Anyone ever see bubbled scales?

[Courtney281]

What in the WORLD is going on here. Just a little info, I am in the middle of switching over from tanks to a rack but this one in still in quarentine. She had mites when I got her and she is still in pretty bad shape. She is getting ready to shed again and it seems like there is a lot of mite damage to her head. Anyway she was in a tank with aspen bedding and an UTH, a water bowl and a hide. I pulled everyone today for a weigh in and I noticed these scales that were lifted and bubbled up with fluid inside of them. I have NEVER seen anything like this on a snake and Im trying to figure out if its from mites and having a hard time shedding, or if its something else. It's clear fluid though which leads me to believe its most likely not infected. Here are some pics I took real quick with my phone to just give you an idea. Anyone ever run into this? Any ideas what it might be?

[Freakie_frog]

WOW!! not sure I've ever seen anything like that before out side of a burn. If I had to guess and this is just reach in the air guess..I'd have to think it is some reaction to the mites and combined with going into shed the old skin may have let go early and filled with that oil that helps them shed.. again just guess.. Wait till she sheds and see what it looks like then..


Please keep us up todate..

[Courtney281]

Do you think I should try to soak her and shed her?

[sarahlovesmiike]

I would just leave it alone until she sheds, then see how it looks. It kinda seems like some kind of blister, but I don't know how she would have gotten one.

[Freakie_frog]

Do you think I should try to soak her and shed her?

Naaa Just bump the humidity up like normal and let her shed..

[Courtney281]

well she has more then just one, so I dont think its a blister. And if you press on it (it's not painful to her) then it spreads and seperates more shed skin, so the oil in between the two layers actually makes sense. I'm giving her a soak since her tank is a little on the dry side right now and then I'll wait for her to shed on her own and let you all know how it goes.

It's just wierd though, 19 years of having snakes, I've never seen that. Although my snakes are taken way better care of then this was had been. Poor thing, Im glad she is with us now where she will get the care and love she obviously needs.

[shelliebear]

Was she rubbing on anything in her enclosure??
I don't know about snakes, but I'm sure you all know why people get blisters (repetitive rubbing of some kind)
I wonder if she rubbed them on something and got one?? I have no clue. That's really interesting.

[cinderbird]

I have no idea what that is, but you don't want to soak a snake thats going INTO shed. The water leaches the oil from their skin and makes it harder for them to shed.

[kitedemon]

I don't know but so I am asking can it be blister disease? I have never seen it just read about it but the way you spoke about the problem sounded like what I have read on it. I really hope it is something simple and not blister disease, it might be worth a consideration, I assume that the pre rescue conditions were bad.? Just I thought. good luck

"The first signs are usually watery blisters on the reptile’s skin. These blisters then burst and transfer the infection into the reptile’s body, leading to septicemia, an infection of the blood which is potentially fatal, as well as infection in the internal organs. In addition, the skin around the initial blister may rot away leaving the body exposed and even more vulnerable to other bacterial and fungal invasions as well as injuries, abrasions and burns. Mites can also spread bacteria to the blisters and in some cases, bacteria can cause abscesses at the site of the blisters which recur as ulcers following the next shed."


http://www.reptileexpert.co.uk/BlisterDisease.html

[Freakie_frog]

I don't know but so I am asking can it be blister disease? I have never seen it just read about it but the way you spoke about the problem sounded like what I have read on it. I really hope it is something simple and not blister disease, it might be worth a consideration, I assume that the pre rescue conditions were bad.? Just I thought. good luck

"The first signs are usually watery blisters on the reptile’s skin. These blisters then burst and transfer the infection into the reptile’s body, leading to septicemia, an infection of the blood which is potentially fatal, as well as infection in the internal organs. In addition, the skin around the initial blister may rot away leaving the body exposed and even more vulnerable to other bacterial and fungal invasions as well as injuries, abrasions and burns. Mites can also spread bacteria to the blisters and in some cases, bacteria can cause abscesses at the site of the blisters which recur as ulcers following the next shed."


http://www.reptileexpert.co.uk/BlisterDisease.html

Without knowing the conditions the animal was kept in prior to the current owner getting it, could it be Blister Disease aka Belly rot? Sure could..it they don't go away or get worse then a vet visit will defiantly be needed.

Just keep an eye on them and after she shed look her over good.. if it is blister disease soaking her will only irritate the problem.