I have recently moved away for another year in college, and my parents wouldn't let me take my ball python, so they have been feeding/caring for her.

When I came back home last week I checked on her, took her out, and found something awful looking on her belly, about the last 1/3 of her I'd say...(near her tail extending up)...

From what I remember, the color was a brownish, and when I felt the area, it was really rough, and it felt scabby, and I was in shock, and confused. Well anyway, I've since been back at school, and my mom told me today she took her to the vet because she was worried, and the vet said it was a burn and is giving her shots/antibiotics and is costing $185 (my bp cost me $30, captive bred and hatched)

Now, not to sound anti-vet, but I'm very mad my mom did this...she didn't tell me before hand, and IMO, is a total waste of money. I told her if she was going to take it to anybody, to take it to a friend of mine who has been working with snakes many years and he could diagnose the problem, etc. and not charge a penny.

Well anyway, I don't see how it can be a burn, because we've had the same setup for 3 months no problem (although I have been helping her shed...taking off areas she couldn't)...it's a 10 gallon glass aquarium, I used to sheets of newspaper, and a UTH...and a rock that is on the cool side (not heat rock) just regular rock...