Scale rot and flaking peeling belly scales

[Sean44116]

Hello I just had few questions. I was gone on vacation for a week and had my gf look after my snake. She accidentally was misting the enclosure to try to maintain humidity and he developed a small patch of scale rot. I have moved him into a enclosure with just paper towels as substrate. I've done Betadine soaks and neosporin (no painkillers). Over the past couple days ive noticed his belly scales are flaking/peeling as single scales. There is only 1 small spot of brown scales rot or what I believe is scale rot but the flaking scales seem to be most of the length of his belly. Once the scale flakes off the scale under just doesnt look like it has the shine they usually do. You can kinda see in the one picture with the brown. Just trying to figure out if this is serious and needs medical attention. I see no signs of a shed coming but he is due for a shed i believe. Ive had a very hard time maintaining humidity since witching to paper towels. Any insight about the scale rot and peeling scales would be great. Ive had him for 3 years and never seen his scales flake like this

[Bogertophis]

I'm pretty sure that's from over-using Neosporin (it's not made for snakes). A much better option is Vetericyn for reptiles. It will take a while for the scales to get back to normal.

[bcr229]

Bingo. Petroleum-based ointments can cause scales to slough. Vetericyn is a water-based gel so it doesn't cause scale damage when used on cuts or scale rot. Fortunately a shed or two will fix it.

[Homebody]

Just trying to figure out if this is serious and needs medical attention.

Nah. I think you kind of jumped the gun on treatment here. That's a small patch and I'm not seeing the redness that I would expect to see with an infection. I would hold off on treatment and just monitor it for now. I would also return him to his regular enclosure, after fresh substrate change (just in case). Insufficient humidity will, most likely, only make matters worse.

[Bogertophis]

The trouble with petroleum-based products is that they don't dry, & you may think you didn't use very much, but snakes slide around so it gets all over their scales far from the original application, & suddenly you have many scales that are delaminating...ugh. The Neosporin (non-pain relief formula) is technically "safe" for snakes...it's not toxic to them, but it's well-known to make a mess of their scales.

[Sean44116]

The trouble with petroleum-based products is that they don't dry, & you may think you didn't use very much, but snakes slide around so it gets all over their scales far from the original application, & suddenly you have many scales that are delaminating...ugh. The Neosporin (non-pain relief formula) is technically "safe" for snakes...it's not toxic to them, but it's well-known to make a mess of their scales.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I read so many places that the neosporin (no painkillers) would have no ill effect on anything so I just was trying to be progressive about treating the scale rot to try to nip it. Clearly that didn't work out too well. Good lesson at least. I will switch him back to his normal enclosure with fresh substrate and keep an eye on him from now on. Do you guys think the delaminated scales and scale rot will clear up with a shed or 2? I feel terrible for causing more harm than good to my Lil guy I was reallt worried last night about the flaking scales ive just never seen that before and didn't know what was happening. Thanks again for your responses

[Bogertophis]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I read so many places that the neosporin (no painkillers) would have no ill effect on anything so I just was trying to be progressive about treating the scale rot to try to nip it. Clearly that didn't work out too well. Good lesson at least. I will switch him back to his normal enclosure with fresh substrate and keep an eye on him from now on. Do you guys think the delaminated scales and scale rot will clear up with a shed or 2? I feel terrible for causing more harm than good to my Lil guy I was reallt worried last night about the flaking scales ive just never seen that before and didn't know what was happening. Thanks again for your responses

Can't say precisely how many sheds before his scales look right again. I'm afraid you'll just have to be patient... & be even more progressive- next time get some Vetericyn. It's not the worst mistake you could have made, so don't beat yourself up for more than a week. (I'm kidding)

[Sean44116]

Can't say precisely how many sheds before his scales look right again. I'm afraid you'll just have to be patient... & be even more progressive- next time get some Vetericyn. It's not the worst mistake you could have made, so don't beat yourself up for more than a week. (I'm kidding)

Alright sounds good. Thanks again for the help definitely wont make that mistake again. Hopefully it clears up quicker than expected. He luckily seems alright behavior hasnt changed and is still active im sure he'll feel more at home when I get him back in his enclosure with all his stuff instead of just the hides and paper towels