Suriname Redtail questions... anyone ever seen this?

widemind · #1 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:17 PM

I'm not sure how concerned I should be about this. Recently, just over the last week or so, the black spots on my Suriname's under-belly toward her tail have turned a pale-sorta color. Very odd. She just finished shedding, so I know it's not that... I've checked the heat and humidity, and that's all ok.... but check out this pic and tell me what you think....
DSCN1702.JPG

widemind · #2 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:19 PM

it almost looks like that part hasn't shed yet... but I checked it really good, and it really looks like she has. Though her last shed was not exactly the most successful one. Had to help her along a little bit this time.

BWSmith · #3 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:20 PM

How damp is the substrate? It looks like it might be fungal from too much humidity or moisture.

BWSmith · #4 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:20 PM

It is not retained shed because it is on parts of scales, not just one big area.

Brandon28 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:22 PM

The only thing that I've seen that does that is pre-shed, but if she just shed, then I don't know what to tell you. What do you mean my "just" finished shedding...how long ago? It doesn't look too abnormal, so I would just wait and see how it goes.

widemind · #6 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:23 PM

I changed it twice in the last week to make sure it wasn't too damp. It really wasn't damp at all - was just dirty from a shed and crap. Been going to the bathroom just fine. Eating great too. Hasn't acted weird at all - still happy as ever.

widemind · #7 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon25

The only thing that I've seen that does that is pre-shed, but if she just shed, then I don't know what to tell you. What do you mean my "just" finished shedding...how long ago? It doesn't look too abnormal, so I would just wait and see how it goes.

She shed just within the last week.

widemind · #8 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:28 PM

... and you can see the top side looks ok here (not the best pic tho):
DSCN1703.JPG

unluckyseventeen · #9 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:28 PM

That is weird. I would also say bacteria buildup as well, just because of the goofy tones of blue you have in there. Odd... those spots look almost like they are part of the pattern to an untrained eye.

widemind · #10 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unluckyseventeen

That is weird. I would also say bacteria buildup as well, just because of the goofy tones of blue you have in there. Odd... those spots look almost like they are part of the pattern to an untrained eye.

Hey Brandon - perhaps you should come check her out when you get off work if you can. It's really weird. And it's not affecting anything but her tail area.

unluckyseventeen · #11 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:33 PM

Yeah I will come look at it.

You're sure she hasn't been sitting anywhere wet or damp or anything?

widemind · #12 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unluckyseventeen

Yeah I will come look at it.
You're sure she hasn't been sitting anywhere wet or damp or anything?

Yup. Pretty dang sure. I'm always on top of keep the tank really clean too. I'm wondering though if humidity is accumulating more in her hide - was thinking of keeping that out for a week or so and seeing if that helps clear it up. I was going to feed her today, but if you're gonna come over, I'll wait so you can hold her and check it out. Just give me a call when you're off work. I'll be here.

Brandon28 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 10:48 PM

The humidity would have to be pretty darn high for it to be cause of that. If you say it's not damp in there, I doubt that's the cause. I wish I had the answer, but It doesn't look like scale-rot caused by high humidity. I hope to hear from BW or JS on this thread soon. I'm as curious as you are.

unluckyseventeen · #14 (**permalink**) 05-30-2006, 12:54 PM

I guess I thought I would update this.

Those pictures really do no justice to what is going on. Those blue spots are actually her belly spots (her belly is very speckled), and the reason they are blue rather than their regular black is it looks like there's a layer or two of skin stuck on there, and the flash from the camera exaggerated it really badly.. If you look REALLY closely at the picture, you can see the extra skin wrinkled and dry.

Adam, I also thought while I was driving home - you should mount a wet towel on the warm side or something to get the humidity up. On the warm side, I bet it's really in the 30's or so, and that's where she spends all of her time. And don't be afraid to mist more than a few sprays in there. It may get something a tad bit wet, but oh well. So long as it isn't soaking and nothing is rotting underneath her, she'll be fine.

Also, get her away from that window. Move her to a cooler corner so you can maintain her temperature more often. Where I moved that probe - make sure you're hitting about 88 on a regular basis, so inside her hide is around 91. Once you get a good gradient and keep the warm side up around 88 or 89 during the day, she'll move away from there and go hang out on the cool side, usually a majority of the time, and that will keep her more humid as well, since there's no heat on the other side.

If you also mount a damp towel in there somehow (I'm sure you could get paper clips and hook them to the screen part, and the other part to the towel) it will help out a lot. Put that in there, keep soaking her regularly... it should eventually come off.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

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