Help please! My ball's belly is flaky and scales are coming off individually

[vonnegut]

Hi all,

I just got my first ball python about two months ago, and he's developed some belly issues ever since his last shed (about 3 weeks ago). I've been searching the interwebz everywhere for possible solutions, but I can't find anyone with a similar problem. After his shed (which was seemingly a great shed--all came off in one piece), his underbelly was rusty/pink at the edges of the scales and sort of more "crinkly" than his other scales, and because I had made him a moist hide spot while he was in shed, I thought that maybe it had been too wet and he had gotten scale rot (it looked a lot like other pictures I found of the early stages of scale rot). So I started giving him daily hydrogen peroxide/water baths and swabbing his whole belly with antibiotic ointment as per suggestions for scale rot treatment. It didn't seem to be changing any, and then it started getting more crinkly and flaky, and now scales are coming off individually--it started with his belly scales, and now even scales up to his sides are coming off one at a time--something that is apparently not a sign of scale rot. A few days ago it dawned on me that it could be burns from his UTH so I unplugged that, and I'm still putting antibiotic ointment on him everyday. Also, when his scales come off, the underskin looks kind of wrinkly and slightly pinker. If things don't change soon, I'll take him in to the vet for a visit that costs more than I paid for him (hah), but until then, any hypotheses?

It's hard to tell in these pictures, but his belly is also kind of blotchy pink now.



This is how my hand looks after holding him.

[JeffJ]

can you give us more information about its cage, temperatures, how your reading them and humidity.

could be a burnt belly or scale rot. im new so take what i say with a grain of salt some one ls will come help im sure.

[SnM_Man]

what was the concentration of peroxided?? kinda sounds like his skin dried out and could potentially be chemical burns ??...but thats just my opinion

[rabernet]

It's the oil in the ointment that's causing the scales to come off - it's just the top layer too. Once you're done treating it, and he's had a full shed, and no more ointment - he'll be back to normal. Mineral oil does the same thing.

[Kaorte]

You have to give us a little more info on his setup for us to help you. As jeff has said, we need to know what the temps are, how you are reading them, and how you are controlling them. What is his substrate?

To me that looks like a burn, but I am no expert. If it is not getting better, I would go see the vet.

[JeffJ]

i see a bit of blood in the close up belly shot too i would say it looks liek a burn as well.

and as stated the ointment is likely drying the skin as well which is causin more scale loss.

[vonnegut]

can you give us more information about its cage, temperatures, how your reading them and humidity.

To JeffJ and Kaorte: I only have a thermometer and hygrometer in the middle of the cage, halfway between hot side and cool side, and it usually reads 80 degrees. My heat sources are a heat lamp and a UTH (which is now unplugged). Humidity stays at about 50% (I was trying things before to raise the humidity, but since I first thought he had scale rot, I tried to keep it lower). I use newspaper as substrate.

what was the concentration of peroxided?? kinda sounds like his skin dried out and could potentially be chemical burns ??...but thats just my opinion

It's 3% hydrogen peroxide that I mix 50/50 with water.

It's the oil in the ointment that's causing the scales to come off - it's just the top layer too. Once you're done treating it, and he's had a full shed, and no more ointment - he'll be back to normal. Mineral oil does the same thing.

Oh, that's really good to know! So do you think I should keep with the daily ointment routine?

i see a bit of blood in the close up belly shot too i would say it looks liek a burn as well.

I don't know if the blood you're talking about is the pinkish part, but on the side scales, where it looks brownish red is a reflection of my curtains. Again, not the best pics in the world.

[JeffJ]

To JeffJ and Kaorte: I only have a thermometer and hygrometer in the middle of the cage, halfway between hot side and cool side, and it usually reads 80 degrees. My heat sources are a heat lamp and a UTH (which is now unplugged). Humidity stays at about 50% (I was trying things before to raise the humidity, but since I first thought he had scale rot, I tried to keep it lower). I use newspaper as substrate.



It's 3% hydrogen peroxide that I mix 50/50 with water.



Oh, that's really good to know! So do you think I should keep with the daily ointment routine?



I don't know if the blood you're talking about is the pinkish part, but on the side scales, where it looks brownish red is a reflection of my curtains. Again, not the best pics in the world.

ah if its a reflection then disregard my claim.

if its pink, or looks a little bit bloody, if it did before its a burn. you should get some digital thermometers and hydrometers as it does sound like the UTH might be to hot and burning the poor thing. air temp can be up to 15-20 cooler then surface temp, and if the UTH is unregulated then its running at full out 116*F which is way to hot. also if the substrate is only paper towel or something of the like, a UTH running full blast would burn no questions asked.

alos im quite convinced its a burn so get the humidity back up to around 60% at least. but 70% will help with the healing and keeping the burn hydrated.

its important that you get some form of thermal regulation apparatus for the UTH as he/she needs the heat. just not so much. if its a burn, liek i think treating it with a topical cream like polyspourn with out the pain killer in it will be a much better idea rather then peroxide which will further dry it out.

[vonnegut]

Oh wow, I didn't realize that. How do I regulate the UTH temperature?

[JeffJ]

Oh wow, I didn't realize that. How do I regulate the UTH temperature?

i made a dimmer my self that i can just reduce the current flow to the UTH and then i check the temperature with a IR thermal gun.

you can also by pre made ones for laps from walmart for about $10 you can also get a reptile thermometer that also will regulate the temperature of your UTH by cycling it on and off viat the temperature readings from its probe you place at substrate level on the UTH area.

check out my setup if your looking for ideas. a substrate thats highly recommended for help humidity and just general cleanliness is Aspen

here is some pictures i posted of my setup. my BP is doing great and his skin is beautiful and shiny. (he just shed)

My Setup Pics