Start of a possible burn?

[anwhit]

So ever since I cleaned Athena's tank out last week I've noticed my temp gun has been acting a little funky. Usually I have the thermostat for my heat pad set at 95 so it's a perfect 90 on top of the substrate. However, after I cleaned the tank and when the heat pad had warmed up, it kept on reading only 82 on top of the substrate, so I boosted up the temp of the thermostat to 100 even though the temp gun was still only reading 85. (We're expecting on hell of a blizzard so I just figured it was getting colder). But of course it didn't occur to me until today that the batteries could be running low. =_= I went to check on her today and noticed that the edge of some of her belly scales were a dark red. It hardly looks like anything but I just wanted to know if I needed to treat the areas at all even if they're this tiny.

(Sorry for the crappy pic. My phone camera is not the best.)

[dave21]

Well, it could be based on the picture. I had a corn snake once with a thermal burn and it looked red at first.. Next day got darker and started to look bruise like and "shed" off in flakes. Never reached blister stage because i acted quickly. This was before we knew heat pads can reach such high temps. I treated it with betadine soultion diluted in water. If it does not get worse lower the heat and make sure it improves. If not remove all bedding and keep the snake on dry, paper bedding so there is no risk of infection. Good luck

[LLLReptile]

Is she sitting directly on the heat pad? The belly looks a little dingy, but not like it's the start of a burn to me. As someone who keeps her snakes with a usual high temp of 95 or so, I know those temps aren't warm enough to cause a burn unless the snake is sitting directly on the heat and not moving. Make sure she's not directly touching the pad, fluff up the bedding, and she should be fine. You may want to look into methods to increase the ambient temps so that she doesn't feel the need to huddle on the heat pad for long enough periods of time to burn herself.

-Jen

[anwhit]

Is she sitting directly on the heat pad? The belly looks a little dingy, but not like it's the start of a burn to me. As someone who keeps her snakes with a usual high temp of 95 or so, I know those temps aren't warm enough to cause a burn unless the snake is sitting directly on the heat and not moving. Make sure she's not directly touching the pad, fluff up the bedding, and she should be fine. You may want to look into methods to increase the ambient temps so that she doesn't feel the need to huddle on the heat pad for long enough periods of time to burn herself.

-Jen

No she wasn't, that's why I have to bump it up in the first place so I could get it through the substrate.

My ambient temps are fine, though. I've never had a problem with temps. I pretty much have a red bulb for every wattage and just switch as need be. Ever since the winter season has started, however, she has done nothing but stay in her cold hide. I only see her wander to the other side if she needs a drink. I always assumed it was because she sensed all the cold fronts we've been getting.

My cold side is 80-82, and the warm side is 84-86

[3skulls]

What kind of substrate do you use?

Could it be a stain from sitting on wet wood?

I can't tell anything from the pic.

[anwhit]

What kind of substrate do you use?

Could it be a stain from sitting on wet wood?

I can't tell anything from the pic.

I use reptibark, however my humidity is only about 45-55%. The bedding is not damp at all.

[3skulls]

I use Reptibark as well. From time to time ill see a spot on the belly (more brown than red) and think its something bad.
Water can spill and they get wet when then come out of the bowl.

Just to be safe...
Keep an eye on the temps.
Make sure she isn't moving the substrate and laying in the cage floor.
Wash her off and apply a little Betadine on the spots.
Keep a close eye on her and see of its chafing color or getting worse.

If you can get better pics up, people might have a better idea of what it is.

Good luck.

[anwhit]

Ah, that makes sense. When she moves from side to side and moves across her waterbowl, she skims the water and gets slightly wet. (I have a heavy ceramic bowl so I know that's not going anywhere.)

They do look more brownish than red. But I will wash her down and treat the areas just in case. I'll deff keep and eye on her, I always do.

Thanks for all the help, guys!

[anwhit]

UPDATE: I gave her a short bath today and low and behold everything was gone. Guess it was just staining from the reptibark. Thanks again 3skulls!

[3skulls]

Awesome!!!

Glad it wasn't anything to worry about.