Bad shed or scale rot??

so this is my female bandit. shes in shed right now. her eyes have been opaque for the past three days and they just cleared today. i noticed that she had some weird discoloration under her neck. this did not appear until today. her neck is the only spot where it is. could it be signs of a bad shed or could it be possible scale rot? sorry my camera sucks so the pictures arent the greatest.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...Picture151.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...Picture152.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...Picture153.jpg

wait till after her shed to tell. i got some questions that might help tell tho.. what kinda substrate do you have and whats your humidity and heat at?

yea thats what im thinking. i use Eco Earth. i keep one half moist and the other half dry. i keep my basking spot at about 90 and the other half at 80. humidity is usually between 50 and 60 percent.

It looks like in the photos he might have a little bacterial infection going on. Bad shed generally isn't a rust/reddish color. Do you have any clearer photos? Are the discolored scales rough or raised in appearance?

If you suspect it is Scale Rot, I'd take him into the vet.

sadly i dont and shes hiding right now. the scales arent raised. they feel normal. we put some antibacterial ointment on her just in case. the coloring of em is more of a tannish tone.

better pics would help but yes if the scales look rust colored or brownish its surely scale rot starting. if the scales are wrinkled looking thats a sure sign that soon you will be looking at scale rot.

I wouldn't worry just yet. Wait until she's out of shed and completely clears up before making any decisions about vet care, ect.

Agreed, once she sheds, you'll have a much better idea.

yea thats what im thinking. also i was thinking maybe its the substrate because where shes been placing her head down and her neck, thats where its discolored. so maybe the substrate is causing some discoloring because its getting into her skin that shes gonna shed off anyway.

Possibly. What kind of substrate? Reptibark tends to leave little dark spots on their white bellies.

i like to use Eco Earth

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Originally Posted by BanditNClyde

i like to use Eco Earth

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Eco Earth can hold a lot of moisture (perfect breeding ground for bacteria). I prefer Aspen, Cypress, Paper Towels or Newspaper. It's all about personal preference though.

If it turns out to be a bacterial infection, I would suggest changing substrate.

thanks for the advice. i guess we will just have to wait and see. my other snakes are on eco earth as well and shes the only one to have a problem. lets hope its nothing serious and just a fluke! :worry:

I would switch to paper towels right away and get to the vet as soon as possible.

I agree, better pictures would help with a diagnosis.

Also, how are you measuring and maintaining temps?

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

I would switch to paper towels right away and get to the vet as soon as possible.

I agree, better pictures would help with a diagnosis.

Also, how are you measuring and maintaining temps?

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a gauge on each side for temp and humidty one in the middle 1 inch from the bottom of the tank

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Originally Posted by BanditNClyde

a gauge on each side for temp and humidty one in the middle 1 inch from the bottom of the tank

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Are you using a digital hydrometer or an analog?

analog

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Originally Posted by BanditNClyde

analog

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Analog thermometers and hydrometers can be very inaccurate. I remember I used an Analog for a few days when I first got into Ball Pythons. It read 40%, went down and bought a digital, it read 80%.

Go down to Walley World (Wal-mart) and pick up a $15 digital thermometer/hydrometer. It will give you a much better idea of what the actual temperature/humidity is.

I'd go ahead and switch her to paper towels while you get this figured out.

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Originally Posted by BanditNClyde

analog

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Those are extremely inaccurate. :/ You might be looking at a burn, but I can't tell for sure.

When I first saw the pics I thought it was a burn... I'm surprised that no one pointed that out earlier... You need to get accurate gauges immediately because you might have other snakes at risk of getting burned as well...

I don't see any pink or red neck discoloration when my snakes shed (only on the belly and that is a pink/orangish color).

I'm almost 90% sure that is a burn and you need to go to the vet to make sure it is not infected and put ointment on it... and you need to dish out a few more bucks to take care of your snakes properly.

For all the boards you have been making here the past week with all of those pics... you sure did take crappy pics of a serious problem with the snake!

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Originally Posted by Koolaid

When I first saw the pics I thought it was a burn... I'm surprised that no one pointed that out earlier... You need to get accurate gauges immediately because you might have other snakes at risk of getting burned as well...

I don't see any pink or red neck discoloration when my snakes shed (only on the belly and that is a pink/orangish color).

