Help!! python's scales are flaking off

[BradR]

I have noticed alot of the clear scales from my ball python's underbelly in the bottom of his tank. i then decided to flip him over to discover that where they had flaked off the bare scale is getting a pink color wherever they had flaked off and i assume its irritation. i then thought for a second...i use turf substrate and use bleach to clean them so, i believe i had lacked rinsing out the bleach thoroughly and it is reacting with the skin i then grabbed all my turf mats and soaked them as best as i could and threw them in my dryer to dry them quickly. is that most likely the issue, also will he be ok and what can i do to better it, or will it just shed out.

[sarahlovesmiike]

This happened with my male before I gave up on using tanks. I'm not sure what caused it exactly, but I'm assuming it was because the humidity was always low and he never had good sheds. I doubt that the bleachy substrate had anything to do with it initially, but it could have made it worse.


What is your set up like? What are your temps and humidity, and how are you measuring them? How are you heating the enclosure? If you have everything at it's optimum settings then he should have a full shed (one piece) and they should go back to normal.

[seeya205]

I would get rid of the turf and use newspaper or paper towels right away! It may the bleach or bacteria in the turf! That stuff is too hard to keep clean and always cause problems! You can you whatever substrate but for now use what you got! Newspaper and paper towel are readily available! Also make sure your humidity is good too! You can also rub a little polysporin on the spot to help heal and protect it! Good luck!

[BPelizabeth]

Yea ditch the turf...bacteria nightmare!!! Use papertowels or newspaper. I personally use papertowels in my bins and LOVE it!!

[AkHerps]

It will probably go away if he has a good shed, if not, keep an eye on it, if it gets worse it could be scale rot.

[BradR]

i had used the polysporin on the underside where the redness was...is it normal that ALOT of scales are flaking off with the use of polysporin... and if soo that means the actual scale is exposed without that protective covering which means im sure there are some do's and dont's....also i did throw those turf mats away and am just using paper towels.