Ball python, pink belly, but no shed??

[PhoenixFyre]

Also, you should cover 3 sides of the enclosure with foam or something like that to help insulate. You can also cover half to 3/4 of the top screen with foil or a towel to increase humidity if need be.

The hygrometer probe needs to be inside the enclosure for obvious reasons. Just attach it to the side of the glass on the inside...

Yep, thanks - I do keep a towel over 2/3 of her enclosure, the warm end is open as that's where the heat lamp is. So I took her out to night to inspect her belly really closely, as it was quite pink again earlier today, though her body didn't feel overly hot. It's difficult to get a long look at her underside, cuz ball pythons love so much to lie on their backs, not... Anyway, on closer inspection under a light, she doesn't look quite right. She's got some scales that look like the edges are turning brown, she's pale pink up most of her middle, and when I stretch her out straight, her belly scales look like they have faint verticle wrinkles in them. She's also got 2 tiny sections where it looks like a bit of scale has come off, they're like tiny dull spots, not shiny like the rest of her tummy is. At this point, I'm concerned about scale rot, I have to say. I literally *just* replaced her substrate last night, and it is quite damp in there right now, though it'll dry out in a few days. I buy the substrate in bricks, and add water to break it down, so it's always damp when it goes in, but never ever have I had any issue. I'm thinking one of these times her belly's been pink - Likely the day I mentioned before, when she actually felt too warm to the touch - She may have had a mild burn, and it's now showing the results? Also on occasion when I pick her up and my fingers push into her abdomen, a little whistle will come out of her nose - It's not consistent, she has no discharge or rattling or anything, but she's very "nosey", and has been rooting around in her substrate, I find her with her nose sprinkled with it often. But of course now that I'm concerned about her temps and scale rot, I'm going to freak out about this occasional sound too - Are there other signs of respiratory illness I can watch for, just in case? Thanks for all your advice, super appreciated.

[PhoenixFyre]

I'm trying to post pics of her belly, but it looks like I don't have permissions to do that.

[Zombie]

Sounds like her substrate is too damp. Try switching her to a cypress mulch. Or make sure you dry out the substrate before putting it in her enclosure.

I'd take it out and take a hair dryer to it or just spread it out and get it dried. The moisture on her belly will cause belly rot, and that's a whole other can of worms you don't wanna open .

[PhoenixFyre]

Sounds like her substrate is too damp. Try switching her to a cypress mulch. Or make sure you dry out the substrate before putting it in her enclosure.

I'd take it out and take a hair dryer to it or just spread it out and get it dried. The moisture on her belly will cause belly rot, and that's a whole other can of worms you don't wanna open .

Yup, that's my thought exactly. I actually think she's got a mild case of scale rot already - And when I say mild, I mean really mild, *nothing* like the pics that come up when you Google it. So last night, I opted to remove all the new substrate, cleaned out her tank, lined it with newspaper and put her hides and water dish back in. Then washed her (just with warm water though, I've seen some folks say they used soap, but since I'm not sure what kind of soap is best, I opted not to use it), and put a thin layer of non-medicated Neosporin on her. The biggest thing I've noticed thus far, is that since the newspaper is thinner than the coco husk was, then the heat comes through it better and she's able to get warm without burrowing. Not that she can burrow anyway, into newspaper, I don't think... But, I don't really put anything past a snake, sneaky little buggers. I'm going to keep her this way until she sheds again, and in the meantime, I'll keep working on balancing out her temps better, to encourage her to eat. Does her fasting impact her ability to shed? I have assumed so, since if she's not eating, she's not growing, but since her scales are mildly damaged, I'm hoping that'll prompt her body into a shed soon and we can heal her up. I believe I've caught it very early, and I still think that funny whistle she does thru her nose sometimes is substrate caught in there - It is totally intermittent and like I said, there are NO other signs of RI, so I'll watch her, but I think she's okay. She's been a really sturdy animal, even thrived during my earliest rookie days in Sept. 2011, when I was pretty clueless - I mean, I'd read a lot, of course, but I had no hands on experience, so had to learn with her. Honestly, I'm sorta proud of myself - I've even helped her out of being head shy, and she's had nothing but perfect sheds since Oct. of last year, only her very first one was rough. I keep records on all of my animals, and noted that she slowed down in feeding early this year, from January to April she only accepted food 3 times. From May thru September, she ate consistently every 10-14 days, no problem. Right up to the start of breeding season - So I think I see her pattern, and while I need to continue to be diligent, I think overall she's doing well. I've never enjoyed a pet as much as I have my snakes, many people think I'm strange for it, but I don't really care. They're soothing, fascinating, and I love them.

