Indented scales?

My ball python has started getting these weird looking indented scales, I ignored it at first because I thought it was a bad shed but it has gotten worse. I looked it up but can’t find anything similar. Does anyone have some insight to what this might be?https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bdb68cd41a.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...16c746d822.jpg


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Any chance he's doing physical damage to himself by scrunching against cage furnishings?

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Any chance he's doing physical damage to himself by scrunching against cage furnishings?

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Right now she’s still in her quarantine tub, I don’t know how she could have done this she basically has two hides/substrate and that’s it


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I'm also noticing some tiny areas that are the same way- that points to something different, IMO. When you look very close, do the scales look a bit shriveled? If so, it might be a fungal infection of the skin/scales. You mentioned "still in quarantine": when snakes are new, they're under more stress so their immune system is less functional & snakes are more likely to be adversely affected with things they might otherwise have fought off. (Just like with humans & dogs & probably most every living thing- too much stress affects our health.) Anyway, if it's fungal, treat fast before it keeps spreading, for best results.

Might want to check with a herp vet: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I'm also noticing some tiny areas that are the same way- that points to something different, IMO. When you look very close, do the scales look a bit shriveled? If so, it might be a fungal infection of the skin/scales. You mentioned "still in quarantine": when snakes are new, they're under more stress so their immune system is less functional & snakes are more likely to be adversely affected with things they might otherwise have fought off. (Just like with humans & dogs & probably most every living thing- too much stress affects our health.) Anyway, if it's fungal, treat fast before it keeps spreading, for best results.

Might want to check with a herp vet: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

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This actually makes a lot of sense, she did start really slow, however since then she’s handled like a champ and eats like a monster. If it were a fungal infection what should I do? I think I may just go ahead and schedule a vet trip but is there anything I could do until then


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If that's what it is, it just requires a topical medication to clear it up. And after subsequent sheds, the scales should be back to normal. The faster you treat it, the less spread you have to deal with. BPs seem prone to this (fungi love the same warmth + humidity)- I dealt with it when I had BPs many years ago. It's very treatable, just annoying. ;) Never seen it with any of my other snakes, btw.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

If that's what it is, it just requires a topical medication to clear it up. And after subsequent sheds, the scales should be back to normal. The faster you treat it, the less spread you have to deal with. BPs seem prone to this (fungi love the same warmth + humidity)- I dealt with it when I had BPs many years ago. It's very treatable, just annoying. ;) Never seen it with any of my other snakes, btw.

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Thank you so much! I just want you to know you’re awesome and I really appreciate your help every time, your the best man.


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Originally Posted by BallBoa

Thank you so much! I just want you to know you’re awesome and I really appreciate your help every time, your the best man.


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Thanks, & that would be "the best woman". :D

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Thanks, & that would be "the best woman". :D

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My bad sorry! I forgot to ask what medication specifically should I use? Are there any with ingredients to be avoided?


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Originally Posted by BallBoa

My bad sorry! I forgot to ask what medication specifically should I use? Are there any with ingredients to be avoided?


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Since I'm not seeing the issue real close up, it would be better to verify the issue first with your vet, so you're not using something ineffective for the issue at hand.

But IF it's what I think (fungal) what I used (from my vet) in the past was miconazole nitrate 1% ("Conofite" spray) which is actually sold for dogs & cats. ;)

Same ingredient is used in some antifungal products (topical use only!) for humans, but it's 2% instead of 1%, so maybe a bit too strong for pet use. It's used daily & it does take a while to clear up.

Might check & see if Chewy or Petco carry that product (Conofite 1% spray)? ;)

I cannot verify that ANY OTHER anti-fungal meds are safe for snake use, I would NOT use them, & that would be a question for your vet also.

Remember that topical meds are absorbed thru the skin, so use the LEAST amount that is effective. ONLY treat scales that are obviously affected.

I just looked at Chewy: you'd want either of the first 2 listed (lotion or spray, generic Miconazole nitrate 1%)
https://www.chewy.com/s?query=Conofi...submit-button=

I agree that it does look more like a fungal type issue. I've used some OTC human athlete's foot meds with dogs, rats and guinea pigs in the past while working with a vet, but I'd would consult a vet before using it for reptiles. Especially with the slower metabolisms.

