New Cinnamon Banana Has Belly Gashes?

[Zecon44]

Hello, I recently went to the NY Metro Reptile Expo and bought a beautiful cinnamon banana who looks very healthy and eats well. Only problem is recently I looked at his belly and it looks almost like mostly healed vertical cuts. Thoughts? Should I be concerned or messaging the breeder?



Sorry the pictures aren't great but you can see the lines down the center of his belly scales.

[PythonBabes]

I guess the lower down one is his belly button, not sure about the one that's higher up though.

[Zecon44]

Ball pythons have belly buttons?

[PythonBabes]

Yup! Look it up and you'll find some similar pictures.

[Zecon44]

Good to know, I never noticed on my adult. Sense nothing else seems to be wrong I suppose I'll just keep and eye on him and see if if they stay or disappear.

[PythonBabes]

They sort of gradually get smaller and smaller. When I first got my BP his was very noticeable and now a year later I can hardly see it unless I'm looking very closely and with glasses on.

[piedlover79]

Sometimes if they stick to the yolk a bit in the egg they can end up with even larger 'belly buttons'. All in all nothing to worry about.

I had one buyer insist that the hatchling I sent him *must* have had surgical procedure I wasn't telling them about because of a bell button line!!

[hollowlaughter]

Likely belly button, but cleft ventral scales are also a thing. Belly scales that didn't fuse together. Harmless.

Mine has some.



Lowest and most visible split is where the umbilicus was. This is a 2 yr old male specimen, so some snakes seem to just retain it signs of it for longer (if not permanently), and its not caused any issues.

[wolfy-hound]

Adults rarely show the belly button "scar". Babies almost always have the little slit.

Baby reptiles have a umbilical cord, just like mammals do, except it goes to the egg yolk in the egg, instead of to a maternal placenta. So yep, they are born(or hatched) with a umbilical cord/belly button.