I need some clear answers about thermal burns/belly rot

[schmup]

Hi, I'm a brand new member to this forum, and I registered because ball python, Lenny, is having a problem.

I have looked under thermal burns and belly rot, but I have had extreme difficulty in finding out what my ball python has going on because of all the different answers....maybe some of you BP experts could help me out?
Here's the situation....

SYMPTOMS:
Two days ago I noticed that his belly is flaky. Just his belly.
There are not any red spots, rusty marks, or anything like that.
Just flaky and sort of pearlescent and maybe a little wrinkled looking.
My boyfriend and I think that it MIGHT be a little pink...but it's so faint it might just be our imaginations.

I thought it might be a burn or dehydration, so I bathed him in warm water and toweled him off. Just a little bit of the flaking scale came off, not whole scales of course, just a little bit of the layer. I've been keeping the humidity at 50% and his temps (night-day) are 70-77 ambient and 85-93 in his hide box. His other log hiding area is just a little warmer than the ambient when I check it. I use two thermometers (one probe in the hide box, one mounted inside the tank) and a humidity sensor. I use aspen shavings for his bedding. His last shed was about a month ago.

I'm going to entirely Re-Do his tank setup this weekend, and so any tips on that are appreciated, but I MOSTLY just want to know if the flaking is a thermal burn or scale rot or something else.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Do you have a thermostat?

[Spaniard]

Its impossible for us to diagnose over the web especially without any pictures. The best thing you could do for a 100% answer is go to a herp vet to have him seen.

[mechnut450]

vet a best answer and the saying a pic worth a thousand words it true..
ditch the half logs they not worth the money it take to burn them. i check the heat source and fee it it hot measure it against the glass. A bp will can moove the aspen around and make direct contact with the glass. this why you measure the temp at it ..

[schmup]

Yes I have two temperature sensors. One is a probe inside the hide box, the other is one mounted inside the tank.

I'll post pics when I get home, but if anybody else knows what causes a flaking belly, please let me know so I can help my poor little guy!

[schmup]

Also, I've gotten plenty of messages saying "go see a vet" but I can't get into a vet for at least a few days...I'm on a message board because I need advice on how to help him now, and an idea of what this might be, not just to go see a vet.

I'll post pics as soon as I get home this evening, but I'm trying to get this taken care of ASAP instead of just waiting for a vet and waiting until I can find my camera...

[Spaniard]

Also, I've gotten plenty of messages saying "go see a vet" but I can't get into a vet for at least a few days...I'm on a message board because I need advice on how to help him now, and an idea of what this might be, not just to go see a vet.

I'll post pics as soon as I get home this evening, but I'm trying to get this taken care of ASAP instead of just waiting for a vet and waiting until I can find my camera...

Are you using a thermostat? This is different from a thermometer, a thermostat controls the output of your heating devices. This question was asked to eliminate the possibility of a thermal burn. If you're not using one its possible that your snake may have been burned.

Are you sure this isn't a shed? Have you had a shed with this snake and know what is normal?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Yes I have two temperature sensors. One is a probe inside the hide box, the other is one mounted inside the tank.

I'll post pics when I get home, but if anybody else knows what causes a flaking belly, please let me know so I can help my poor little guy!

Those are thermometers not a thermostat, they allow you to read the temperature they do not control it.

If you do not have a thermostat and your UTH is un-controlled then yes you likely have a burned BP on your hands.

You need to see a Vet ASAP regardless of what is going on simply because it is likely that your animal will need anti-biotics to prevent an infection to set in.

In the mean time go get a lamp dimmer at lowes and place an order for a RELIABLE thermostat, you cannot leave your UTH un-controlled.

Change your substrate to clean paper towel and avoid stressing your animal (NO handling for now) and make an appointment TODAY.

[schmup]

Thanks for the clarification about thermometer/thermostat... I didn't know there was a difference I'm convinced it's a minor burn now.

As for shedding, this doesn't look like his usual sheds, and he shed just 3 or so weeks ago.

Thanks for the advice, I've changed the substrate and he's using a lamp (not a UTH) and removed the branches so he can't climb up too close to the lamp and burn himself on the mesh top (why I wasn't using it 100% before)

I have an appt. with a vet, but like I said, the earliest one I could get was Monday...so thanks for the advice on how to care for him until then.

Is there anything else I should do to help him out until he gets into a vet...?
Or any additional advice (good thermostat brand etc) for when I build him a new cage next week to avoid problems like this again???

[Spaniard]

Good thermostats from lowest level of quality/price to highest.

Dimmer Switch (Rheostat) - $10 from Lowes, Home Depot
On/Off Thermostats - Ranco or Johnson see prices here...www.reptilebasics.com
Proportional Thermostats - Helix or Herpstat www.spyderrobotics.com (Herpstat), www.reptilebasics.com (Helix)

www.reptilebasics.com has a good FAQ on the difference between On/Off thermostats and Proportional ones.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/Thermostat-FAQ-sp-10.html