Hi all,

I'm a first time BP owner who is caring for a two foot long female ball python that I bought from a local pet store. Her husbandry isn't too great at the moment, she needs new bedding, but I am going to be replacing her bedding this week. Over the past few weeks she has developed cracks in her scales and abrasions on the edges of her scales that have turned dark brownish-black. Her last shed was not very good and she still has some shed remaining on her head, along with an old eye cap (I have gotten her some shed-eaze to help her through her next shed). Her scales are also loose (and have been almost since I have got her in February), and she appears to be a little dehydrated, even though I make sure she always has water in her bowl (I have not been misting her). I haven't been able to take her to the vet since cash is short for me, but I suspect this is a form of scale rot, so I bought some betadiene solution to bathe her in. Any insights or recommendations on this? I'd like to avoid a trip to the vet if at all possible. Thanks!



Sorry for the poor image quality, she was not being cooperative and my phone wouldn't focus in on her scales.