I'm almost 90% sure that is a burn and you need to go to the vet to make sure it is not infected and put ointment on it... and you need to dish out a few more bucks to take care of your snakes properly.

For all the boards you have been making here the past week with all of those pics... you sure did take crappy pics of a serious problem with the snake!

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well good news is she shed tonight and theres no more discoloration. shes perfectly healthy. someone i know whos really educated about snakes took a look and said she was fine. that for whatever the reason that discoloration was because of her going to shed. and as far as the bad pics my camera wasnt working well or else i would have taken better shots which i had already mentioned earlier when i made this post that the pics arent the greatest which i also apologized for.

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Originally Posted by BanditNClyde

well good news is she shed tonight and theres no more discoloration. shes perfectly healthy. someone i know whos really educated about snakes took a look and said she was fine. that for whatever the reason that discoloration was because of her going to shed. and as far as the bad pics my camera wasnt working well or else i would have taken better shots which i had already mentioned earlier when i made this post that the pics arent the greatest which i also apologized for.

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I would still advise the substrate change. Along with the investment of a nice digital thermometer/hydrometer.

oh i will look into all of that still :)

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Originally Posted by BanditNClyde

well good news is she shed tonight and theres no more discoloration. shes perfectly healthy. someone i know whos really educated about snakes took a look and said she was fine. that for whatever the reason that discoloration was because of her going to shed. and as far as the bad pics my camera wasnt working well or else i would have taken better shots which i had already mentioned earlier when i made this post that the pics arent the greatest which i also apologized for.

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So between 9 and 10.. you had someone come over and look at your snake AND it shed? I would really like to see some good pics of your snakes belly and neck after this miraculous shed.

that aint no shed, its scale rot look at it its brown.

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Originally Posted by JeffJ

that aint no shed, its scale rot look at it its brown.

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Looks like a bacterial infection to me. Burns are more pink around the area, could be partially healed, but..still. Looks Bacterial.

I would also like to see the ventral area of the Ball Python. If you could snap a few clear pictures, I'd appreciate it. It might give us a better idea of what's going on. :)

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Originally Posted by Koolaid

So between 9 and 10.. you had someone come over and look at your snake AND it shed? I would really like to see some good pics of your snakes belly and neck after this miraculous shed.

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Please stop jumping on her. She's asking for advice and assistance, and is willingly taking it. I don't really understand why your taking such a stand.

Get yourself a good hydrometer/thermometer as well as a couple thermometer's with probes. If it was a small burn, sometimes a shed can clear that up a bit, but taking some more pictures of the area (and the vent too) would probably help. What type of camera do you have? Is it just not focusing well?
Sometimes, if you use flash, the pictures may be clearer. :gj:

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Please stop jumping on her. She's asking for advice and assistance, and is willingly taking it. I don't really understand why your taking such a stand.

Get yourself a good hydrometer/thermometer as well as a couple thermometer's with probes. If it was a small burn, sometimes a shed can clear that up a bit, but taking some more pictures of the area (and the vent too) would probably help. What type of camera do you have? Is it just not focusing well?
Sometimes, if you use flash, the pictures may be clearer. :gj:

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She isn't really willing to take advice though... A board she posted not that long ago she got defensive with everyone giving her advice.

I'm just sick of people that are buying these BP's and all of a sudden become experts and don't need anyone's advice and are unintentionally hurting their snakes. They can buy expensive morphs but can't buy the proper equipment to take care of them... Your snakes should come first and foremost.

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Please stop jumping on her. She's asking for advice and assistance, and is willingly taking it. I don't really understand why your taking such a stand.

Get yourself a good hydrometer/thermometer as well as a couple thermometer's with probes. If it was a small burn, sometimes a shed can clear that up a bit, but taking some more pictures of the area (and the vent too) would probably help. What type of camera do you have? Is it just not focusing well?
Sometimes, if you use flash, the pictures may be clearer. :gj:

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why thank you :) its very possible it might have been im still gonna get her checked out. i have an old olympus digital. sometimes pictures turn out good and other times they look horrible.

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Originally Posted by Koolaid

She isn't really willing to take advice though... A board she posted not that long ago she got defensive with everyone giving her advice.

I'm just sick of people that are buying these BP's and all of a sudden become experts and don't need anyone's advice and are unintentionally hurting their snakes. They can buy expensive morphs but can't buy the proper equipment to take care of them... Your snakes should come first and foremost.

