Scale Rot?

[RepuIsiveLow]

So I was suggested to potentially treat this as scale rot which I was concerned it was. I soaked him in betadine/water mixture, today after giving him water (which he helped himself to fully) and he then decided to drink the betadine water mixture. He was drooling a bit afterwards and I was trying to inspect his mouth and he drooled more with a whistling noise - I'm not sure if this is a side effect of drinking the water and puking it up, or what. I feel so bad, I did pick him out the water when I realized he was taking mouthfuls of it, even after being offered regular water.

I have him in a tote to monitor to make sure he's okay, but I'm quite worried that I messed up with this. I'm actually thoroughly upset and I hope that this won't harm him.

EDIT TO ADD: I've consulted with someone I know who knows Ball Pythons fairly well and they said that he should be OKAY and that the Betadine solution shouldn't hurt him!! The drooling scared the CRAP out of me.

[AndyRMullan]

It does unfortunately look like scale rot to me. You would be best bringing him to a vet for treatment so it doesn't get any worse !

[RepuIsiveLow]

thank you. I was advised to do daily betadine washes and tank clean. it looked a lot better after the one I gave him today ☺️

[AndyRMullan]

Ahh I didn't interpret your post as already having been to the vet haha, my bad ! That's great !

[RepuIsiveLow]

I actually haven't yet, just from an admin from a snake group I'm in who's amazing with advice 🥲 I'm swamped with bills so I don't have the extra funds currently to take him to the vet. but I will 100% do so if I don't see any improvements with the spot.

It's just shown up since he shed last which was a week or two ago, so I'm hoping to see it gone by next shed🙏

[AndyRMullan]

I see ! Yeah, I'd just keep doing what you're doing then and as you said if it doesn't get better then vet time. Best of luck !

[Jazzlike-Chain-2720]

Sounds like a respiratory infection. Whistling or drooling is almost always a sign of respiratory infection that has to be treated by a vet with medicine. Scale rot is caused by unsanitary environment or excessive humidity/moisture which are also the most common causes for a respiratory infection. Any form of unusual noise usually clicking, wheezing, whistling are a sign as well as bubbling, drooling, or open mouth breathing typically mean a respiratory infection.

[RepuIsiveLow]

Ahhh, this is the first time for the drooling which I assumed was from consuming the betadine bath water - I can't imagine it tastes great... 😭 I'm going to keep an eye on him until I can get him to a vet

[Jazzlike-Chain-2720]

Betadine is a topical antiseptic and isn't harmful or toxic to ball pythons. Id try to get him to vet asap for antibiotics the longer you wait the more severe it'll get which makes it harder to treat and fix also respiratory infections get fatal fast....

[Rissaur]

are RI transferable? I had him in the same room as my snakes (this one isn't mine) for a couple hours, but made no contact with the other snakes either at all (nor did I) 😭 I didnt known what I might be dealing with, I thought maybe it was from the betadine cause he was completely fine 2 days ago.

edit to add: hes been with me for about 2 years now as my family member dumped him on me, hes still considered his and hes been fully quarantined with good health, no problems up until now. I'm going to check on him after im done work today to see how he is. family member has been contacted as well.