different codes. You want to click on the IMG code. Just click it with the left mouse button and it will say COPIED. Then come back here and paste it into the thread. This will allow us to see the actual pic instead of one that is thumbnail sized.

It does appear to be a burn. Albeit a kind of first degree burn that hasn't really escalated to the tissue depths that we have seen previously. What makes me think that it's a burn is it's consistent with the history of using a heat mat w/o a thermostat. Even though it appears to be just a reddening of the scales what makes it more serious is the location of the burns. Seems to be near the vent and cloaca in one segment and then mid body in another. Certainly could be a concomitant scale rot as well. Imo, this will require a vet and medication not just betadine and neosporin. It may require silvadene and antibiotics to speed recovery and stave off any sepsis. Good luck and keep us updated.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMG

It is really hard to see in such a small picture.

Go into Photobucket and select that photo in the album. On the right side about half way down you will see different codes. You want to click on the IMG code. Just click it with the left mouse button and it will say COPIED. Then come back here and paste it into the thread. This will allow us to see the actual pic instead of one that is thumbnail sized.

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http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/...psied8qrco.jpg

Looks like maybe a minor burn IMO? The brown areas look like scale rot, which is usually associated with too wet or unclean bedding. But I could see it happening when debris and water get into an area that's been burned as well. It's kind of hard to tell exactly what's going on.