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see it was only one time because i misunderstood something and then i apologized completely. and now in this case i am gonna get defensive though because i am taking peoples advice because i wasnt sure and for someone that doesnt even know me whats so ever to say that i dont take care of my snake is being completely ridiculous. i was genuinely asking for advice and so logic would say that i do care because if i didnt then i never would have posted anything. so i would appreciate if you would stop criticizing me.

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Originally Posted by Koolaid

So between 9 and 10.. you had someone come over and look at your snake AND it shed? I would really like to see some good pics of your snakes belly and neck after this miraculous shed.

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and for you to say that didnt happen youre being way to critical. i know that if someone said all that youre saying to me about you, you would get pissy too.

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Originally Posted by Koolaid

She isn't really willing to take advice though... A board she posted not that long ago she got defensive with everyone giving her advice.

I'm just sick of people that are buying these BP's and all of a sudden become experts and don't need anyone's advice and are unintentionally hurting their snakes. They can buy expensive morphs but can't buy the proper equipment to take care of them... Your snakes should come first and foremost.

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maybe so, but every one deserves to be talked to with a degree of respect. please remember that. we are not children here. And she is looking for advice she posted asking for our opinions on what we think it is not for criticism. and she has already stated that she is going to look into it as we have stated our opinions.

Why does every one have to jump on peoples backs these days? ive noticed allot of it in the past month.

with thats said. it does look bacterial or like scale rot. its not a burn thats for sure.

I, honestly, want to see pics of your snake now. You came on this board to ask advice... I think everyone besides 2 people said you need to get it checked out immediately because it looks like something serious i.e an infection, burn... so forth...

So instead you have a friend come over and check it out and all of a sudden your snake sheds and everything is all better? My snakes don't shed if I've bothered them in the 2 last hours haha... I mean they all wait until the middle of the night to do it. Maybe that is just my snakes, but I've had snakes for over 9 years and they've never done that.

Maybe you need to do some more research about ball python husbandry and get the correct equipment to take care of your snakes properly. I mean we have all made mistakes, but we are telling you how to correct it because we know what you need to do to fix it.

By chance, do you have an UTH?

And I don't mean to be super critical... I've just seen people not really give the same respect to their snakes as in other pets... like this one story I heard from my friend... this person gave a bath to their snake and it cooked to death... I don't know what it is lately but I've been hearing about a lot of unnecessary ball python deaths...

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Originally Posted by Koolaid

I, honestly, want to see pics of your snake now and your setups for all your snakes. You came on this board to ask advice... I think everyone besides 2 people said you need to get it checked out immediately because it looks like something serious i.e an infection, burn... so forth...

So instead you have a friend come over and check it out and all of a sudden your snake sheds and everything is all better? My snakes don't shed if I've bothered them in the 2 last hours haha... I mean they all wait until the middle of the night to do it. Maybe that is just my snakes, but I've had snakes for over 9 years and they've never done that.

Maybe you need to do some more research about ball python husbandry and get the correct equipment to take care of your snakes properly. I mean we have all made mistakes, but we are telling you how to correct it because we know what you need to do to fix it.

By chance, do you have an UTH?

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Bold: is that a fact eh? basted on what? my ball sheds during the day. last time it was at 5:30 PM i got home he had his nose started i picked him up because he had a huge turd in there. cleand it. put him back and he finished his shied. he was trying to shed in my hands i had to put him in a tub because he was moving to much. every snake is different. :)

Yes they may need to touch some stuff up, but lets guide them then :)

and if your reference to the UTH was because you suspect a burn that does not look like any burn i had seen.

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Originally Posted by JeffJ

Bold: is that a fact eh? basted on what? my ball sheds during the day. last time it was at 5:30 PM i got home he had his nose started i picked him up because he had a huge turd in there. cleand it. put him back and he finished his shied. he was trying to shed in my hands i had to put him in a tub because he was moving to much. every snake is different. :)

Yes they may need to touch some stuff up, but lets guide them then :)

and if your reference to the UTH was because you suspect a burn that does not look like any burn i had seen.

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No not a fact... it's based on what I've seen with my snakes... BP's, corns and kingsnakes... At night before I go to bed I spot clean to make sure they have enough water and there is no poop and shed... Usually as I walk by the racks in the morning you can see the shed sitting in there.