As a side note...if your baby is coming up for a shed and for some reason it sloughs that area of skin, definitely get a vet appointment. I've only seen it happen once while working as a vet tech, but a similar kind of wrinkling of the skin before a shed. The only thing the vet at the time could think of was maybe a burn that wasn't enough to severely burn the snake but affected the tissue under the scales.

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Originally Posted by BallBoa

...what medication specifically should I use? Are there any with ingredients to be avoided? ...

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

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I just looked at Chewy: you'd want either of the first 2 listed (lotion or spray, generic Miconazole nitrate 1%)
https://www.chewy.com/s?query=Conofi...submit-button=

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Hey, after I posted this earlier, I had second thoughts about whether or not the "lotion" form would be suitable, thinking there might be other ingredients intended for the skin of dogs/cats but less friendly to reptile/snake skin. After reading the ingredients, each option only lists Miconazole- and one reviewer for the lotion said it's "not thick like a lotion", so I think that would be the least messy option to use on a snake. The spray will more easily be going "out of bounds" on scales you don't need to treat. A watery lotion would be easily applied with a Q-tip, I should think.

As I said before, there are other antifungal products on the market (intended for human or other animal use) that are NOT "Miconazole" & I would NOT assume them to be safe on snakes. In the past though, I have used Miconazole 1% (in the form of the trademarked medication called Conofite) that was specifically prescribed & furnished by my vet for my BP with a fungal infection of his scales. It worked both safely & effectively, but not "overnight"- it takes a while, with daily re-application. The Conofite was a clear, watery liquid & it sounds like that's what this generic from Chewy is too.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Hey, after I posted this earlier, I had second thoughts about whether or not the "lotion" form would be suitable, thinking there might be other ingredients intended for the skin of dogs/cats but less friendly to reptile/snake skin. After reading the ingredients, each option only lists Miconazole- and one reviewer for the lotion said it's "not thick like a lotion", so I think that would be the least messy option to use on a snake. The spray will more easily be going "out of bounds" on scales you don't need to treat. A watery lotion would be easily applied with a Q-tip, I should think.

As I said before, there are other antifungal products on the market (intended for human or other animal use) that are NOT "Miconazole" & I would NOT assume them to be safe on snakes. In the past though, I have used Miconazole 1% (in the form of the trademarked medication called Conofite) that was specifically prescribed & furnished by my vet for my BP with a fungal infection of his scales. It worked both safely & effectively, but not "overnight"- it takes a while, with daily re-application. The Conofite was a clear, watery liquid & it sounds like that's what this generic from Chewy is too.

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Thank you, I think I am going to wait for the vets opinion on what I should do though unless it gets much worse before we can get there (reptile vet is pretty far away). I really don’t want to take any risks here, I don’t understand enough about this stuff.


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Originally Posted by BallBoa

Thank you, I think I am going to wait for the vets opinion on what I should do though unless it gets much worse before we can get there (reptile vet is pretty far away). I really don’t want to take any risks here, I don’t understand enough about this stuff.


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That's really for the best, since we're not getting such a close up look at the scales here. But your description ("indented scales") strongly suggests what I've seen before- close up, the affected scales would appear shriveled, so your description was pretty close. Do let us know what the vet says, when you finally see him or her?

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

That's really for the best, since we're not getting such a close up look at the scales here. But your description ("indented scales") strongly suggests what I've seen before- close up, the affected scales would appear shriveled, so your description was pretty close. Do let us know what the vet says, when you finally see him or her?

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Yeah I would say that’s what the scales look like. I will definitely update once we’ve seen them which can hopefully be very soon I just have to make the time.


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Alright, we just got back from the vet, and they said it could be a fungal infection, but it didn’t totally look like one. They gave me some fungal cream and told me to use it after she sheds (she is in shed now) just to check if shedding makes any difference.

I wanted to also add since I last posted, in my opinion, it doesn’t seem to have gotten any worse, so I’ve got that going for me here.


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He's right about waiting it he sheds at this point. It's less stress for the snake while shedding and the old layer of skin will prevent a lot of the medication from working where the fungal infection is primarily focused.

It will still work to a small extent, and I understand wanting to treat your baby and get them better asap, but the best effect will be after they shed and getting to the fungus layer directly.

Ok so sorry guys I’m late on the update here but after she shed the entire thing was just…. gone. She now looks amazing and is doing fantastic I never even used the cream. I will update again if anything else happens but that’s the current situation and I’m super relieved.


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That's weird...but great news anyway! :)