Ball python snagged scales! Help!

So my baby ball python managed to snag her scales on a couple of spots on her body and you can see the pink parts of her flesh underneath. It appears she did this earlier today and I have removed the accessory that she got herself caught on, but I wanted to know if there's anything I can do about the wounds. I'm really worried about putting her back in case she also snags the scales on her hide, since they are still hanging. If needed, pictures can be provided. Please help!

Provide pictures please.

Id use newspaper/butcher paper/paper towel for substrate until it healed. You dont want wood/rep chip to get into a open wound. Get some antbiotic ointment (without pain relief)

What did it get snagged on? Is it something sold for enclosures to avoid?

Ah, no. It's something sold specifically for snakes to climb on and I'm very disappointed with the company that made it. I've built her a pretty much childproof place to stay at least until it heals up and I'm working on getting stuff for an iodine solution.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2FR4oemEH.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2Fgw4n06S.jpg
Both cuts look the same as that one.

OUCH! Hopefully she heals without complications.

Please provide information on the appliance so we can all avoid it in the future. Thank you.

It's made by Exo-Terra, a suction cup plant that hangs on the side of the terrarium. Here's a couple more pictures:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2F6FUwGlY.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2Fh5FH5Mb.jpg

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Originally Posted by manacakes

Ah, no. It's something sold specifically for snakes to climb on and I'm very disappointed with the company that made it. I've built her a pretty much childproof place to stay at least until it heals up and I'm working on getting stuff for an iodine solution.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2FR4oemEH.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2Fgw4n06S.jpg
Both cuts look the same as that one.

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I returned 2 Big Cave Hides 11x 16.5" from Petsmart that were National Geographic, Exo-Terra brand. Underneath they were curled under a little and sharp as a razor. Thank god they got me before my snakes... They were $40 each, what dangerous Junk. Never again.
If you can get antibiotic ointment on the wound go for it, if themeat isnt open it might heal ok itself. Keep a clean substrate and you should be fine.
Id show the store and see if you can fill out paperwork.. Who knows if you'll need Vet care!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by manacakes

It's made by Exo-Terra, a suction cup plant that hangs on the side of the terrarium.

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Oh my...I've got 2 suction cup plants in my enclosure now. Guess I've been lucky. any idea where it was sharp enough to do that damage?

My lady has done this as well. I have completely rid her tank of any possible accidents such as anything with sharp edges, things she can break and any kind of plants that have mental inside them. The exo-terra plants have a long mental rod with sharp ends that run through them. Sometimes the metal pokes out and can for sure cut your animal so I no longer buy them. For decor and to provide my snakes with enrichment I usually use fake plants without mental inside them, large logs that have been sanded down without any sharp edges etc.


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And I agree with mr sully. Take everything out except hides and water dish. Opt out the loose substrate for paper towel or newspaper until healed.


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Thank you guys so much for your help. I know now what type of plants not to buy when she heals. She seems to be doing okay in the temporary enclosure.

Thanks for sharing this info! I've been very selective about what I put in my enclosures, but now I'm going to double check every item in my enclosures to be safe. I received a hide with a fairly sharp edge that I was able to sand down. You would think a fairly thorough inspection process would take place before these items leave the warehouse. I understand that even after some extensive R&D some products can still be produced with flaws from the manufacturing process, but how to they get past inspection, out of the warehouse and into stores or shipped without somebody catching it?? Makes me wonder why companies even sell these poorly made products and how better business bureaus even allow these companies to continue to produce products like this.
Good luck with the wound, I hope your snake heals up quickly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Thanks for sharing this info! I've been very selective about what I put in my enclosures, but now I'm going to double check every item in my enclosures to be safe. I received a hide with a fairly sharp edge that I was able to sand down. You would think a fairly thorough inspection process would take place before these items leave the warehouse. I understand that even after some extensive R&D some products can still be produced with flaws from the manufacturing process, but how to they get past inspection, out of the warehouse and into stores or shipped without somebody catching it?? Makes me wonder why companies even sell these poorly made products and how better business bureaus even allow these companies to continue to produce products like this.
Good luck with the wound, I hope your snake heals up quickly.

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Mass production Chinese junk. I returned the hides I bought at Petsmart. All sharp, thin plastic even when you spend $50/60/$100 EACH. Thats when i stopped trying to make the natural habitat look and went to Butcher Paper, grit painted PVC pipe for climbs, Reptile Basics Hides and Water Bowls....
easy peasy, safe and clean...

Yup, it sucks. And I bet they actually do a quick inspection but the standards are so low that this crap passes anyway. I like the idea of do-it-yourself hides, climbs, etc...Still learning, but I'm done buying overpriced big box junk.

Just for clarification, is there anything I should do for the wounds themselves? There are scales hanging off of the worse of the two that could still snag on anything rough. Is it better to leave the scales as they are or do something to help them heal properly?

[QUOTE=manacakes;2503398]Just for clarification, is there anything I should do for the wounds themselves? There are scales hanging off of the worse of the two that could still snag on anything rough. Is it better to leave the scales as they are or do something to help them heal properly?[/QUOTE

Once I took in a snake that had a long Gash "4" where it got cut on something, i put Triple antibiotic ointment on that area (without a pain relief agent) but left the scales alone. I kept him in a tote with a water bowl and a regular hide "like reptile basics" where there are no edges or sharp peices. Some scales fell off after a couple weeks and he healed with a long scar but was fine... the cut im talking about was into the meat, yours is a scratch complaired to this one so im sure your BP will be fine in a week or two.

can super glue be used on snakes to mend skin like it's used in ER's and by some vets? I'm specifically wondering if it reduces scaring like it does on people.

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Originally Posted by Slither Seeker

can super glue be used on snakes to mend skin like it's used in ER's and by some vets? I'm specifically wondering if it reduces scaring like it does on people.

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I would say NO.. Even pain reliever in Antibiotic cream is toxic to a snake.

Do not try super glue!! First off the type of super glue used in clinics is way different and less harmful to the skin than the stuff you can pick up at Walmart or Home Depot. Non-medical super glues have chemicals in them that will produce heat and often cause burns to the skin, as the heat given off is part of the chemical reaction that produces the glues bond. Secondly, I have never heard of medical glue being used on reptiles, I personally don't know why but there is likely a reason so do not experiment.

Neosporin with out the pain meds keep her super clean and super dry till it heals. I recently had an ivory do something similar not as bad but there was a small plastic barb gave her a good little split. She's on the mend now but is a tough going for a while