Shouldn't I be worried or not?

I recently got a ball python and when I was holding her I noticed something with her belly scales. They look brown, a little wrinkly at the ends and they catch really easily. I don't know how to post pictures onto here otherwise I would. should I be worried or not? and if I should be, what should I do?

How To Post Pictures

is/are your heating element/s regulated with a thermostat or similar type of electronic control?

No, I haven't been able to find in my budget yet

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Originally Posted by ThunderBeast18

I recently got a ball python and when I was holding her I noticed something with her belly scales. They look brown, a little wrinkly at the ends and they catch really easily. I don't know how to post pictures onto here otherwise I would. should I be worried or not? and if I should be, what should I do?

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Has she shed for you yet?

Could she be going into shed? Are her eyes getting opaque?

And yes, check temps and humidity and make sure she has access to clean water.

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Originally Posted by ThunderBeast18

No, I haven't been able to find in my budget yet

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Not good. If you can't afford thermostats now, which again is not good, at least get dimmer switches for a few bucks at Home Depot, etc. You absolutely need to regulate the temps and make they do not get too hot!

Dimmers have to be adjusted all the time and are far from ideal, but at least you can keep from FRYING/BURNING your animal.

Also, do you have a heat gun and know the temps at the surface?

For future reference, make sure you can afford what the animal needs before you buy the animal. Not trying to be harsh, but a sick animal is much more expensive than a thermostat. Remember, reptiles rely on us for everything!

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Originally Posted by ThunderBeast18

No, I haven't been able to find in my budget yet

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you need to unplug all heating sources IMMEDIATELY. ALL heat sources MUST be regulated; this is non-negotiable. what you are describing sounds like a bad burn, but we can't know for sure without pics.

here's an affordable thermostat from Amazon or here's a rheostat that you can use while you save up for a more permanent solution. here's a dimmer for like $10 at lowes. if you can't afford one of the most important pieces of equipment you can have for your snake, then you need to consider if you should be keeping them at all.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

you need to unplug all heating sources IMMEDIATELY. ALL heat sources MUST be regulated; this is non-negotiable. what you are describing sounds like a bad burn, but we can't know for sure without pics.

here's an affordable thermostat from Amazon or here's a rheostat that you can use while you save up for a more permanent solution. if you can't afford one of the most important pieces of equipment you can have for your snake, then you need to consider if you should be keeping them at all.

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Thanks tttaylorrr!

Again, not recommending dimmers instead of thermostat. Just an immediate band aid for until one can be delivered/bought.

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Originally Posted by dakski

Again, not recommending dimmers instead of thermostat. Just an immediate band aid for until one can be delivered/bought.

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bingo. a rheostat takes some practical knowledge to use safely and correctly, or just messing with it for a half hour to see how the heating element works with the dial.

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Originally Posted by ThunderBeast18

No, I haven't been able to find in my budget yet

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If you can't afford a thermostat, then sell your snake to someone who can. A thermostat is required and the FIRST thing you should be buying before getting a snake, or you risk (and you've seen it now) severe burns and injury to an animal that is supposed to be in your care.

If you can't care for an animal properly without causing it harm because it's out of your budget, you need to sell it.

A hydrofarm thermostat, which is $30 and gets the job done at least for a few months.
https://www.amazon.com/MTPRTC-Contro...arm+thermostat

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01I1...f=yo_pop_mb_pd

anyone use this...? It’s not even $20

redshepherd- why do you say that $30 one is only good for a few months ?

I have a heat lamp which I keep 8-9 inches above the mesh and the UTH isn't plugged in 'cause I don't have a thermostat yet, and thanks for the links because the only themostats I could find were over 200 dollars

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Originally Posted by ThunderBeast18

I have a heat lamp which I keep 8-9 inches above the mesh and the UTH isn't plugged in 'cause I don't have a thermostat yet, and thanks for the links because the only themostats I could find were over 200 dollars

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I took in a ball python burned by an unregulated heat source last year. The vet bill was almost $400 and she still didn't make it.

You can't NOT afford a thermostat. You can cheap out on décor, hides, substrate, etc. but not on the equipment to regulate heat.

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01I1...f=yo_pop_mb_pd

anyone use this...? It’s not even $20

redshepherd- why do you say that $30 one is only good for a few months ?

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In my experience, I had three hydrofarms, and all three of them failed/became very inaccurate within 3-10 months. I use a temp gun to doublecheck if my thermostats are working.

Redsheppard. Which one do you use now ??

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Redsheppard. Which one do you use now ??

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I use herpstats. They last forever, decades even, so it is totally worth the upfront cost... in the long run, it is cheaper to buy a herpstat than multiple cheap thermostats. And the way herpstats function with holding a temperature is extremely accurate.

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

I use herpstats. They last forever, decades even, so it is totally worth the upfront cost... in the long run, it is cheaper to buy a herpstat than multiple cheap thermostats. And the way herpstats function with holding a temperature is extremely accurate.

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Thank you so much I will look into them now. Any recommendations for a hydrometer thermometer combo ?


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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

why do you say that $30 one is only good for a few months ?

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you get what you pay for. a quality thermostat will easily cost you over $100 and last well over 10 years. a thermostat that costs $30 is not made for longevity or reliability; it's made to save money.

i have one enclosure running a Jumpstart thermostat (the $30 one; it's for my quarantine tub). that Jumpstart is over 3 years old and runs as it should, but i monitor it daily and will be swapping it out for a better thermostat asap. i do not trust them, as it's not worth the risk.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

you get what you pay for. a quality thermostat will easily cost you over $100 and last well over 10 years. a thermostat that costs $30 is not made for longevity or reliability; it's made to save money.

i have one enclosure running a Jumpstart thermostat (the $30 one; it's for my quarantine tub). that Jumpstart is over 3 years old and runs as it should, but i monitor it daily and will be swapping it out for a better thermostat asap. i do not trust them, as it's not worth the risk.

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Thanks Taylor. Appreciate it and totally understand.


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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Thank you so much I will look into them now. Any recommendations for a hydrometer thermometer combo ?


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The most reliable ones are digital Acurites, like these: https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-Humid...ywords=acurite

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Any recommendations for a hydrometer thermometer combo ?

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

The most reliable ones are digital Acurites, like these: https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-Humid...ywords=acurite

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digital AcuRites can also be found at walmart for >$10 :)

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

digital AcuRites can also be found at walmart for >$10 :)

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Those look really big... they go in the enclosure or?


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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Those look really big... they go in the enclosure or?

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they fit in the palm of your hand. and yup! just place them in the enclosure, however they are not waterproof so if you have to mist be sure to remove the unit out of the enclosure and put it back once you're done spraying.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

they fit in the palm of your hand. and yup! just place them in the enclosure, however they are not waterproof so if you have to mist be sure to remove the unit out of the enclosure and put it back once you're done spraying.

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Thank you both I will order them now for my current enclosure and the one I am setting up Monday for my new ball!


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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01I1...f=yo_pop_mb_pd

anyone use this...? It’s not even $20

redshepherd- why do you say that $30 one is only good for a few months ?

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I think that's the exact one we have for both snakes, ones been going strong for 8 or 9 months now.

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