HELP !!! Skin issue

[Mcass66]

Hi, I have recently got a new Ball Python, He is in the tank on his own and is about 7months old. I got home from work last night to abit of his skin cut and scaleless. Its hard to describe but the skin looks very raw. I went through his tank looking for things that could have caused it and Theres nothing sharp at all in his tank, nothing too hot- The heat lamp we have was actually turned off all day while I was at work and the heat mat isn't hot enough to damage his skin. I cant find anything that it could be but more besides the point How can I help him now ? Is there anything I should be doing so that it doesn't get infected ? Im really worried about him and want to give him the care he needs !! Please help me !! :'(

[Hannahshissyfix]

Scale rot? It's hard to help without pictures.

[Mcass66]

It's not skin rot its like a fresh wound sort of thing with a tiny tiny bit of blood.
I cant figure out how to put a picture on here !!

[Mcass66]

figured out how to add a picture hope this helps


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[Mcass66]

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[scalypasta]

It doesn't look like a burn- there are plenty pictures of those on here. I've seen similar-looking injuries on dogs before, and for them that's a cut. Like "oops I slipped with the scissors while clipping knots". Obviously snakes don't have fur to knot, but if there's anything with sharp corners or ridges in his tank I'd recommend removing it.

Are you feeding him live? Is there anyone in the house that might have tried to feed him while you were out?

I'm pretty new at this myself so of course I'm no expert, it could very well be something else entirely. Either way I'd recommend a vet visit, that looks like it would be painful and easily re-injured.

[Mcass66]

Not fed him yet I've actually only had him since Saturday and he didn't have it before. I didn't think it was a burn either. It looked like a fresh cut but I could not put my finger on what it was that could have caused it. Although he has a metal cage round his light which could have caused it. Thankyou


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[distaff]

Ouch!
That area needs to stretch considerably when he eats.

Can you rule out other people handling him? You might want a lock on the cage.
What is the decor? Do you have one of those hides that the snake can crawl up and get stuck in?

[Mcass66]

Well no one else would even touch him they're terrified of him so! I know it's a bad area isn't it he doesn't have anything he could get particularly stuck in but he loved going behind the polystyrene background we had (until I removed it yesterday) as it was abit sticky behind but I couldn't find any traces of skin on there when I removed it. I have took anything remotely sharp out now


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[scalypasta]

If you're afraid he'll burn himself on the light if you remove the cage, maybe get a hot glue gun and coat the sharpest parts in the glue? (That would only work if the light is not keeping the cage hot, though.) If you get ready to do that, make sure you have a small tub set up with bedding, heat, and water to put him in temporarily- give the glue a couple hours to get good and dry, just in case, before you put him back. You don't want fumes giving your little guy respiratory issues or anything.

I've also seen several people recommend using paper towels or newspaper for bedding for an injured snake. So you don't have to worry about aspen shavings or anything getting in the wound.