Genetics question. Is this a normal BP or something else?

[zanic07]

Meet waffles my 3 year old rescue ball python. I got him sight unseen about a month ago. He was underweight when I got him and I have been working on helping him gain weight so please forgive me if he looks a bit thin.

I was holding him a little while ago and noticed he has white gaps between his scales. When I got him I assumed he was just a lighter colored normal but these gaps seem different from the other normals I have seen online. My only other BP is an Enchi who does not show the same white gaps between his scales. Is this a symptom of him being under weight or is it a sign he might be some other genetics other than normal.




Thank you.

[jmcrook]

Normal

[KMG]

That's skin. You really want to see it look closely next time it eats.

[Bogertophis]

As others said, the "white" between scales is just the scales being stretched apart, showing the normal skin between them. It's more obvious when snakes eat a big meal or if they're overweight.

[zanic07]

As others said, the "white" between scales is just the scales being stretched apart, showing the normal skin between them. It's more obvious when snakes eat a big meal or if they're overweight.

He is definitely not overweight. He is supposed to be 3 years old and weighs in at only 450 grams as of Thursday. The pics were taken yesterday a few hours before feeding.

[Bogertophis]

He is definitely not overweight. He is supposed to be 3 years old and weighs in at only 450 grams as of Thursday. The pics were taken yesterday a few hours before feeding.

I'm just speculating here, as it's hard to judge a snake online from limited photos, but if he's been chronically under-fed, then maybe his scales have failed to grow to their normal size, because the scales on a healthy snake are supposed to overlap. Either way, don't over-feed him trying to make up for "lost time"- be very patient if you want a healthy snake. They take time to recover from adversity.