BP has no scale and scale than
I am new to this site. So forgive me if someone has ask this question I have been searching it for about any hour now cannot fine any suggest to my problem. I was on vacation and I came home to one dead turtle (I had him for 15 years) and a sick BP who will be 6 years old tomorrow. The problem is he is missing scales. At first I was thinking scale rot but I looked at some pictures on the site and it looks nothing like that. The scales are gone like he has been cut and if I touch the area just little drops of blood comes out. His heater was unpluged. However he did eat and active acturally more so than normal. I do not want to lose an other pet. I called a vet but the nearest vet reptile to me is 3 hours away and will charge double because it is weekend. What can I do for now for him until I can get him into a vet or does he even need a vet can I do something for him at home. If an could help that would be great. Once I figure out how to post a pictures I will have pictures of the area.
Thanks for any help
Re: BP has no scale and scale than
Re: BP has no scale and scale than
I use newspapers b/c it is easy to change and keep clean. for hiding spots I have been using plastic tubs like what butter spread comes in . One has been in there a while. After that it suggest that he might be cut I looked at the tubs and hole looks like he might have gotten cut on it. I have heat lamp and heat pad that is under the tank and log for him to climb on. Nothing real fancy or pretty. He does a guage for temp humdity.
Re: BP has no scale and scale than
Hi,
Yes that is definitely naked flesh where the scales have been cut or torn off.
You need to keep his cage as clean as possible so I would probably change the newspaper to paper towel and take everything else out.
I really do think you need to take him to a vet to get a decision on anti-biotics to prevent infection and some cream to help with the wound healing. I can never remember the name of it but I think it might be silver sulphadine?
For future reference if you cut the hole from the rim down then turn the tubs upside down they are far less likely to injure the snake than a hole cut in the bottom or side as, if the snake is too big, it simply lifts off him.
And since that is an open wound I'd bite the bullet and pay the extra to see the vet sooner rather than later. Imagine having a chunk of skin torn off yourself. :(
dr del