need help! im not sure if it's scale rot or tint from the substrate

Hi good day everyone, I need help with my baby bp, I just have her for one month, shes eating and poops well. but I noticed her tail has a weird discoloration im not sure if it's from the substrate which is reptichip or she really has skin infections. I keep her in a 40g tank. thanks in advance, need your opinion guys. here are the pictures.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...c2d33a945d.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...a0925438e2.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...d0061ddc22.jpg


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We're definitely going to need to know what the temperature are in there. And if there's any possible sharp or tight decorations they may have been squeezed into.

If it was discoloration from the substrate it would usually be on the belly and not on the back. I'm on my phone right now so I can't get the best look, but it could be something as simple as some poop... It can happen. Or I'm a little more worried about it being something like a burn or possibly some injury from squeezing into places like decor.

the temp is usually 84 to 88, and humidity is around 40-50. yeah i think decors have sharp edges.

I would like to know what enclosure type you have your bp in, as well as substrate and heat source? How long has your bp had this going on for ?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by seanvincent

Hi good day everyone, I need help with my baby bp, I just have her for one month, shes eating and poops well. but I noticed her tail has a weird discoloration im not sure if it's from the substrate which is reptichip or she really has skin infections.

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To clarify, you're saying that this:
https://i.imgur.com/x5q3QVd.jpg
used to to be white like this:
https://i.imgur.com/lfHggOW.jpg.
Correct?

To be honest, that discoloration on her dorsal area look more to me like she had some runny stool & managed to smear some on herself. Did you look in her hides? (on the "walls & ceiling")

She's a beautiful snake, btw...even if she did get "dirty". :D

Another thing: When you want to know what something like that is, the first thing you do is take a soft damp cloth & try to gently wipe it off, see? "Lint" & substrate & snake poo all washes off.

I could be wrong, but that doesn't look like a skin infection or burn to me...but we're not in a position to tell, only you are, by first seeing if it comes right off with gentle washing.

I agree with Armiyana that if it was a burn it would usually be on the ventral (tummy) side, though not always (as when using overhead heat devices).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by seanvincent

the temp is usually 84 to 88, and humidity is around 40-50. yeah i think decors have sharp edges.

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It could also be a skin scrape & dried blood (from the color), so PLEASE get rid of decor with any sharp edges!!! :(

They make some cool looking things for tropical fish that have razor-sharp edges left inside that don't seem to bother fish, but can shred a snake that tries to snug into them as a "hide". Get rid of that stuff & get proper safe hides A.S.A.P.- & in the meantime, use clean cardboard boxes with a hole cut for the doorway if you have to wait for them to be shipped to you. Even if that's NOT the issue (shown above), decor with sharp edges is an accident waiting to happen- it's like handing a toddler a sharp knife to go run & play with.

Your warmest temps. should be closer to 88* (under 90* for safety), & the coolest temps. should be 77*+. Your humidity should be increased when the snake is in shed for sure, to about 65-75%. *****IF that discoloration is actually dried fecal material from sliding thru some "loose stool", it might be the result of poor digestion- ie. not being warm enough to digest fully. ;)

Also a tip regarding decor with sharp edges, like Bogertophis said you really should just stay away from it in general but if it's something that only had one sharp edge that was a defect or something then I usually sand the edges down with sand paper and it ends up working just fine. If it's a super sharp edge and would take way too long to sand down then just don't get it.

I have 40g glass enclosure. substrate is reptichip. i think it's been 1 week since I first noticed it. before she has a green belly which im pretty sure she got it from the humid hide filled with green moss.

my heat source is lamp with 100w day and night bulb both woth timers. , it also has a heatpad plugged into a thermostat, but I don't use it anymore , I got scared it might burn my snake, about the stool, I think her poop looks good, it's long and black :)she pooped twice already in 1 month. i feed her every wednesday and sunday with adult mice.

The point is, have you tried wiping it off? Speculation is pointless without knowing that. ;)

I sure hope your lamps are controlled by a thermostat? FYI, snakes (especially nocturnal ones like BPs) don't like being subjected to bright day lights- you might want to re-think how you're heating. Bright lights causes them stress.

The UTH controlled with T-stat should be perfectly safe as long as you set it up right- measuring the temperature IN the tank right over the UTH without substrate, then adjusting t-stat so the actual temperature where your snake can touch is not over 90*. It doesn't matter what the t-stat is set to, what matters is the resulting warmth in the tank. Also, it takes time for temps. to settle- so don't make one initial adjustment & leave it alone- you need to check back on UTH heat, because it can take days or even a week to fully be effective- you may need to adjust the t-stat several times so it's not too hot- understand? That's because a UTH is slowly heating up everything in & around the tank- the furnishings etc. That's why we suggest setting up a new tank & testing the heat BEFORE a snake ever moves in, & making adjustments first, but "that ship has sailed". And also, you don't want substrate deeper than .5" over the UTH- because it's essentially "insulation" that prevents the heat from rising where you want it. See?

Snakes do appreciate "belly heat" (that's mostly what I use for my snakes) and also it's more efficient- heat rises, so UTH heat goes into the tank, whereas w/ overhead lights, most of the heat is going up up & away, never in the tank. I'd be surprised if your tank (especially on the floor where your snake lives) is actually warm enough, especially now in the winter. What are the actual temps? If you give more info (exactly what t-stat you're using & what UTH) we can help you make changes. Posting pics helps too. I hope you don't wait until your snake stops eating or gets sick to make adjustments.

Hi theres thanks for the advice, I wiped it off last night with wet towel, it did come off, theres still some dots left and the yellowish from the dyed moss, but it's way better now. before i just tried to rub it off with my hands and it's not going away. heres how she looks now.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...542ae05bf3.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...0fb52e5005.jpg


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