First Ball Python & I need help!

[ysabeau]

From my research, it looks like my ball python has developed scale rot. Due to job changes, etc., I've been less than attentive the last couple weeks and what I took at first to be unusually finicky eating and a couple slightly sore scales on the underbelly (which seemed fine after the shed the next day), my poor snake has quite a few red sore-looking spots on his underbelly.
What can I do? I would love to take it to a vet right off, but I just don't havethe funds. Is there some home treatment I can try first. One site said Neosporin and a substrate-free environ, another mentioned bentadine.
Please help.

[JuliusSqueezer]

neosporin works fine. If you do use betadine, dilute it with just a few drops to enough water so it looks like very weak tea...or else you will be dealing with a chemical burn too. If you keep him clean and dry and rub a little of either over the sore spots, by next shed he should be fine. By keeping him in a substrate free cage for now, he won't be so quick to rub the medicine off and it's easier to monitor for poop and urates. Clean right now is VERY important.

[morti]

To add to what Julius said, Instead of purely substrate free, I would go with plain white, unprinted paper towles as a substrate for a while. Loose substrates such as cypress or aspen can irritate skin that is already irritate, and the paper towels will make any other health problems such as mites stand out clearly. Plain white butcher paper works good to if you can get it.

Good luck!

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[morti]

Oh... and make sure you get the neosporin that doesn't contain a pain reliever.

[captainmorgan]

listen to these two before it turns serious.

[Demonic_Rage]

I belive that you have done your studing. And everything that all the other have said is the best advise I have heard. But I have a question for you are you useing a heat rock because those burns can llok the same. Good Luck.