Stupid Question?

[xxCyxx]

As some of you know, I 'rescued', of sorts, a redtail from a kid at my school who was greatly miscaring for her. A few of you are aware of her rather hostile attitude. As such, it has only been recently that I've really been able to handle her and look her over.

My boyfriend and I were cleaning her tank yesterday, with him spending some quality time with her while I did the hard work. And he pointed something out to me.

Absinthe has very weak scales. In the areas where her skin 'rolls' together when she's curled up, a few rows of scales bend outwards... like they are bent back. She also has some deformed scales. The scales that are bent back bend and break really easy.

Now, it's a stupid question, but. Is this because of a calcium deficiency in her diet? Or is it something else?

I've been reading about redtails, as has my boyfriend, and I've browsed these forums, but I haven't read about anything that sounds like what she has.

My boyfriend is out of town at the moment, so I'm going to attempt to get her to cooperate with me long enough for me to snap a few photos of the areas I'm talking about... so I'll hopefully have those soon. In the meantime, any advice? If it's a simple calcium deficiency, I can deal with that no problem. I'm just worried it might be something bigger.

[Freakie_frog]

I am just taking a guess here but a genetic disorder could cause something like this. But I am just taking a shot in the dark.. sorry I couldn't be more help

[xxCyxx]

I am just taking a guess here but a genetic disorder could cause something like this. But I am just taking a shot in the dark.. sorry I couldn't be more help

That might be a reason for her deformed scales... thanks for at least offering =]

Here are some rather crappy photos. I tried to take her out, but that was a no no. I'll try and get some more when my boyfriend gets back in town and can handle her. She's about 6 feet long, making her much bigger than me, and very, very, very hard to control 1 handed [she refuses to be still if she's outside her cage. And believes me to be a chew toy]

This is the deformed scale area:



And these are areas where the scales are bent:






there are more of course, but those are the only ones I could get to with her still in her tank.

And now, just for fun, here's Absinthe =] Holding tank, so no, the towel is not part of the bedding XD

[Freakie_frog]

Is that a hole or scales ???

[xxCyxx]

It scales, quite literally. Huge, mishapen scales that shed just as any other scale would. I'm going to go through my box of shed skin and see if I can find it from her last shed.

[AzureN1ght]

Wow...she looks -really- angry in that last photo of her face--like she's scowling at the camera. Sorry I can't be of help with what might be wrong with her...hope someone who's experienced can give you some advice. If no one here does, maybe a trip to a herp vet is in order?

--Kim

[xxCyxx]

Wow...she looks -really- angry in that last photo of her face--like she's scowling at the camera. Sorry I can't be of help with what might be wrong with her...hope someone who's experienced can give you some advice. If no one here does, maybe a trip to a herp vet is in order?

--Kim

That's my next plan of action if no one here has any help to offer. And she pretty much always looks like that. I'm telling you, after the way she was living, she is FULL of hate. I have never met a meaner snake. And working in a pet store, I've met some pretty mean snakes. I still love her to death though, she's gorgeous. If the problem with her scales isn't genetic, I'm hoping to breed her one day.

[Ninjapython]

coult it be just a spot where it was caught on a corner or something? as long as its only a few scales it would seem to be a small injury more than some big problem.

[Kristy]

I was just thinking the large deformed scale in the first picture almost looks like a scar maybe. One of my ball pythons has a scar where the scales healed together and basically made one big one. Causing it to look deformed although its much smaller than the one pictured.

Also, Has she shed at all since you rescued her? the scales that look soft and bent may be corrected by a good shed. Thats just a guess though, but that big scale looks a lot like a scar to me.
Kristy

[Schlyne]

The first picture scales grown together spot definitely looks like a healed scar to me.