Brittle scales?

[mr. s]

I have a 3.5 foot male bp. Hot spot low 90's cold side high 70's to 80.

I have noticed that my ball python has developed brittle scales on his underside over the past little while. Not terrible, but when I slide my hand against the grain the scales seem to get caught very easily.

My first impression was humidity trouble. I have been a little up and down with the humidity for the past little while. I think my cheap humidity reader is broken. The substrate is shredded coconut. I do not let it get dry but I certainly do not keep it moist.

My next guess was scale rot, but I am really not sure how that could happen as I clean his enclosure regularly and as I said, I don't allow it to be damp at all.

He is not going into shed either.

I have never heard of this trouble in the past. Has anyone had this in the past? Any ideas?

Thanks

[2kdime]

Hard to say....

Any pictures?

[mr. s]

I might be able to take some but honestly he looks absolutely normal. Nothing has changed as far as I can tell except for the noticeably more brittle scales.

His appetite has not changed and his behaviour has not seemed to change.
I have no clue.

[2kdime]

Well when you say brittle, are they breaking off?

Are they flimsy?

[mr. s]

Flimsy. No they do not break off. They just catch a lot now. They catch on my hand when I hold him they catch on his other scales when he rubs up against himself.
If I suspect scale rot, will it do the snake any harm if I take some precautionary measures and use some polysporin on him for a week or so? See if it changes things?

[2kdime]

Try putting him on newspaper.

You might also try and soak him for a bit to see if it helps.

[iCandiBallPythons]

How often and what are you feeding?

[dr del]

Hi,

And you're absolutely certain he isn't going into shed? Because that feeling is the first sign my lesser is shedding usually.


dr del

[mr. s]

I feed f/t mice. 2 jumbos every week. He is a great eater.

If he IS going into shed I have not seen any of the usual signs. In that case, a soak would be good for him. I'll give it a go and probably switch him onto newspaper on the weekend.

We'll have to see how it goes I guess. Thanks for the responses.

[Kaorte]

I am pretty sure this is just how their belly scales are, especially when they get older. The belly scales just kind of lift up a little bit.

I am almost certain what you are describing is a perfectly normal thing for belly scales to do.