What's this on my BP's head?

[Natail]

Okay, so recently I've seen this thing on my boys head.. I don't know what's up with it. Since I'm still a new snake owner. Is it something to worry about?

Between his eyes ontop of his head is where it is. There's another small spot a bit further down on his right side. I hope you can see it.

It hasnt been there before.

My suspicion:

I have the exo terra 90x30x45, and as many of you know, it comes with a styrofoam back board.
The backboard has a little hole-ish thing on the bottom and top to run and hide wires in.

Now a few days ago, I caught him trying to squeeze into that little hole.. I pulled the board up and took his head out of it carefully (cant rememebr if the spot was there already or not) I then placed one of his houses back infront of it, hoping that he'll not try it again.

I was wrong. the next day, I came upstairs after being at the vet with my bunny for shots and I heard a very familiar cracky sound. the sound of the styrofoam rubbing against the glass.. I go over to the cage and found the backboard far apart from the back of the cage and my boy bucky sqished behind it..

I opened the screen top and he slid out. that;s when I noticed the mark on his head but I cant be too sure if it's actually from there.
The reason for him roaming a round a lot lately, might be due to the fact that he hasn't eaten in a couple of weeks, since I'm trying to convert him to F/T

here are the pics
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing

[tttaylorrr]

that looks like either some stuck shed or a rub mark. did the snake shed recently? regardless: nothing too serious as of right now, but i'd get that pushing rectified so as not to make it worse. maybe just remove that background?

EDIT: very pretty snake, btw.

[Ax01]

just a lil dent over the right eye and the start of a rub between the eyes. right now it's just superficial and it will improve w/ a shed or two.

lol a few peeps have had their BP's squeeze between the glass and those backboards. u can get rid of it or secure it to the glass w/ silicone sealant or hot glue. since your BP got back there, i'm sure it will try it again either way tho. so i think this might be a security and hide issue for your BP. are u using appropriately sized hides? do u have enough decor or clutter in the enclosure? do u have the side glass walls covered?

[tttaylorrr]

just a lil dent over the right eye

i didn't even notice the dent at first. good eye you have! or i'm blind.

[Craiga 01453]

I agree with tttaylorrr and Ax.

I would just remove that background. I truthfully don't know any experienced keepers with years under their belts who have those backgrounds in their snake enclosures.

I also ditto Ax's questions about security and hides.

[Bogertophis]

Personally, I'd lose the background too...once a snake finds something like that (to hide behind) they'll keep going back, risking more injuries to come.

Cage decor is "nice" but the snake itself is WAY more important. Time to offer (or change) hides that he'll use & feel safe in. Most snakes prefer hides that
offer "back pressure"...ie. not too tall, so they feel like they are squished into a safe cave. (High ceilings are only good in "House Beautiful" magazine...)

Hides need to have one doorway only (not those open tree-bark tunnels), & the doorway should be just big enough for the recently fed-snake to fit thru.
Hides that are too lightweight (that flip over when the snake pushes from within) don't feel secure either. And of course, at least 2 hides should be available:
one on the warm side & one on the cool side of the cage.

When BPs rub the scales off their head or nose, you'll be left with a pinkish scar that's a noticeable reminder of what went wrong, so prevention is always best.