Scale Rot??

[chemdogxxx]

New Ball Python owner and recently purchased this female normal from a Local Reptile shop. I have had her for about 1 month now and just recently noticed she keeps getting these dried scales. When I first got her I did notice she had one or two but didn't think of anything. She is currently in shed and I'm worried if it is possible she has scale rot?

I was going to take her into the place that I bought her from but they were closed today. I decided to post on here and see if I can get some advice on what it might be.

Humidity 50-70%
Basking UTH: 90F
Ambient Temps: 75-80F
Substrate: Aspen

[Sauzo]

Doesn't look like scale rot to me. Looks like exactly what you said, dried scales. If she is in shed, you need to bump the humidity up to 70-80% and/or give her a humid hide. I keep my BP around 70ish humidity 24/7. 50% is too low and I would even say 60% is pretty low. Also scale rot is generally on the belly from being kept on wet substrate for too long.

[redshepherd]

It's kind of hard to tell from just photos, but it looks like she has pieces of missing scales/the scales are flaking off? Could it be that she's scraping herself on something in the enclosure?

+1 not scale rot though, that's usually on the belly from moist substrate.

[Yzmasmom]

Doesn't look like scale rot to me. Looks like exactly what you said, dried scales. If she is in shed, you need to bump the humidity up to 70-80% and/or give her a humid hide. I keep my BP around 70ish humidity 24/7. 50% is too low and I would even say 60% is pretty low. Also scale rot is generally on the belly from being kept on wet substrate for too long.

50% is too low when not in shed?? I keep mine between 50% and 60%. High humidity when not in shed and for a long time, can cause an RI.

[Sauzo]

I keep mine at 60-70% 24/7 and it works. If 50-60% works for you, then go for it. As for RI, its not so much a little bit higher humidity as it high humidity combined with low temps. I mean imagine what the humidity would be inside a termite mound or down in a rodent hole. I'm sure those places are pretty humid. But for a shed, I would say 70% is a good number to shoot for. It's just like people who say 'my boa does fine at 50-60% humidity'. While that might be true from what you physically see, their organs are suffering from dehydration which will shorten their lives. If you look at where boas come from, you will see the humidity is anywhere from 70-99%. And also there is a reason people say to bump temps and humidity if you see the start of an RI. The temp bump will put their immune system into overdrive and the extra humidity will keep their lung well hydrated so it doesn't crack and dry out. At least that's what they tell me

[Yzmasmom]

So I need not panic when I see the humidity hit 67% + when not shedding? And then bump to between 70% and 80% when in shed?

Their temps range 88 to 91 hot side and 78 to 81 cold side.

[redshepherd]

So I need not panic when I see the humidity hit 67% + when not shedding? And then bump to between 70% and 80% when in shed?

Their temps range 88 to 91 hot side and 78 to 81 cold side.

It's high humidity combined with low ventilation (and improper temps doesn't help) that causes RI and a variety of problems. For example, if someone just lives somewhere where the humidity in their house is 80% and their enclosure has good ventilation, it is also totally fine.

[zina10]

Hm, that sure looks weird. Never seen that before.

Almost looks like something is chewing on the snake ?? Like rodent bites. But there are so many spots.

Can you make a clear close up of one of those spots ?

[chemdogxxx]

Well good news! She shed the next day after posting this and all the dried scales came off with her shed.

Thank you everyone for helping



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