I was wondering if she had an UTH because she said her thermometer was an inch above the bottom of the tank.

Anywho... I don't mean to jump on anyone's back... just making sure your snakes are happy and healthy-that's all.

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Originally Posted by Koolaid

No not a fact... it's based on what I've seen with my snakes... BP's, corns and kingsnakes... At night before I go to bed I spot clean to make sure they have enough water and there is no poop and shed... Usually as I walk by the racks in the morning you can see the shed sitting in there.

I was wondering if she had an UTH because she said her thermometer was an inch above the bottom of the tank.

Anywho... I don't mean to jump on anyone's back... just making sure your snakes are happy and healthy-that's all.

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its good that we all care, thats what makes this place so great!

as for a UTH and the probe being above the substrate. i agree that worries me as well. unless of course she is like me and use a temperature gun to measure surface temp.

pictures of her enclosure with temp, humidity readings and how she is metering them might help us give her a solider idea of what the scale issue could be.

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Originally Posted by Koolaid

So between 9 and 10.. you had someone come over and look at your snake AND it shed? I would really like to see some good pics of your snakes belly and neck after this miraculous shed.

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Uncalled for. A vet wouldn't even try to diagnose an animal from blurry picutres over the net.

So you disagree with her choice of substrate and her choice of gauge - that means that you're going to treat her with sarcasm and disrespect?

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Originally Posted by Koolaid

I, honestly, want to see pics of your snake now. You came on this board to ask advice... I think everyone besides 2 people said you need to get it checked out immediately because it looks like something serious i.e an infection, burn... So forth...

So instead you have a friend come over and check it out and all of a sudden your snake sheds and everything is all better? My snakes don't shed if I've bothered them in the 2 last hours haha... I mean they all wait until the middle of the night to do it. Maybe that is just my snakes, but I've had snakes for over 9 years and they've never done that.

Maybe you need to do some more research about ball python husbandry and get the correct equipment to take care of your snakes properly. I mean we have all made mistakes, but we are telling you how to correct it because we know what you need to do to fix it.

By chance, do you have an UTH?

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Wow - demanding that she prove something to you - nice. Topped of by a condemnation of her husbandry in general. All based on your expert diagnosis of a few blurry pics. You are doing a fine job of upholding this site's reputation as a friendly, helpful place.

To the OP: I have several snakes that before a shed, will tend to be more susceptible to discoloration from laying on lumps or bumps in the substrate or on a branch, etc. Snakes kept on paper substrate usually don't show these markings or discoloration.

Scale rot has a very definite look to it, as do thermal burns. In the future, if you really suspect rot, save yourself the guesswork and potshots and take your animal to the Vet. Not all the advice you get here will be helpful or correct and even a trusted Vet will most likely show some restraint and not try to diagnose an animal over a few pictures.

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Originally Posted by JeffJ

that aint no shed, its scale rot look at it its brown.

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It's a pretty blurry picture but 2 weeks ago my BP was in blue and had what looked very much like scale rot and I waited till s/he shed and it's all cleared up now. Could just be something caused by the substrate.

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Originally Posted by Buttons

It's a pretty blurry picture but 2 weeks ago my BP was in blue and had what looked very much like scale rot and I waited till s/he shed and it's all cleared up now. Could just be something caused by the substrate.

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thats highly possible. but she asked for an opinion and i gave it to her :P by no means makes me correct. but if it still looks funny id go to the vet of course.

well i wanna say this, thank you everyone for youre advice. my boyfriends sister has dealt with snakes for years and she said it looked like discoloration from the substrate and that she wouldnt be surprised if it clears up after she sheds. its happened to snakes shes had in the past and said there is no need for concern. ill post pictures ASAP of bandit post shed. but once again thanks everyone for their concern and advice and in the future ill take a lot of it into consideration. :)

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Originally Posted by Koolaid

And I don't mean to be super critical... I've just seen people not really give the same respect to their snakes as in other pets... like this one story I heard from my friend... this person gave a bath to their snake and it cooked to death... I don't know what it is lately but I've been hearing about a lot of unnecessary ball python deaths...

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ok understandable but there are plenty of people out there that love their snakes dearly like i do and would never mistreat them. perhaps in the future jumping to conclusions may not be the best way of going about things. and im not trying to be mean what so ever by saying that.