PLEASE HELP!!! Damaged scales on belly!!!

[MuicyJelon]

(First BP. Just over one year old) Every night my BP wraps himself around the CHE guard. There was a sharp bit on it (It has been sorted now, he’s still doing it though) & I think when he’s been wrapping around the guard some the sharp bit got caught on his belly scales, literally going from his neck down to the middle of his body, there are some scales on his back/mid section that look like they’ve been caught on which you can only tell when you pick him up. I don’t know if it would be hurting him & will they go back to normal when he sheds or what??? I don’t really want to pick him up in case I make it worse. There’s no brown bits on the scales, they’re normal colour but get caught quite easy. The sharp bit didn’t cut his skin open.

[Armiyana]

If you can post a couple pictures, that would be the biggest help.

Is it just the scales that are damaged or is there an actual wound? If the scales are a bit roughed up, your noodle should be okay.
If there is a wound obviously, vet is recommended if the wound is deep or remains open.

If it's more like a scratch or a red patch:
You may need to take the substrate out for a week, maybe more.
Give your snake a nice soak to help loosen up any debris. If you have iodine, you can mix a small bit in the water to give it just a tint of color, like very watered down tea. To help disinfect it a bit.
Let the snake have a damp towel to slither through to get whatever debris left away from the area. try not to pick at things. if you need to you can take a bit of gauze and carefully wipe at it, but don't be too rough.
dab a little bit of antibiotic ointment over the area. just a thin layer. And it's very important to make sure it is plain ointment, no painkillers.


If the area continues to look red or worse, go to the vet. Your snake may need a course of antibiotics.

Also, make sure to run your hand around the edges of anything in the habitat they may be running the belly or back on, just to make sure if it wasn't just the CHE guard that did it.

[MR Snakes]

Pictures might help. Sorry to hear of your BP's incident.

[MuicyJelon]

How do I upload pictures? First time on the forums.

[MR Snakes]

How do I upload pictures? First time on the forums.

Not sure either. I would PM a moderator.

[zina10]

Download the free App "Tapatalk" to your phone.

Then find the Ball-Pythons.net group. You will see all the sub forums and threads/post..
Find this one and then you can upload pictures directly into the thread from your phone..

Doesn't this guard get HOT ??

[MuicyJelon]

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[MR Snakes]

I'd bet that'll straighten out after her next shed....but I'm just guessing.

[Armiyana]

Yeah, mostly looks like minor scuffs to the scales and no open wounds

Am I seeing a bit of pink on the belly too? If your snake is getting ready to shed, that might be a reason too...the older scales drying out. I'd also double check the humidity in there as well. Sometimes when the humidity levels get too low you see the scales get kinda flaky like that. Offer some moss in a hide maybe to help the scales stay hydrated.

Hopefully it's a coming shed and not burns from the CHE basket being too hot. Also... maybe double check the temps in the enclosure to make sure he's not hiding up there and drying himself out because things are not warm enough elsewhere

[MuicyJelon]

Download the free App "Tapatalk" to your phone.

Then find the Ball-Pythons.net group. You will see all the sub forums and threads/post..
Find this one and then you can upload pictures directly into the thread from your phone..

Doesn't this guard get HOT ??

It’s about mid 30*c to 40*c. It’s a 40watt bulb, I use the Habistat Pulse Proportional T’stat. I turn it down a bit when I see him wrapped round it. I’ve got a reptile radiator which will probably be put in the tank on the weekend and possibly removing the CHE.


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