scale rot?

i think monty has some scale rot on the bottom of his head (underside) some of the scales are brown and peeling off it looks kinda like freckles not one big patch what should i do? is a vet visit neccessary?

I would think so.

If you think it's scale rot, then yes you need to see a vet. Even if you're not sure, it may be a good idea to have it checked out by a vet anyway.

Definitely take your snake to the vet. What's the humidity in his viv set at?

his humidity was a bit off the last week or so im gonna scedule an appointment thanks

My BPs humidity is usually 50%. BPs don't need a lot of humidity. When they're in shed I put an extra water bowl on the warm side and put a humid box in (easy to make for nothing) and give the viv a misting morning and night. My BPs use the humid box all the time. As soon as they've shed, I take the humid box and extra water bowl out again. I also use paper towel as substrate (cheap and easy to clean).

Here's the humid hide I use. I made it out of an old strawberry box (they tasted good btw), cut a hole in the side and lined it with damp paper towel. Although it's clear, it gets hidden under the plastic leaves I have in the viv.

This way, the viv doesn't get too humid and lessens the chance of scale rot or respiritory infections, and my BPs love it :D

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...d/PICT0071.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...d/PICT0070.jpg

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Originally Posted by Lady Python

BPs don't need a lot of humidity.

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Relative to what?

-adam

i am courious to know how high the humdity level would have to be for a BP to get scale rot and for how. also, how long would it take, a couple weeks, month or a few days.

Adam relative to, say a Brazilian Rainbow Boa which needs high humidity.


50-55% is more than adequate for a BP. Increase to 55% - 60% as soon as they're eyes turn blue when they're in shed. As soon as they've shed, bring the humidity back down to 50-55%. My original BP, Byron has had perfect sheds every time. My new rescue BP, I'm hoping will shed perfectly when he comes into shed (hopefully soon). It is a good idea to have a humidity gauge and there are many good ones on the market.

New2BP I have never encountered scale rot or respiratory problems (and intend to keep it that way) so I couldn't say how long it would take. I'm sure someone else on the forum will be able to answer that question for you.

Good husbandry is so important. I use paper towel for substrate, and as soon as I see that the snakes have soiled it, I clean it out immediately. Good husbandry will lessen the risks of problems, keep the snakes comfortable and help reduce vet bills.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lady Python

Adam relative to, say a Brazilian Rainbow Boa which needs high humidity.

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But not relative to an average homes relative humidity. Homes running electric heat sources in the winter or central A/C sytems in the summer can have RTH levels far lower than what a ball python needs on a daily basis to be healthy.

-adam

Hi Adam. Yes. That's why a good humidity gauge is useful. Over here, our weather is so changeable (yesterday it was very warm and sunny, today it's been cold, wet, windy and feels more like winter than summer). In the UK we tend to have fairly high humidity all year round. Come winter, when my central heating's on, I may have to raise the humidity in my vivs to compensate. I tend to humidify anyway because I'm asthmatic and if the atmosphere gets too dry I tend to get wheezy so I'll be keeping a close eye on the humidity levels in all my vivs. So far, all my snakes except my son's Cornsnake have shed perfectly. The Cornsnake has a different viv (Exo Terra) - you know the ones with lots of ventilation slits in the lid and the first time he shed he only partially shed so we had to soak him then let him slither through a wet towel. We got round that problem by putting cling-wrap (don't know what it's called in the States but the plastic clingy stuff you wrap food in) over the lid and covering up the ventilation holes on the lid and at the back and sides of the viv, just keeping the front ventilation holes covered. We put in an extra water dish and the humid box, plus misted it a couple of times every day while the Cornsnake was shedding. Worked a treat and he had a perfect shed last time. The Cornsnake's back in shed at the moment (in the blue), so we should know in a couple of days if the cling-wrap trick has worked again. Will let you know.


