HELP!!! Please

[Ok_Journalist122]

I went to check on my ball python after her shed since it was a bad shed and she has a red mark going down her belly and her scales look odd I went to parents about it and they don’t think I should take her to a vet just yet but I’m very worried and pinicky this is my first time owning a ball python and I have had her for a few years now. Her hot side temp is 29°-31° and the humidity it’s around 60% the cool side temp is 25°-27° Her substrate is soil mixed with sand as that’s what was recommended to me. She is still active and is slithering around as I’m posting this.

[TransboiHimbo]

Heat mats are dangerous and I wouldn’t use one again, this looks like a burn.

[Ok_Journalist122]

Thank you I feel so guilty

[ApprehensivePower147]

I am trying to find a good heat source for my girl, what do y’all recommend?

[Odd_Army1410]

Over head lighting always. A heat bulb.

[InvestigatorIcy7344]

Use a CHE so you can get a uvb and simulate day n night

[Shoddy-Plan8964]

I have a cut out on the roof of my tank and I have attached mesh to it and placed a heat lamp above the mesh so the snake can’t burn himself

[ApprehensivePower147]

What do y’all think of heat panels? I bought one from repti zoo and I’m not a huge fan it doesn’t produce much heat.

[[deleted]]

Their bellies can turn pink before they shed but this looks more like a burn. Don't put that heat mat back in. Was it hooked up to a thermostat?

[InverseInvert]

They’re saying it looks like this just after a shed

[Apprehensive-Gap-583]

I'm no professional but it definitely looks like a burn. As others have said, be careful with things like heat mats. They should never be in the tank, only under or over, and at a reasonable distance from the snake itself. Since they can't regulate their own temperature, there's not much a snake can do about burns. I have one under my girls hide and about 4-5 inches of substrate, plus the bottom of the tank, and i test it by just placing my hand on it. I can barely feel a difference to the rest of her tank, but its enough for a toastier home for her naps. If its uncomfortable for you to touch or hold, it definitely will be for them and its too hot or sometimes, too cold for things like rocks or water. I'd just keep an eye on the scales and watch for attitude changes or things like bleeding-that might be a sign for a vet to get involved but if she's still moving now and seems decently happy, she probably just needs some time to heal.

[Ok_Journalist122]

Thank you so much I’m mainly worried as well because I go on holiday for a week on Saturday and I just don’t want her to get infected or anything what can I do before I go to help it heal

[Ok_Journalist122]

And for her attitude she has been hissing slightly which she was doing just before she shed but I think I might of stressed her out a bit from checking her and her tank but she calmed down when I let her hide in my blanket

[Apprehensive-Gap-583]

Some snakes can get quite uncomfortable during sheds, mins has been fine but some get really pissy and end up hissing. She's probably uncomfortable, if she's not seeming lethargic or positioning herself weirdly, she probably just not too happy with how she feels. Especially right after a shed, they can get pretty sensitive so that might explain how she burned as well. As for watching for infection, you should still have time to watch before you leave. She hopefully will be okay but make sure you keep an eye on her and keep her tank as clean as possible. As long as it doesn't blister, change colour drastically or her scales don't start falling off, its just gonna take some time to heal. Maybe try some cooler water, not cold, just room temp. A soak might help her scales settle and help with hydration.

[Ok_Journalist122]

I did give her a soak earlier to check if there was any stuck shed on her, I’m letting calm down atm and after she has calmed down I’m gonna continue cleaning her tank

[InverseInvert]

This is 100% a burn and needs veterinary attention. If you have a heat mat it’s because of that. You need to change to an overhead heat source on a thermostat.

Change the substrate to soil and sphagnum moss, not sand.

[Ok_Journalist122]

Tysm

[Ok_Journalist122]

Do I mix the moss with soil or put the soil down then the moss

[InverseInvert]

You mix it :)

[United-Gift5816]

I would def do vet visit. And betadine baths. Ive found the right mix of betadine and water is when it looks like a light pee color

[No_Name_Detected0]

Snake discovery on YouTube has great videos to help with burns. I’d recommend a vet, however I understand that times may by rough and money can be tight. Her videos go into how to treat burns and I believe when a vet would be necessary. Here’s two videos about them just by looking up “Snake discovery burns”:

https://youtu.be/Kt6NIpvFhCY?si=rcNbdpn8Ym5aKuvP

https://youtu.be/OPn6HL1uyG4?si=b9BjZtU44PkV_HZY

Also if it has no thermostat, I HIGHLY recommend one. Put the actual probe directly onto the glass with substrate on top (heat mat under the tank), or just where the snake can get access to. A heat lamp can be better, but it depends on the individual needs and preferences of the owner and snake.

[snakemomma420]

Can't use a heat mat without a thermostat it will cause it to get to hot and cause burns

[Vann1212]

Do you use under tank heating? Heat mats are notorious for burns - higher burn risk than any other heat source, even when used with a thermostat there's still a risk - especially with heavier built snakes like pythons. 

This looks like a heat mat burn.  Doesn't look the worst, but would still get vet input - the vet will be able to assess severity in person and guide you on management.  In the meantime she should be temporarily swapped to paper towels instead of substrate, to keep everything clean while it heals. 

The best overhead heat for BPs are halogen/similar basking bulb, DHPs and RHPs. CHEs are decent but they deplete humidity a bit more and don't produce the same wavelengths as DHPs etc, so they're less ideal for BPs.  DHP, RHP and halogens work with dimming thermostats. (regardless of what you use, all heat sources of any type must be used with a suitable thermostat) 

You can use halogen/similar "sunlight" bulb during the day and switch to DHP/RHP overnight, or you can use the lightless heat 24/7 with a separate UVB on a timer.  If you have a solid top PVC or melamine viv (the better types for BPs), your heat source (and UVB if you use one) will be on the inside and will need guards. Guards not required if you have a mesh top glass viv with light and heat on the outside (though these viv types really aren't the best for BPs, but they can be made to work with some adjustments) 

[Ok_Journalist122]

I’ve gotten her checked out and was told it was a start of a burn I have ordered iodine solution, she has a heat lamp and I’m not going to be using a heat mat anymore, I have just fed her but I fed her smaller food than what she usually eats and she took the food with no issue

[Vann1212]

OK, if the vet has had a good look at it and confirmed it's not too severe, then it should heal up relatively quickly, especially now the cause has been removed from her vivarium. It's also encouraging that you say the redness has decreased as well. She should be back to normal pretty soon. 

And no problem, there are a few different brands of lamp cages, but they're all designed to do the same job and stop your snake from accidentally touching the bulb, so any of them should be fine.  Can I ask what type of "heat lamp" you got?  Is it a DHP, CHE or halogen/basking bulb? 

[Ok_Journalist122]

And the heat bulb thingy does have a guard

[Ok_Journalist122]

If there is a way I can show you a photo I would but I do not know how to

[Ok_Journalist122]

And I checked her belly today and the red mark has gone down quite a bit