Pink belly on a spider ball python?

[benwallage9]

Hey I was looking at my spider ball python's belly today and I notice it was a little pink... Has anyone had this happen before? I thought that he might have burnt it however he has a UTH on one side, and there is about 2-3 inches of substrate in between him and the UTH. I use to keep my corn in this the same tank and he would lay practically on it and never had any problems. The UTH is a standard zoo med one, and I have never had the spider borrow down to the UTH. So any ideas or suggestions of why his belly is light pink?

[Lopezxx2]

My snakes have the pink belly before they shed. I think it is a sign of it going into shed but not 100% sure. Not an expert haha

[dr del]

Hi,

Definately one of the sign of an upcoming shed.

But.

2-3 inches is a lot of substrate over a UTH.

Can you tell us what the temp directly on the UTH are? I ask because the snake can easily push bedding aside and come into contact with those temps.

That is why most people make sure that this figure is never dangerously high and use a thinner substrate so that the temps inside the snakes hide etc are at the correct level despite this.


dr del

[MissDizzyBee]

Ill second that. Mine got a light pink sheen, then went blue, then shed. As soon as he went blue the pinkish tint vanished.

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[benwallage9]

I have never took the temps directly on the UTH the reason I have so much substrate is the tank he is in is sitting on top of my homemade enclosure that I use lights to heat. And with out that much substrate his tank gets a little to hot. I don't think he can get down to the UTH because I use coco coir (like the bed a beast of eco earth stuff), which stays fairly compact cuz I keep it damp. I have never seen him close enough to it to get burnt... And it didn't seem to hurt him when I touched him. Also my corn use to borrow down to it and never burnt himself

[fonzi1289]

My spider does the same thing everytime before she sheds..

[benwallage9]

Ok thanks I'm thinking its the same thing with my spider

[dryates]

Depending on how damp u keep ur substrate if he doesn't shed soon u might consider scale rot from the moisture. I don't know much about scale rot but I know they can get it from laying in wetness all the time.

[dr del]

Hi,

I have never took the temps directly on the UTH the reason I have so much substrate is the tank he is in is sitting on top of my homemade enclosure that I use lights to heat. And with out that much substrate his tank gets a little to hot.

You could put some insulating material between the two enclosures.

I don't think he can get down to the UTH because I use coco coir (like the bed a beast of eco earth stuff), which stays fairly compact cuz I keep it damp. I have never seen him close enough to it to get burnt... And it didn't seem to hurt him when I touched him. Also my corn use to borrow down to it and never burnt himself

I once watched one of mine break out of a fish tank with a metal aquarium hood on it by forcing the hinge to tear apart.

Trust me on this if they can bend and tear metal they can move your damp substrate if they want.


dr del

[seeya205]

I would not keep the substrate damp, that will definitely cause scale rot over time. If the pink is on the complete belly then it will be shedding soon. Dr. Del is correct, you need to take his advice. The snake can and will get burned if the uth is too hot! Substrate is not a good safety measure against this!