Rescued BP - is it Pastel?

[Beardedragon]

I disagree, but that doesn't make your opinion worth less than mine.

I will go on to state that I ran a reptile rescue for several years and saw the worst of the worst. The scarring is indeed consistent with rodent damage.

A ball python that does not eat, and if left unsupervised, may become prey to rodents. The snake will ball up and protect their head, allowing the rat to chew away at it's back. The always happens to the back, along the spine, and sometimes the end the tail. The damage can go all the way to the spine and ribs, and will often leave the snake alive but in dire pain. The more severe animals will get put down by a vet or will die of infections or skin necrosis.

Your theory of the snake causing damage crawling under something is, to me, less likely based on my experience running the rescue and raising balls. They will squeeze into tight areas and if they get stuck or gouged by something they will pull back where they came from. Any scraping in the circumstance would be more superficial and would not scar as badly.

Burns would be another theory, but all burns I have seen have been on their bellies or sides as they wrapped around something hot. I have seen only very few burns on the back from climbing logs or vines to close to a basking bulb, but never so severe to scar white, they typically scar black.

These are my thoughts based on my experiences. I am not saying your opinion is less valuable, just clarifying the rational behind my opinion.

Rick

Burns could be another thing, but it would be pretty hard to get on his back. another thing to look at is that it is on the thickest part of his body, the toughest part to get through something. Also look at the scales right before the white and after, they look damaged ( But not scared) as well. What ever the reason, they look healed so it is not something to worry about, id still get it checked over by a vet though when ever you get around to taking him.