Is this scale rot?

[Becs080]

Agreed in regards to the thermostat. I attached a low wattage mat once to a tub without a thermostat to see what would happen (no snake in tub) and 2 weeks later, there was a hole burnt through the bottom of the plastic so you can imagine what would have happened if the snake was there. They can be deadly without a thermostat. I've also attached the stick on ones to the bottom of glass aquariums before and within days, they're too hot to touch with your bare hand and since snakes and often ball pythons, generally will push the substrate or paper towels out of the way and sit under it/directly on the heat source, they become extremely dangerous. Just my experience with them - i would definately recommend a thermostat. Amazon sells inexpensive hydrofarm thermostats that are great if you're just regulating one enclosure and they're only $30!

I would clean the snake and apply triple antibiotic ointment to the scales, gently rubbing against them so it gets under the scales. Clean and re-apply in the evening. Make sure your husbandry is spot on - in general - but it's super important right now while your snakes healing. Clean water daily and replace paper towels daily and as soon as there's any spoil.

Good luck!

[SlitherinSisters]

I will second the dimmer idea. Dimmers work just fine as long as you check the temps often. Every time the temps in your house fluctuate, the heat pad temps fluctuate. You should be able to find lamp dimmers at a home improvement store in the lamp aisle. I wouldn't buy a cheap thermostat, you are better off with a dimmer. Cheap thermostats break, and when they break they let all the power through, when a dimmer breaks, it kills the power. Trust me, I learned the hard way on this one, almost lost my collection when I first started.

[MJT_23]

I just bought a thermostat. What is a good tempature to keep
It at?

[Ashleigh91]

I just bought a thermostat. What is a good tempature to keep
It at?

It depends on where the probe is.. if it's between the enclosure and the UTH then you can try setting it for the actual temperature that you want, and just monitor it with a thermometer to see if it's higher/lower. My probe is attached to the bottom of the UTH (so not between it and the glass) so I set mine for about 4 degrees lower than the temperature I want inside the enclosure.

Whichever way you end up doing it just monitor it closely at first, and then adjust it a degree or two if needed.

[MJT_23]

It depends on where the probe is.. if it's between the enclosure and the UTH then you can try setting it for the actual temperature that you want, and just monitor it with a thermometer to see if it's higher/lower. My probe is attached to the bottom of the UTH (so not between it and the glass) so I set mine for about 4 degrees lower than the temperature I want inside the enclosure.

Whichever way you end up doing it just monitor it closely at first, and then adjust it a degree or two if needed.

I mean mine is under my tank and I use Eco earth so they could burrow down if they wanted so I'm asking what is a nice warm temp that will be warm but not to hot to keep it at even if he's almost right on it?

[Ashleigh91]

I mean mine is under my tank and I use Eco earth so they could burrow down if they wanted so I'm asking what is a nice warm temp that will be warm but not to hot to keep it at even if he's almost right on it?

Well wait for someone with more experience to back me up here, but if it were me I'd set it in such a way that the glass is the temperature that you want.. because most of them will burrow straight down to the glass anyways..

In my opinion you don't want the temperature of the glass to get hotter than you'd be comfortable with your BP laying on it, because it's likely that it'll be laying straight on the tank anyways. Just my 2 cents.

Like I said, wait for someone else to back me up

[KrazyKevin]

I use Eco-earth and I have mine set at 91 degrees

[raptor96]

the female finally shed...and she hasn't got that rusty scale...her belly is complete white.

Thank you all for the good advice.
Soon I will post pics with her and my male pastel.