Skin condition

[strutter769]

Lucy (7.5' Columbian RTB) seems to have some sort of a skin condition. I have her on Cypress mulch (baked of course) and she has developed what appears to be a patch of dry skin. It almost looks like she might have gotten some of that white calcified fecal matter on her, but it doesn't wash off. I've tried Neosporin, but the patch seems to be spreading a bit. Also, a day or 2 before she shed (late last week) I noticed what appeared to be a blister. I dismissed it as loose skin ready to be shed. Much to my disappointment, when she did shed, she appears to have actually lost the scales in that spot! Any thoughts? (There's nothing the cage that could have burned her)

[python04slayer]

From what you described is what I think is scale or belly rot, you should search for it, and probably take the snake to the vet, Im sorry Im not much help, but Im sure someone will come along that can help you.

[toker]

Tell us a little about your cage setup... Temps/humidity...

Also, pictures will help as well if you can post them.

[strutter769]

Originally Posted by toker

Tell us a little about your cage setup... Temps/humidity...

Also, pictures will help as well if you can post them.

She's in an oak plywood cage, 5'x3'x2'. Temp range as I type this is 86.9 on the cool side, and 93.7 on the warm side. I have a hard time keeping the humidity high though. Right now it's 20%. I spray her down once in a while, but that only seems to boost it for maybe a couple hours. Her cage is a "split level" with heay pads under each and an infra red heat lamp (hot spot) on the top level. I feed her on the top level to kinda remind her that it's there (if that makes any sense) The top level is lined with aquariom type "plant mats" that are plastic. Under those mats I have Sphagnum Moss to try to retain humidity a little longer. I'll try to get some pics, but I'm not the most computer savvy guy in the world, so no promises there. (:

[toker]

Your temps are way too high, cool side shoudl be 78ish and warm side should never be over 88f.

Once you lower those temps it shoud be eaiser to get the humidity up to 50-60%


I am not sure what caused the blister, but with that low of humidity and that high of temps, it didnt help.

[stckinlodi]

im supprised ur having trouble with the humidity when using cypress mulch! does ur cage have alot of vents that are letting the humidity out? i was going to say the blister thing could have been from water build up but with the humidity that low could have something to do with it! the only thing i could tell u is take it to the vet. cood luck and keep us posted

[strutter769]

Originally Posted by stckinlodi

im supprised ur having trouble with the humidity when using cypress mulch! does ur cage have alot of vents that are letting the humidity out? i was going to say the blister thing could have been from water build up but with the humidity that low could have something to do with it! the only thing i could tell u is take it to the vet. cood luck and keep us posted

I wouldn't say alot of vents. There are 2 on the back wall tha are 15'x4'. Just regular floor type vents.

[lethargiic]

try covering those vents up with a towel if you can, and spray her enclosure daily to up the humidity which should help. As far of the temps..those are definately too high...3 sources of heat is not needed and that's prolly why the humidity is too low. take out one of the heating pads or even both and that should set the heat fine..

as far as the injury, post some pics so we can see what you are talking about, other wise make an appointment to a herp vet to have it looked at in person.

=)

[python04slayer]

you can keep humidity by covering a good portion of the enclosure with cling wrap or ductaping a big piece of card board to it or something, also try using a bigger water bowel,

And If you are misting the snake and substrate, then the snake probably does have belly rot,

and Toker I once told someone this trying to help them with their temp range "warm side should never be over 88f" because they had their boa up 95f and everyone on the boaphile forum said I was wrong and stupid and trying to give that persons snake a RI because thats too cold for the warm side and it should be 95,
Well Im just glad I have a smart person on my side

[Dragon]

a white patch sounds like a burn to me, you should make sure there is nothing hot in the cage she can come into direct contact with. Also, take her to the vet, just to be sure as without looking at the snake in person it's difficult to say with any degree of accuracy.

[JuliusSqueezer]

It's no surprise you can't keep humidity in a cage set on preheat/bake That much heat will always dry a cage out...and eventually kill your snake.

It ain't scalerot. It could be anything though....A burn, a scrape, a rat bite (hopefully not but ya never know) Keep it clean and it will heal. Neosporin probably won't help much but it might and it surely won't hurt. If you could get ahold of some silvadine cream you would be golden...meanwhile...please get those temps down a bit. 88/78 is perfect for daytime temps. 80/75 is ideal at night. See what you can get worked out

[toker]

said I was wrong and stupid and trying to give that persons snake a RI because thats too cold for the warm side and it should be 95

Classic reason to always go to more than one place to get info some people are nuts.