Skin Problem Emergency

[CrowxJane]

Im new here, Im new to having snakes and Im freaking out. My ball python has had nothing but problems since I got her and I feel horrible. She had a bad shed a while back and I had to soak her until her skin finally all came off, and she didnt eat for two months and has finally eaten 2 mice in the last month. I was so excited and happy that I had finally gotten it! Someone told me her bad shed was due to her being too dry, so I started misting her, is that right? And I lifted her up today, and her skin is all crunchy like she is about to shed, but her belly is really squishy and her scales and kind of puffy? There appears to be blood under some of them and I dont know if she burnt herself on her heating pad, or if she has scale rot...or what to do at all!!

I have included photos, please help me!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ock/snake1.jpg

Of the 'blood' spots.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...lock/snake.jpg

Of how its spread onto her side and is white and puffy looking.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ock/snake2.jpg

Her crinkly dull skin



Please help me and Roxanne.

[Sausage]

What substrate have you got her on?

[Nate]

i'm not sure about the blood, I will let someone with more knowledge tackle that one.

it appears she could be about to shed again. You need a digital thermometer to measure the humidity. Ambient humidity should be around 50%, and when in shed you can mist (yes it's ok, but don't soak her!) to bump the humidity up 60-70%

Wal-mart sells Accurite thermometers for around 11 dollars...they're cheap and a lot of people recommend them.

Can you please tell us how you're set up currently is? What are you using to heat with? If you're using a heat rock, then chances are your snake has been burned. You have got to find an alternate method of heating. There are plenty of methods and we're more than happy to guide you through the steps.

[tigerlily]

All in all a bad shed isn't something to 'stress' over. A soak or two and it's easily handled, but maintain the humidity levels at 50-60% will help you avoid most bad sheds.

As for the pics... it seems like it's more of a burn. Belly rot usually looks more rusty, but not bloody. What type of setup do you have? If you do not have anything controlling the heat source, then it's very possible you have a burn. I'd recommend getting to a qualified herp vet as soon as you can. In the meantime, I'd work on correcting your husbandry issues by using a thermostat or a dimmer to adjust the heat output and a digital thermometer to measure the temps.

[Sausage]

She looks awfully skinny... maybe just dehydrated?

[Nate]

Where are you located?

[xdeus]

A few things I'd recommend:

1. Put her on paper towels for the substrate.
2. Stop misting her.
3. Control that heat pad... either get a thermostat or at least a rheostat immediately. You will also need a way to measure the temps of the cage.
4. Get a vet to check her out as soon as you can. You should be able to find a vet in your area at http://www.arav.org/USMembers.htm

It's impossible to diagnose something like this over an internet forum, and the most you can hope for is some helpful suggestions like mine and the others. In order to get her properly treated, though, an experienced herp vet will need to check her out in person.

Good luck!

[CrowxJane]

Whew, thank you all so much, Im sorry I freaked out and posted alot and didnt give adequate information. She does look thin which is odd considering in the last 3 weeks she has eaten 2 mice. Decent sized mice also. I have a heat pad and all she does is lay on it...so it could possibly be a burn? If so, should I continue misting her and putting polysporin on it? I've moved her to paper towels with a water bowl, and I turned the pad off, now she only has a light but I worry that isnt keeping her warm enough, or it will dry her out. Gah, Im so new to this it scares me.

I will try to take her to the vet as soon as I can and money restrictions allow.

[lord jackel]

Whew, thank you all so much, Im sorry I freaked out and posted alot and didnt give adequate information. She does look thin which is odd considering in the last 3 weeks she has eaten 2 mice. Decent sized mice also. I have a heat pad and all she does is lay on it...so it could possibly be a burn? If so, should I continue misting her and putting polysporin on it? I've moved her to paper towels with a water bowl, and I turned the pad off, now she only has a light but I worry that isnt keeping her warm enough, or it will dry her out. Gah, Im so new to this it scares me.

I will try to take her to the vet as soon as I can and money restrictions allow.

Do you have a thermometer (which also measure humidity) if not get one...it is the ONLY way you will know if you are keeping her correctly.

Next it sounds like you are just plugging the heat pad into the wall? Is it on a Thermostat? If not then she pry has a burn from laying on it with it way too hot.

Put her on papertowels, and get a Thermometer so you can adjust her temps correctly. Once you have the temps adjusted then you can use neosporin on any burns she has. STOP misting the excess moisture is not good for a burn (until you know what they humidity in the cage is)

Keep us posted

[frankykeno]

This is an Acu-Rite from WalMart...about $12.00 or less plus the cost of an AAA battery. I'd really, really recommend you find the cash to get one of those immediately as adjusting your enclosure to the right temps and humidity isn't going to work until you actually know accurately what those are.



When you say she "lays on" the heat pad you do mean she's laying on top of her substrate (now paper towels) and that the heating pad is under the substrate and outside her tank right (I'm assuming she's in a glass tank of some sort). If possible could you take a picture of your setup as this often helps us help you.