2 concerns about my ball python please help!

[Samzi1123]

Here are the pics of his belly.


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[tttaylorrr]

Here are the pics of his belly.

possible scale rot.

EDIT: scale rot isn't solely caused by humid conditions; filthy conditions that allow bacteria to thrive cause scale rot.

[kthoms104]

Looks kind of like scale rot, would recommend a vet/talking to an expert that you may know? However, I'm definitely not an expert myself, so I'd get some more opinions on it for sure.

[Craiga 01453]

I've never had any hands on experience with scale rot, but that looks like it to me. But, please know that's a very amateur opinion based solely on a few pics.

Like tttaylorrr said, scale rot doesn't just come from humidity. It in fact comes more from the snake lying on wet or dirty substrate.

Also....phew on 7 weeks not months!!!

If you could share as many details as possible about your setup we'll be able to help you out better.

What type and size enclosure?
How are you heating?
Are your heat sources regulated by a thermoSTAT???
What are your temps?
How are you measuring temps and where?
Are there 2 proper hides?
Is the enclosure wise open? Or in a high traffic area?
Etc....

[Samzi1123]

Would scale rot worsen quickly? Because he’s had the dry discolored scales for a while and he hasn’t gotten worse at all. I’ve taken all the substrate out and replaced it with paper towels and cleaned everything in the tank.


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[Cheesenugget]

I think it is scale rot? Looks yellowish coming from the scales but I would confirm with a vet. Please keep in mind reptiles are very resilient animals showing no sign of pain until they are too sick to fake it anymore.

Please post the info about your tank set up so everyone can try to help you.

My suggestion is to get your pet back to good health first before any further attempts at switching to f/t. Feeding it live until it gained back most of its weight plus fixing your tank set up (Again, please provide details), and maybe get a vet to take a look at that belly.

[Samzi1123]

So the warm side is 87 and the cool side is 74. He is currently on paper towels and has 2 hides, one on the cool side and one on the warm side. He has a fairly good size water dish and a branch to rub against. The humidity is right around 50%. I’m using an overhead heat lamp because the under tank heat wasn’t getting the tank warm enough. Prior to this he was on aspen chips and I emptied the tank and cleaned it once a week. I think that covers everything people had asked about! Thank you to everyone who has been replying! It’s great to have a community to fall back on!


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[Craiga 01453]

So the warm side is 87 and the cool side is 74. He is currently on paper towels and has 2 hides, one on the cool side and one on the warm side. He has a fairly good size water dish and a branch to rub against. The humidity is right around 50%. I’m using an overhead heat lamp because the under tank heat wasn’t getting the tank warm enough. Prior to this he was on aspen chips and I emptied the tank and cleaned it once a week. I think that covers everything people had asked about! Thank you to everyone who has been replying! It’s great to have a community to fall back on!


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You failed to mention a thermostat. Are your UTH and heat lamp regulated by a thermostat?

[Samzi1123]

No I don’t have a thermostat. It’s on my list but I haven’t had a chance to get one yet.


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[Phillydubs]

No I don’t have a thermostat. It’s on my list but I haven’t had a chance to get one yet.


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Major issue and mistake. Could also be burned scales from an unregulated uth


are you no longer using the UTH?

you should really use both. How do you plan to keep humidity up now? Cause w a heat lamp and no substrate to hold heat you will need other methods