New snake having health problems

[JessaNichele]

I adopted a piebald ball python a couple months ago that was very malnourished and not housed well, I brought her home, bought every thing she could possibly need and she was doing well for a while there. She got some weight on her and was filling out, she wasn't eating well at first because they were feeding frozen and we switched to live pray and she started eating very well and didn't seem to have any problems. Now she is very constipated, she has these little red scales on the side of her belly, and most recently she developed a water pocket looking thing on her side. I live in a small town and my options for the vet are very limited, and unfortunately, both vets are closed right now, I am currently out of town right now and my friend is taking care of her for me right now and I don't know what to do. I'm thinking this may be scale rot but I'm not sure since I have yet to find any photos online that look similar to whats going on with her. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.

[frostysBP]

A picture is worth 1000 words... but it sounds like u need a vet asap

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[Albert Clark]

What type of enclosure is she in and how are you maintaining the heat and husbandry numbers?

[JessaNichele]

This is kind of an older photo of her tank when we first got her, the only difference is that I added a lof under the lamp and there is another rock like hide where the box is.



This is a recent photo of her for a size reference.






These are photos of the red scales I was referring to.



This is a photo showing her full tummy, though I have been told she's pooped a little since this picture was taken.




And these two were the ones my friend sent me of the recent addition of the water pocket.

Thank you again.

[bcr229]

Her stomach looks burned. Is there a heat pad under the tank? And if so do you have a thermostat regulating it?

[JessaNichele]

No, I forgot to mention that, but there is nothing for her to get burned on, I do not have a rock heater or an under the tank heater for fear of burns, her day/night lamp is her only source of heat in the tank, and I have a thermostat on both the cool and hot side to make sure it never gets too hot or cold on either side for her. Also the log under the lamp isn't high enough for her to reach the lamp, plus she isn't much of a vertical explorer.

[Solarsoldier001]

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hlight=blister

that blister looking thing reminds me of this snake called Howard. I'm hoping it doesn't get that bad.

[Tash]

Well I realize you said that there is no under heat source, but ditch the rock idea. Under no circumstances should you get a heat rock. That WILL burn her. If it's not a burn it's more then likely scale rot that's gotten very bad. It gets dry and flakey if not taken care of right away and that means she's at, "needs to see a vet right now," status. Even if it isn't scale rot it looks terrible and I've never seen a bubble like that so I can't offer a suggestion to what it is. I think it's safe to say that you need to see a vet. If it is scale rot there are several threads on this forum covering how to help relieve her. Also is that the set up that she is currently in? Because that looks awfully big for a little snake of her size atm. These guys are easily stressed by too much space when they are little like that. And you should have an under tank heater that's hooked up to a thermostat. It will cancel out the worry of a burn if it's on the thermostat. It not only keeps the snake warm but helps with digestion. What are your temps and humidity at? I feel like the scales are a husbandry issue that should be addressed. The bubble is odd to me though. Do you spot clean her tank? Make sure there is no waste laying around?

[Solarsoldier001]

she did say that she had no heat rock or under tank heating so there isn't any chance of burns.

[Tash]

I was just pointing out that the heat rock should not have even been mentioned. Not for a snake. Ever. Period. So great that their isn't one. Since its not a burn I can only imagine it's scale rot which is typically caused by poor husbandry and unsanitary conditions. I still stand by the notion that the animal should probably see a vet for the bubble if nothing else, but if the scale rot had gotten bad enough to look like a burn it should really still see a vet.