HELP! I think my ball might have scale rot

[hermeticcharm]

I was browsing around reading up and I came across an article on scale rot. This made me really upset when I noticed it but my ball has some pinkish coloring on his belly. I also noticed he had a single scale that is a dark red. I took some pictures and I just really hope this means he might be about to shed. His last shed was August 10th.

I have Douglas fir bedding in now and it was changed right after his last shed. I have noticed that the humidity has been some what higher recently which worried me more. I was going to switch to aspen soon but now I am thinking, from what I read, I might want to put newspaper in to help lower the humidity.

I constantly check for waste and he always has fresh water.

Here are the pictures, I tried my best but they are not great. The first belly shot I edited some color scales and contrast to help bring out the color so its some what exaggerated. The original picture with no editing follows it.

2 pictures of the strange scale I found on him:





His belly edited to bring out colors:



The original picture:

[RichsBallPythons]

scale rot 99% of the time is on the underside of the snake. From the looks of it, it just looks like a out of place colored scale. I have my female albino who has one scale that is tinted brown. Just keep eye on it but to me not scale rot

If you notice brownish scales on the belly then its time to look at the husbandry. For now keep him on newspaper or paper towel. Just for a precaution

[RhacHead]

How often does your snake typically shed? From the looks of it I would say your snake is at the beginning stages of a new shed. I would not be overly concerned about it just keep a close eye on it.

[hermeticcharm]

I have only had him for about 2 months, and he's my first. His first shed was August 10th about a month after I got him. So I'm thinking he will probably shed roughly once a month. I think I just read that article and got paranoid because I don't want anything bad to happen to Archy.

[Kaorte]

A pink belly is a sign of an upcoming shed.

Nothing is wrong with your snake no worries!

[dr del]

Hi,

Hopefully it is just an upcoming shed.

Have you double checked that funny coloured scale to make sure it isn't a tick? I can't see clearly ehough from the pic to say one way or the other.


dr del

[tank4102]

what are temps on warm side and cool side? tank size? can u take a clearer pic of the brown spec to me it looks like a tick

[hermeticcharm]

Okay so Archy started hanging out in his water dish today so I'm pretty sure now its a shed!

His tank is a 20 gallon long 30X12X12. The cool side of his tank stays at about 84 and his basking area around 93. I will try and get a better picture of the scale and post it in a bit.

[SGExotics]

Hi,

Hopefully it is just an upcoming shed.

Have you double checked that funny coloured scale to make sure it isn't a tick? I can't see clearly ehough from the pic to say one way or the other.


dr del

Yea i agree, it looks like a blood filled tick...

[hermeticcharm]

I got out my old camera that is better at close ups...







I was also wondering, when I got Archy from the pet store he had these on him...are they scars?







Poor Archy, I hope he is okay. He wanted to say hello




If this is a tick what should I do? Do I need to take him to the vet? Or is it just like a tick on a person?