Is this scale rot? Skin infection?

[Haruka9250]

I would like to say that I believe that you are doing a great job keeping this clean. BEL animals have such sensitive pink skin that every last thing shows very clearly.
It’s difficult to rule out the things you listed previously, but I would also add in mites as a potential as well, even commensal soil-dwellers can irritate skin when burrowed into it.
What about prey injury?
I genuinely suggest a check-up with the vet if this doesn’t clear up with the next shedding of the skin.
Personally I think more owners should be this proactive in their husbandry and best wishes!
This resembles a minor skin infection, and generally will not warrant use of systemic antibiotics. Obviously without an examination, I wouldn’t be able to say for sure. Things to look out for:
-tiny pinpoint hemorrhages under multiple scales (appears as tiny pink dots)
-nasal discharge or mucous in the mouth. A normal ball python mouth is mostly dry and no mucous should come up from anywhere if they’re healthy
-sometimes skin infections also mean respiratory infections, so listen closely for any noisy breathing. Clicks, whistles, wheezes etc. Snakes get pneumonia very quickly compared to mammals. Noise equals respiratory disease!
-a vet can give dewormers that are safe in case this is related to migration of parasites as well. Many chronic respiratory infections have a link to normal life cycles of worms (present in rodent prey under normal circumstances).

-Raise your enclosure temperature a couple degrees-it stimulated white blood cell production so the immune system will do a better job.

~Ruby

On 10/27 I noticed these 3 red spots on my BEL. The skin itself looked red and inflamed and the scales looked raised.




I started cleaning it with an antiseptic and applying an antibiotic ointment 2x a day.

It looks like this today (10/30)



It doesn't look red or swollen anymore and I'm happy about the progress since it's been only 3 days. The problem is now there is a new inflamed, red spot in a different location.

What is causing this? He's in a bioactive pvc cage. The substrate isn't overly moist, humidity on the warm side is 60% and 70% on the cool side. I would rather not trash the whole thing but what inside it could be causing this? Could they be isopod bites?

Is it scale rot? Some other kind of skin infection? Anyone ever see anything like it? How did you fix it?

I'm not opposed to taking him to the vet but I would rather handle it myself unless it worsens and he ends up needing antibiotics. I live in Sherbrooke, Quebec and the vets here think an "exotic pet" is a guinea pig or ferret.

Please if you've ever dealt with anything like this please let me know. Thanks!