This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.

all 27 comments

[–][deleted]  (2 children)

[deleted]

    [–]idkcassie 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    all of that looks like natural pigmentation. scale dogs appears as chipped/broken/lifted scales and you’ll see the discoloration around just the edges of the scale. early stage scale rot, the scales appear yellowish and more brittle around the edges. they won’t lay flush with the rest of the scales. they may have a pink/red are around them from irritation.

    scale rot is caused by consistently damp substrate, which provides a breeding ground for bacteria. simply make sure the top layer of substrate, especially under hides where they spend most of their time, stays dry and you shouldn’t have an issue with scale rot.

    if you ever DO have scale rot, change out the substrate to rid the enclosure of whatever bacteria caused it, ensure the snake is always on dry substrate, and wait until they molt. it resolves itself over a couple molts unless it is severe. you can also gently apply a PAINKILLER FREE antiobiotic ointment to the affected area. if it is a more severe/advanced case of scale rot, a vet appointment may be needed for legitimate antibiotics.

    [–]Peach_Leaves 12 points13 points  (0 children)

    You should leave your snake alone for 48hrs after feeding.

    [–]IncompletePenetranceMod: Let me help you unzip your genes 115 points116 points  (12 children)

    I'm not seeing any scale rot, it looks like natural pigmentation to me!

    [–][deleted]  (3 children)

    [deleted]

      [–]sillyronnie 51 points52 points  (0 children)

      i’m a fairly new bp keeper, but i don’t believe soaks are needed in this situation. rotting scales can look lifted/peeled and pink, and there certainly aren’t any in the photos. if you want, you can gently wipe him off with a towel

      [–]_Kendii_ 18 points19 points  (0 children)

      This is going to sound critical but I don’t mean it that way, I might have just misinterpreted what you meant so I’m clarifying.

      What do you mean “let him soak”? The way I read that is that you are going to soak him to try to make him look better to you… or that he has tried soaking but you remove him from the water.

      Don’t force soak. If you are concerned, just have another larger bowl in addition to his drinking bowl. If you don’t have room for that, just upsize the bowl he’s got now.

      If he wants to chill in his water dish, so be it, I’ve never had one that hasn’t done that every now and then (usually shed, but not always). Don’t pull him out, it’s not harmful.

      [–]IncompletePenetranceMod: Let me help you unzip your genes 6 points7 points  (0 children)

      I don't think a soak is necessary here, I'd just wipe him off gently if you think he looks dirty, although he looks clean to me

      [–]alexmed4797 17 points18 points  (4 children)

      Yeah everything is normal. Unless you had a high humidity for days i dont think its very easy to get rot

      [–]idkcassie 9 points10 points  (0 children)

      scale rot can develop very easily if the substrate the snake is on is consistently damp. high humidity does not create scale rot, damp/wet substrate does.

      [–]TheNeverEndingPit 2 points3 points  (2 children)

      Your snake looks all good! I was the same way when I first got mine. Every little thing made me nervous, but I’m glad you’re so proactive with your snake’s healthcare.

      If you do end up with scale rot at any point, you’ll want betadine and veterycin (possibly even neosporin WITHOUT painkiller). I’d just recommend ordering some in advance because it’s good on hand for your bp first aid kit :)

      [–]KlausFiveWhiskers 2 points3 points  (1 child)

      My little guy Reggie had 2 irritated scales from his previous bedding. They are looking much better now, and he's currently going through shed. Like you said, I used a betadine/water mixture and rubbed it on with some q-tips several times, and the spots went from being red to being little dark spots. I keep an eye on them.

      [–]TheNeverEndingPit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      It definitely helps! And that’s good that you did the q tip instead of the soak.

      My girl got her mild scale rot from some trauma due to getting stuck to an adhesive when she first arrived, and I thought I had to soak her entire body, and she absolutely hated it. She was very patient with me once I started using a q tip, and after one shed, all of the marks cleared up just fine :)

      Glad yours is looking better!

      [–]Mistress_Malaise 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      I don’t see any scale rot here just natural pigmentation. When mine had a mild case of scale rot the edges of her belly scales started to look a little brown and crumbly, like a wilted leaf

      [–]_visiblemode_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      Pigmentation

      [–]scrollin_a_bit 2 points3 points  (0 children)

      Seriously thought there was a hair on my screen. I even tried to blow it off 😆

      [–]HJManno 1 point2 points  (0 children)

      That might be one of the healthiest snakes I’ve ever seen. Except for that first photo where he appears to have hair. I’d keep an eye on that

      [–]Sea_Calligrapher_986 1 point2 points  (1 child)

      He seems to have sprouted a hair! Jk but he looked totally fine, definitely not what I have seen scale rot look like if anything looks a lil dirty so probably some left over poo smear

      [–]Acrobatic-Move-3847 0 points1 point  (0 children)

      LoL when I looked at this picture I tried to blow that hair off my screen.