Overfeeding, Or something else?

[O'Mathghamhna]

Do you think it could be from more excessive feeding though? The thing I had read said that sometimes because their belly expands, then the scales won't lay completely flat. Just wanted to ask about that.

Ehhhh.... I don't know to be honest. When he eats, does he have a large, very noticeable bulge in his body, or is he just kinda slightly more plump after he eats his prey?

[Fraido]

From the first photo, it looks like what I've seen on my boa many times, scales bent from being coiled, it's usually a straight vertical line of scales though. Second photo looks more raw, it will be easier to tell when we've got better photos to look at.

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[Holly_Berry]

Ehhhh.... I don't know to be honest. When he eats, does he have a large, very noticeable bulge in his body, or is he just kinda slightly more plump after he eats his prey?

It's kind of a more noticeable bulge. I'm actually feeding him smaller rats than what he was eating before I got him though.

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[Holly_Berry]

I just wanted to say that this morning, I spent about 20 minutes looking over him, and I could not find the raised scales from before or any new spots on him. I still plan on taking him to the vet and getting his temps up, and the humidity a bit lower in his tank. Since I couldn't find the raised scales from before I'll just post a few pictures of him and see what you think. He is just a normal ball python (no morphs) and please just remember that I got him about two months ago, and so to me, he is entirely new.

[JodanOrNoDan]

Animal looks pretty healthy to me from what i can see in the last set of pictures. The scales can get bent when they coil or lay on or under something in a weird fashion. Think of it as a bad hair day. If the scales have smoothed back down and there is nothing else unusual going on you are fine. Scale rot is not just going to go away.

[Holly_Berry]

Animal looks pretty healthy to me from what i can see in the last set of pictures. The scales can get bent when they coil or lay on or under something in a weird fashion. Think of it as a bad hair day. If the scales have smoothed back down and there is nothing else unusual going on you are fine. Scale rot is not just going to go away.

A good way to put it! A few days ago he had gotten stuck in his cork hide he had (key word had). I had noticed them raised after that. So I do believe it was just from that and eating, But I think he's okay now. Thank you for your input on the subject.

[Scottywelsh]

I wish I'd seen this post when you posted it because every bp will have bent scales like that occasionally from either being coiled up or caught on the hide or things around the viv and is absolutely nothing to worrie about. . Yes your temps are a little low but as you said your working on it. Make all husbandry like that your priority and get them sorted as soon as you can. I would also maybe not mist the viv so much if your holding 67% or maybe I just read that wrong.
As for the weight, all bps grow at their own rate but I would feed an appropriate size once a week and you'll be fine and he will put on weight at a normal rate.

No offence to others but IMO this post was totally taken In the wrong direction and there was no need to try and scare you or take such a drastic approach. This is my opinion anyway.

Good Luck

[Holly_Berry]

I wish I'd seen this post when you posted it because every bp will have bent scales like that occasionally from either being coiled up or caught on the hide or things around the viv and is absolutely nothing to worry about. Yes, your temps are a little low but as you said your working on it. Make all husbandry like that your priority and get them sorted as soon as you can. I would also maybe not mist the viv so much if your holding 67% or maybe I just read that wrong.
As for the weight, all bps grow at their own rate, but I would feed an appropriate size once a week, and you'll be fine, and he will put on weight at a normal rate.

No offense to others but IMO this post was totally taken In the wrong direction and there was no need to try and scare you or take such a drastic approach. This is my opinion anyway.

Good Luck

I do agree with you, I dont think it's the scale rot, as I said, I've read so much on it. And even though my temps and humidity are low and high, I don't think that they're so bad that they would cause scale rot. Like I had said before, I do plan on taking him to the vet just to get a checkup since he's never been and since I don't know the actual gender. Thank you for your reply, It truly eases my nerves.

[Yzmasmom]

He's a cutie!

[cchardwick]

That could also be damage from eating live rats, my mice occasionally will bite my snake right before they pass out from being constricted, makes a small wound that heals up quickly.

I had a small ball python that was only getting fed a small mouse once a month, was really skinny, I'm surprised it survived for so long with so little food. I started feeding it three adult mice all in one sitting. Now he looks better so I cut back to once a week.