URGENT.. I think I may have bought a sick snake.

[ilovemysnake]

I noticed it when we bought her, didn't think much of it, they told me it was a birth mark.. (do snakes even have those?) But now i am. Turbine had a small brownish "spot" on her tail when we got her. now she has another, but by her anal gland. and her tail seems... dry? i don't know another way to put it but that, like dry skin almost. also has tiny flecks of brown on the body, but i think that may be moss and dirt under her scales.

right now im assuming scale rot. i took out & threw out all the moist moss in her humid hide and put in dry moss. I tried to take pictures, but she wont be still for me to get clear ones.

My corn and garter snakes never had scale rot or any health issues, so I'm not sure what this is.

Can anyone please help me..

If it is scale rot, its not severe. I've looked at pictures, and its not as bad as they portray it.

[Mikoh4792]

need pics to take this any further

[CosmicOwl]

I'd suggest getting your snake on paper towels or newspaper.

[ilovemysnake]

need pics to take this any further

i'll upload them tomorrow to their facebook. i can't upload them to here. ill have to have my fiance hold her so i can take pictures of her.

[ilovemysnake]

I'd suggest getting your snake on paper towels or newspaper.

Ok, ill put her on paper towel. I put her hide on the warm side as well, i read warmth cures infection.

[formica]

Ok, ill put her on paper towel. I put her hide on the warm side as well, i read warmth cures infection.

she needs more than one hide, 2 at least, warm and cool

[SnakeyJay]

Sego more hides needed if there's only one.

[MizCandice]

How small of spots? Could it be mites?

[ilovemysnake]

Sego more hides needed if there's only one.

she has three hides, but prefers to only use the one, so i exchanged it and out the one she uses on the hot side.

i dont think its mites.

i just uploaded pics.

please give opinions.

https://www.facebook.com/TurboAndTurbine

[Terranaut]

Did you try washing it?
Looks like dried poo in the pics but I can't zoom them on my phone.
To share pics on here it is best to use photobucket or something similar.

[kelzerman]

Did you try washing it?
Looks like dried poo in the pics but I can't zoom them on my phone.
To share pics on here it is best to use photobucket or something similar.


She needs to wipe better. Try buying Charmin.

[ilovemysnake]

Did you try washing it?
Looks like dried poo in the pics but I can't zoom them on my phone.
To share pics on here it is best to use photobucket or something similar.

i tried all the photo share sites, i have a chrome book, so it doesnt support anything.

i did try to wash it (she hates water) but its her actual skin.

[Hurrok]

Looks like early stages of scale rot, however it could just be dirt or even a small burn. If it doesn't improve I recommend getting some betadine solution (can get it behind the counter at any pharmacy) and do some short soaking sessions (betadine should be diluted with water, where it resembles the colour of tea). You can also use a triple antibiotic ointment to help the healing process.

If it doesn't worsen it should go away once he sheds :) just keep him on paper towels until it goes away and make sure the towel doesn't get soaked as too much humidity can create problems.

[Aaron_S]

Is it sore to the touch? Does the snake look like it's in pain when you touch the area?

[ilovemysnake]

Looks like early stages of scale rot, however it could just be dirt or even a small burn. If it doesn't improve I recommend getting some betadine solution (can get it behind the counter at any pharmacy) and do some short soaking sessions (betadine should be diluted with water, where it resembles the colour of tea). You can also use a triple antibiotic ointment to help the healing process.

If it doesn't worsen it should go away once he sheds :) just keep him on paper towels until it goes away and make sure the towel doesn't get soaked as too much humidity can create problems.

for the triple antibiotic, can i use neosporin?

[ilovemysnake]

Is it sore to the touch? Does the snake look like it's in pain when you touch the area?

not sure, shell pull her tail away, but turbo will do the same thing if i touch his tail.

[Hurrok]

for the triple antibiotic, can i use neosporin?

Honestly I'm not sure but I just get the generic brand of triple antibiotic ointment from Walmart, equivalent to the polysporin brand. I do know that it has to be an ointment and not a cream though.

[Aaron_S]

Personally, I wouldn't put anything on it as of yet. If you're worried it's scale rot just keep it dry and nothing to irritate the spots.

I don't see scale rot.

It certainly isn't a birth mark and I can't see scale rot progressing so slow in such a random area.

Scale rot starts as blisters. Those don't look like it.

[ilovemysnake]

Personally, I wouldn't put anything on it as of yet. If you're worried it's scale rot just keep it dry and nothing to irritate the spots.

I don't see scale rot.

It certainly isn't a birth mark and I can't see scale rot progressing so slow in such a random area.

Scale rot starts as blisters. Those don't look like it.

then what does it look like? im worried about her.

[Aaron_S]

then what does it look like? im worried about her.

Those aren't great pics and I can't touch it or see it for myself. It doesn't look like anything. Could be poop. Could be stain from substrate. I don't know.

It just doesn't look like scale rot to me but I could be wrong.

[ilovemysnake]

Those aren't great pics and I can't touch it or see it for myself. It doesn't look like anything. Could be poop. Could be stain from substrate. I don't know.

It just doesn't look like scale rot to me but I could be wrong.

i tried to wash her. but it wouldn't come off. if feels dry.

[Mikoh4792]

Did you say she was on cypress mulch? I've heard of many snakes having allergic reactions to it, including the browning or cracking of scales. My jungle carpet was kept on cypress for a bit and she had something similar on her scales. It's been about three months that she's been on unprinted newspaper and they are completely gone after two sheds.

[ilovemysnake]

Did you say she was on cypress mulch? I've heard of many snakes having allergic reactions to it, including the browning or cracking of scales. My jungle carpet was kept on cypress for a bit and she had something similar on her scales. It's been about three months that she's been on unprinted newspaper and they are completely gone after two sheds.

i was thinking about putting her on it.

[Aaron_S]

Like I said keep an eye on it. Keep the substrate dry and with nothing to irritate it if it's something.

Take it to a vet if you're that concerned. No matter how much knowledge any one of us possesses we can't make a diagnosis off of a single pic that isn't that great.

[lady_bug87]

Few things.

1) Aaron's right it doesn't look like rot
2) rot starts off like really red irritated skin then blisters
3) if you're that worried take her off of whatever she's on and use paper towel.
4) if it feels dry it could be left over skin from her last shed mixed with substrate
5) anytime you use ANY ointment make sure it's without pain relief.
6) if there is an issue and the snake is otherwise healthy (eating well etc.) It will likely kick into a shed cycle.

Keep an eye on it but from those pictures it doesn't look like anything crazy.

[ilovemysnake]

Few things.

1) Aaron's right it doesn't look like rot
2) rot starts off like really red irritated skin then blisters
3) if you're that worried take her off of whatever she's on and use paper towel.
4) if it feels dry it could be left over skin from her last shed mixed with substrate
5) anytime you use ANY ointment make sure it's without pain relief.
6) if there is an issue and the snake is otherwise healthy (eating well etc.) It will likely kick into a shed cycle.

Keep an eye on it but from those pictures it doesn't look like anything crazy.

she just shed on the 12th, it cant be substrate because she was on a repticarpet, i removed that and now its all paper towel. i thought her shed was full, but you might be right. im going to try to give her a bath, but she hates water.

thank you so much.

[lady_bug87]

To be honest if she is eating, pooping and acting normal I wouldn't worry for now. Let her go though a shed before you think it's anything serious.

It could also be a scrape which happens sometimes just keep an eye out for redness or signs of infection and as stated already keep it clean.

One more thing. Throw out the repticarpet they're basically bacteria farms