Ball python crease/line down belly

[Sean44116]

Hello I just wanted your guys option on these lines/creases I've noticed that have shown up recently. He just had a very healthy shed and is eating great. I'm worried this could be the start of scale rot. If anyone has any advice it'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks



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The scales have a very light brown discoloration under light which is what is worrying me. Also this is his enclosure. The temp and humidity seem to be within what I've read online to be okay. Let me know what anyone thinks and thank you again.

[Sean44116]

I will also add I caught him last night climbing on his log and was basically against the ceiling screen and was very close to the heat lamp. Could this be a burn? I noticed it this morning and swear yesterday it wasn't there. Thanks again for any advice

[Homebody]

I'm worried this could be the start of scale rot. If anyone has any advice it'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks

I don't think it's scale rot. Scale rot is caused by damp dirty substrate. Unless your substrate is damp and dirty, I don't think you need to worry about scale rot. That crease is curious though. I'll be interested in learning what other have to say.

[Homebody]

I will also add I caught him last night climbing on his log and was basically against the ceiling screen and was very close to the heat lamp. Could this be a burn? I noticed it this morning and swear yesterday it wasn't there. Thanks again for any advice

His belly was against the ceiling!? That would be weird. Doesn't look a burn to me either.

[Bogertophis]

I've seen a lot of snakes (understatement, ha) & I've only had one so far that had a "groove" like that & it's not scale rot or anything to worry about- more like a snake's version of a "skin wrinkle" & there's nothing you can do about it, other than make sure he has good hydration. It's typically seen in heavier bodied snakes like BPs or rattlesnakes, & it might be that in the past, for a while, the hydration lapsed or the body weight varied, & the indentation got started. Or it might be that some snakes are just prone to developing a groove...perhaps due to weaker, thinner scutes? Who knows? But any slight discoloration (it's not obvious to me in photos) is likely just from substrate. You can always ask your vet about it when you see them, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

BTW, once a snake gets "groovy", it's likely there to stay.

[Sean44116]

This enclosure is relatively new so the substrate is clean and is not damp under his hides. I will mist occasionally for the plants but that isn't the issue obviously. I just found it odd the crease came out of no where! He shed Friday night. Definitely didn't have th crease before then

[Sean44116]

I'll definitely keep an eye on it and when I bring him in to the vet next I'll have them take a look. But if you think it's nothing to worry about I'll just continue to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't develop into something further. It doesn't bother me I just wanna make sure my guy is alright. Just found it odd it came outta no where! Like I said above he shed Friday night and it definitely wasn't there before. Thanks so much for your input I really appreciate it

[Bogertophis]

I'll definitely keep an eye on it and when I bring him in to the vet next I'll have them take a look. But if you think it's nothing to worry about I'll just continue to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't develop into something further. It doesn't bother me I just wanna make sure my guy is alright. Just found it odd it came outta no where! Like I said above he shed Friday night and it definitely wasn't there before. Thanks so much for your input I really appreciate it

I'm curious to hear what your vet thinks of it, but the snake that I had with a similar crease was many years ago, & he lived a very long time, no issues, passed of old age mid-20s. So?

[Armiyana]

The smaller line looks like just the normal 'belly button's but yeah the longer line is interesting. It doesn't look like a healed or active burn site either.

What morph is this little one?
I heard sometimes the azaleas heads/microscale have split scales on the vent. Is that a possibility?

[Sean44116]

He's just a Pied Ball python. He's coming up on 2 years old now. I was reading that the smaller crease towards the back is the "belly button" but being that it starts in the back and runs almost halfway up his belly I definitely thought it to be a little concerning or at least out of the ordinary. His behavior hasn't changed and his shed was probably the best one he's ever had. Just wanna make sure my little dude is okay