My BP, Byron has so far had perfect sheds - all off in one piece (last time I had the priviledge of watching him shed:D ) I'm hoping our new BP (one we adopted last week) shed's OK too. His last owners didn't bother with humidity and he had 3 partial sheds stuck to him and was grossly underweight. He's coming on fine now and is eating. All he has to do now is shed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lady Python

Hi Adam. Yes. That's why a good humidity gauge is useful. Over here, our weather is so changeable (yesterday it was very warm and sunny, today it's been cold, wet, windy and feels more like winter than summer). In the UK we tend to have fairly high humidity all year round. Come winter, when my central heating's on, I may have to raise the humidity in my vivs to compensate. I tend to humidify anyway because I'm asthmatic and if the atmosphere gets too dry I tend to get wheezy so I'll be keeping a close eye on the humidity levels in all my vivs. So far, all my snakes except my son's Cornsnake have shed perfectly. The Cornsnake has a different viv (Exo Terra) - you know the ones with lots of ventilation slits in the lid and the first time he shed he only partially shed so we had to soak him then let him slither through a wet towel. We got round that problem by putting cling-wrap (don't know what it's called in the States but the plastic clingy stuff you wrap food in) over the lid and covering up the ventilation holes on the lid and at the back and sides of the viv, just keeping the front ventilation holes covered. We put in an extra water dish and the humid box, plus misted it a couple of times every day while the Cornsnake was shedding. Worked a treat and he had a perfect shed last time. The Cornsnake's back in shed at the moment (in the blue), so we should know in a couple of days if the cling-wrap trick has worked again. Will let you know.


My BP, Byron has so far had perfect sheds - all off in one piece (last time I had the priviledge of watching him shed:D ) I'm hoping our new BP (one we adopted last week) shed's OK too. His last owners didn't bother with humidity and he had 3 partial sheds stuck to him and was grossly underweight. He's coming on fine now and is eating. All he has to do now is shed.

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So if someone just owned a ball python and wasn't aware of the humidity requirements of other species as a reference to what you were talking about and they kept a particularly dry home, then their ball python would need a lot of humidity or at least a lot more than their homes RTH .... right?

I just thought that your statment was a little misleading if someone came into the thread and read it without reference.

-adam

Thanks. I'll remember that next time I say about humidity:D We're hoping to move (retire) to Spain in the next couple of years and all our family, snakes, cats, dog will be going with us so we'll have to look at possible humidity problems there too. With our typical yukky British weather today, moving to Spain can't come quick enough LOL.

Well you could live just off one of our wonderful northern Michigan lakes where the weather changes not from temp to temp but from season to season in any given day! So far today we had....spring...summer....fall...spring...it's playing hell with my chest cold *cough sniffle whine whine whine*:(


~~Jo~~

Sounds just like the weather we have here, especially up north in Scotland. I come from Aberdeen (North East coast of Scotland brrrrrr... rrreeeaallly ccccold)

and we've had all four seasons plus the occasional thunderstorm all in one day too. It's a bit warmer in England (I live in the South West now) but I really hate cold weather. Give me warm sunshine any day:D

Oh be careful what you wish for! I am stuck in the heat, and long for some nice cooler weather. We did have a small cool front and it knock the temps down to 93. :doh: I still can't stand to be outside for any length of time without feeling nauseated. I would love to have your weather. (at least for a little bit ;) )

My it's a small, small world. Remember me telling you I was raised by my scottish born granny...if memory serves she was born in Aberdeen though I also remember her speaking of a place called...Grenoch...Greenoch....darn something like that (sorry cold meds playing heck with me again!).

I make you a deal Christie...once winter hits here in dear ole Michigan...you come up here, I'll go down there. It's ever so much fun to spend 15 minutes bundling up your toddler, then digging another 20 minutes to make a path so you can go out to play in the yard....then you get ohhh about 2 minutes of playtime before they go...."mommy I have to go inside and pee" :(


~~Jo~~