need help - scale rot

[bcr229]

We also put a stack of newspaper on top of the UTH so that there were additional layers between him and the UTH. The temp now is around 95.

He has been burned again. When you take a temperature reading on the paper there's enough air between the sheets to act as an insulator. When your snake lies on the paper that air is squeezed out and your snake gets burned. Why did you not put a thermostat on the heat pad? They only cost $25-50 to regulate one appliance and would have saved you a vet bill.

I'd bet he is biting because he is in pain. Unplug the UTH and keep it unplugged until you get a thermostat for it. This one on Amazon is decent:
http://www.amazon.com/Zilla-Reptile-...sr_1_1?ie=UTF8

In the meantime treat him for the burns as you did before. If you need more silvadene you can buy it online at http://www.mountainside-medical.com/

[jenlib]

Thank you so much! I did a cursory search previously for something that would regulate the UTH temp, but I did not find anything. I wasn't sure such a thing existed, though I thought it should! I have purchased the one you suggested, so it will be here in 2 days. In the meantime, I've unplugged the UTH and will treat him with betadine and silvadene. Thanks for the resource for more silvadene if I run out. Makes sense why he is biting. Luckily, it doesn't really hurt and will not deter me from treating him. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge! I really thought he was safe from further burns. This is something all ball python owners should be made aware of. I had no idea a snake could actually burn themselves. I always thought they would just move from one side of the tank to the other to regulate their body temp. Thanks again!

[chrid16371]

Thank you so much! I did a cursory search previously for something that would regulate the UTH temp, but I did not find anything. I wasn't sure such a thing existed, though I thought it should!

Any and all heat sources need controlled with a thermostat. Reptile thermostats have been out for years. Any topic in this form doing with heating you will read multiple people saying you need a thermostat. The snake did not burn itself, an unregulated heat mat did. The snake had no choice. Buying a thermostat is something that is 100 necessary before you even considering bringing the reptile home. Its not something you cant buy later its something that needs to be hooked up and running before the animal is introduced to its environment.

[ItsAllNew2Me!]

Thank you so much! I did a cursory search previously for something that would regulate the UTH temp, but I did not find anything. I wasn't sure such a thing existed, though I thought it should! I have purchased the one you suggested, so it will be here in 2 days. In the meantime, I've unplugged the UTH and will treat him with betadine and silvadene. Thanks for the resource for more silvadene if I run out. Makes sense why he is biting. Luckily, it doesn't really hurt and will not deter me from treating him. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge! I really thought he was safe from further burns. This is something all ball python owners should be made aware of. I had no idea a snake could actually burn themselves. I always thought they would just move from one side of the tank to the other to regulate their body temp. Thanks again!

This all comes down to doing research for yourself. I am not trying to sounds harsh but it sounds like you received this surrender and you yourself have little idea on how to care for the BP. Research is key. This site has plenty of information and if you go through just a few of the threads I guarantee you will see multiple enthusiasts say a thermostat is a must. It is all over the place. There are also many stickies that give all the information needed for proper husbandry if one would just look. Yes all ball python owners should be made aware of this but that is through their own research. One should never take the responsibility of a life if one does not know how to support that life weather it is a pet or a human being. Research is a must and you need to get started on that right now. If you did not know about a thermostat then I think it is safe to assume that you don't know many other things about the proper husbandry of your BP. For your sake and his please read more of this site and ask as many questions as you can. You have a lot to cram in in a short period of time. Good luck!!