Skin Problem!

Hey, I'm new. I've been reading through this forum for a couple of days and have thought I would ask for your advice. I have had my Python for almost a week now and I have realized that her skin isn't smooth. It appears to me that some individual scales pop out. Are these mites, stress, water blisters, or is it normal? Thank you.

Hi and welcome to BP.net!


I don't know how to answer your question except to ask for more information. How long have you had the snake? Where did you get it? How old is it? Are you able to take pictures of what you're concerned about so that our more experienced members can take a look?

I bought it at this store in Lubbock, Texas called Walter's World www.waltersworld.net . I've had it for 5 days and it is under two feet. I called the store and they told me to bring it in so they could look at it but I'm off for spring break 5 hours away. Here are the pictures.

http://x0f.xanga.com/044b415077d3042.../b28621794.jpg

http://xc5.xanga.com/73ab764b1353342.../m28621767.jpg

http://x42.xanga.com/f40b414b6263042.../b28621744.jpg

http://x22.xanga.com/dc0b4644d153042.../b28621724.jpg

Thank you so much!

It looks like a bad shed to me. You may want to replace that cypress with paper towels to check for mites, it will also help if the snake has been in an environment that was too moist. The mites will show up as dark specks on the paper towels and in the water bowl when your snake goes to drink.

Thanks for the pictures. I'm not very experienced with BP's myself yet, but I'm sure others will weigh in as well. So...that being said...that spot on her neck does look like a possible tick to me. Good chance she has mites as well. There is a lot of old skin that should have been shed off and wasn't. And she looks too thin.

I don't know anything about the place you got her, but petstores are notorious for bringing in imported snakes from Africa that have all sorts of parasites and problems, and then not taking good care of them before they're sold. Looks to me like you may have a fair amount of work ahead of you getting her healthy and thriving.

Did you say you were leaving for spring break? How long will you be gone and what will you do with her in the meantime?

OH, and since we don't know the sex of the animal, I just referred to her in the female sense...not to imply that she LOOKS female. LOL

How are you measuring temps and humidity? I suggest an acu-rite digi therm/hygrometer. $12 at wally world. Definitely looks to me like the last shed did not completely come off. Probably could use a bit of a soak in some shallow warm (not hot) water. The humidity where "she" was kept last was probably too low for her to completely shed. So if you don't already have a digital temp and humidity reader get one but if you do what is your humidity at now?

Oh boy. I know I should have done a lot more research before purchasing my Python. I feel kind of dumb for such an impulse buy. I read online that you want to pick an active snake that stuck its tongue out a lot and this one did that. It had some of the scales coming off a little bit and I asked the worker if that meant anything bad and he said it wasn't anything. Now as time goes by it seems to get worsen little by little. I'm not doing anything this spring break except for illustrating a kids book here at home and hanging out with friends so I have time to treat the snake.

Ok, so I need to remove the cypress and replace it with dry paper towels. Is there anyway to save the cypress(I feel kind of dumn for buying the kit they gave me, ay ay ay!)? If there is mites, I should bleach the tank, correct? Would I have to do anything with the snake? If no mites show up, I guess I'll just have to wait until I get back to take it back to the store.

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Damian7

How are you measuring temps and humidity? I suggest an acu-rite digi therm/hygrometer. $12 at wally world. Definitely looks to me like the last shed did not completely come off. Probably could use a bit of a soak in some shallow warm (not hot) water. The humidity where "she" was kept last was probably too low for her to completely shed. So if you don't already have a digital temp and humidity reader get one but if you do what is your humidity at now?

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Yeah, I've been read about those acu-rites. I'm about to go buy one right now. Thanks! I HOPE that's what's wrong with her. I'll let you know as soon as I set it up!

don't feel bad... you've come to the right place to get good information which will assist you and your new snake a LOT!

;) welcome to the addiction of snakes!

Agh, I just checked the water and I'm pretty sure she has mites. Is there anything I should do to her after I've cleaned the tank?

For a "quick" fix, you can soak her and place a DROP of dish soap in the soaking tub... that will release some of the surface tension and the mites will die... The only problem with this "quick fix" is that it doesn't do anything for the mite's eggies... IF you have mites, then you probably have MILLIONS of eggies around your cage, and on her. Get some Prevent-A-Mite.. and follow the directions EXACTLY.

There's some good info on the use/ordering of P-A-M on this site... the search function works very well. :)

Good luck to you, welcome to the site, and the wonderful world of BP's!

Also, you'll probably want to throw out that cypress mulch as I'm sure it is infected with mites and mite eggs. You could try treating it with Provent-A-Mite like the previous post stated, but it's probably not worth it for the mulch.

A vet would be able to diagnose the scale problems. I haven't heard of scales just falling off like that, but if they are I'm sure the vet would know how to treat it. When you select a vet, make sure they are experienced with reptiles. You can find one here: http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

Good luck!

Thanks to everybody for so much advice. I must of stated it unclearly, but the scales arent really falling off. It's as if they are lifting up. I'm starting to lean towards this being a Mite problem because I looked in the water bowl and there are little black dots in there. I bought this stuff called Reptile Relief at PetsMart because I couldn't find the Prevent-A-Mite, but it says it's supposed to kill mites on contact. Has anybody used it before?

I haven't used it, but I've heard it works quite well. Provent-A-Mite is only used for the enclosure to kill any mites and eggs in the cage, hide, etc. It's actually harmful to your snake if you don't follow directions, unlike Reptile Relief. If you use Reptile Relief along with thoroughly cleaning out your cage, you should be okay.

Still, if your snake came from a pet shop that imports snakes from Africa, your snake may have other problems like ticks or internal parasites. Ticks aren't too much of a problem to treat as they only require removal, but the parasites would have be be treated using prescription medicine from a vet such as Baytril.

I hope you're not implying that Baytril be used for the internal/external parasites? It should only be used for very aggressive respiratory infections and other infections that can't be cleared up with routine antibiotics. Anyway, enough with my rant, LoL. I'm very protective of the use of Baytril. It's one of the last good ones.

First thing's first. Find a good vet that treats reptiles. Then, the next time your snake has a bowel movement, take a small sample to the vet in a plastic baggie and have them test it for internal parasites. They will then give you the proper meds used to treat the parasites, if any.

As for the condition of your snake's skin, once the external parasites are cleared up, the skin should be much better after 1 or 2 sheds.

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

I hope you're not implying that Baytril be used for the internal/external parasites?

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You're right!! My bad. :redface:

Well, my Sophie finally shed today and I am happy to say that what I thought were mites were just water blisters:P. She's doing great and eating well! Thanks to all of you for your help! Here are some pics

http://www.moretab.com/frank/Sophie/IMG_2035.JPG


http://www.moretab.com/frank/Sophie/1.jpg

".....eggies..." ddbjdealer, you make me laugh..:giggle: