So my poor little ball python Atticus is sick. He has gotten a red belly twice (not anything to do with shedding both times) and I took him to the vet. we got antibiotics, everything seemed to clear up and go away until the other night I took him out and his belly was the reddest I have seen it yet. Not bright red but pretty dark pinkish orange almost. He also has not been eating which he is always very picky about and never eats during the winter but I still felt it was too early to start those shenanigans yet so I kept trying and he kept refusing. I took him to the vet the other day and they did a blood test and culture on him, bloodwork came back fine and i have to wait a week to find out the results of the culture but she said she pulled out stuff from his lungs during the test so there is definitely something going on in his lungs. He is breathing fine normally but when irritated lately which he never gets irritated but during the vet visit and the car ride there he would do an occasional hiss or maybe wheez. it sounds like a sigh out of your nose almost like hes like UGHHHH this again. anyway she told me to try to feed him again this week so i did and beautifully he ate finally but before feeding i noticed a weird scale. never seen anything like this on him before and it looked like trapped dirt under the scale but looking closer the scale looks weak and soft and under it looks freshly pink. I am really hoping this is not scale rot on top of something going on with his lungs and that its just dirt stuck under there or something. I am so paranoid right now because I don't want him going through all of this and I feel like it is my fault. I keep all the temps right and the humidity as high as I can and the vet says they are all perfect. I also have two hides and lots of plants, a big water bowl thats always fresh and i spot clean and do big cleans often. the only thing i worry about its when i spray a lot to get humidity up that it gets trapped and the substrate stays too wet for too long. the vet suggested i change to the soft carpet as substrate to avoid this so i did and i am hoping that helps. I really hope i did not bring this sickness on him and i am devastated that he is in discomfort and I am hoping this scale will not be something else that will lead to more sickness. Please let me know if anyone knows what this scale could be or if it has anything to do with his lungs. his color looks a bit off right now i think because he is sick but anyway i just desperately want to help him. I am calling the vet in the morning as well but i was hoping for some info tonight on this from anyone who is experienced. its the same picture just zoomed in, it is only one scale. thank you!