Zombie, thank you a hundred times over for all your help, I'm a major worrywort and your advice has been really valuable.

[Zombie]

Yup, that's my thought exactly. I actually think she's got a mild case of scale rot already - And when I say mild, I mean really mild, *nothing* like the pics that come up when you Google it. So last night, I opted to remove all the new substrate, cleaned out her tank, lined it with newspaper and put her hides and water dish back in. Then washed her (just with warm water though, I've seen some folks say they used soap, but since I'm not sure what kind of soap is best, I opted not to use it), and put a thin layer of non-medicated Neosporin on her. The biggest thing I've noticed thus far, is that since the newspaper is thinner than the coco husk was, then the heat comes through it better and she's able to get warm without burrowing. Not that she can burrow anyway, into newspaper, I don't think... But, I don't really put anything past a snake, sneaky little buggers. I'm going to keep her this way until she sheds again, and in the meantime, I'll keep working on balancing out her temps better, to encourage her to eat. Does her fasting impact her ability to shed? I have assumed so, since if she's not eating, she's not growing, but since her scales are mildly damaged, I'm hoping that'll prompt her body into a shed soon and we can heal her up. I believe I've caught it very early, and I still think that funny whistle she does thru her nose sometimes is substrate caught in there - It is totally intermittent and like I said, there are NO other signs of RI, so I'll watch her, but I think she's okay. She's been a really sturdy animal, even thrived during my earliest rookie days in Sept. 2011, when I was pretty clueless - I mean, I'd read a lot, of course, but I had no hands on experience, so had to learn with her. Honestly, I'm sorta proud of myself - I've even helped her out of being head shy, and she's had nothing but perfect sheds since Oct. of last year, only her very first one was rough. I keep records on all of my animals, and noted that she slowed down in feeding early this year, from January to April she only accepted food 3 times. From May thru September, she ate consistently every 10-14 days, no problem. Right up to the start of breeding season - So I think I see her pattern, and while I need to continue to be diligent, I think overall she's doing well. I've never enjoyed a pet as much as I have my snakes, many people think I'm strange for it, but I don't really care. They're soothing, fascinating, and I love them.

Zombie, thank you a hundred times over for all your help, I'm a major worrywort and your advice has been really valuable.

It's no problem, I like helping.

You shouldn't use Neosporin on her tho. It's become taboo to use because of the petroleum jelly factor. It could actually do more harm then good. I would use paper towels over newspaper if you have them, otherwise NP is fine. Just don't put anymore neo on her, she should be good

[PhoenixFyre]

It's no problem, I like helping.

You shouldn't use Neosporin on her tho. It's become taboo to use because of the petroleum jelly factor. It could actually do more harm then good. I would use paper towels over newspaper if you have them, otherwise NP is fine. Just don't put anymore neo on her, she should be good

Hi, Zombie, just a quick update - I only treated her with the neosporin twice, and within 2 days of putting her on newsprint, she went *super* pink belly (my girl's underside always goes an alarming shade of hot pink when she's going into shed, it's crazy), so once I saw that and her blurred markings, I just left her alone. As of last night, she's in full blue, so thankfully here pretty soon she's going to be rid of her damaged scales and we'll be back in normal business. I've replaced her thermostat with one that I can set to a specific temperature, which is indeed helping level out her temps. I've never known her to turn down a meal after a shed (her last shed was 3 days before her last meal, in late September), so hopefully, she'll break her fast, too. Of course, now that I've said it out loud, she'll probably snub her rat, LOL! But since her weight is stable, if she still refuses to eat, then I'll just keep trying every couple weeks till she takes it - I really honestly think the fasting is breeding season related, she's ideal size and age, and well... she's a ball python. That's how they roll.