My blood scales r standing up??

[Katty]

Hi,
today I notice that my blood's scales r sort of like "standing up". She is into pre shed. Is this normal?? I also notice 2 scales turn "brown" looks like dead scales. Is it scale riot?? Pls help

Just me,
Katty

[jpaulson]

There is nothing to worry about with your bloods scales--it is normal. You are probably finding them along the sides, right? This is usually just from how they lay, and the scales will "bend" up due to the tight turn. This is especially noticable right before a shed, as the skin starts to loosen up a bit. You may consider giving her a good soak, though. They can never seem to have too much humidity. The scales standing up good be a slight indicator that she is too dry, too. Give her a good soak--for a couple of hours, at least. Afterwards, you should feel her skin "softer", and some of those scales may be down. If not, do not worry about it. She will be fine. Just make sure she gets enough humidity.

As far as the 2 scales turning brown, without a pic, it is really hard to say. Where are the scales located? If it is on her side or top, it could be just the pigment from the scale. If it is on her bottom, where they are generally white in color, it could be a number of things. What is her set-up? If she is always laying on moisture, then it could be the start of scale rot, but to my knowledge, odds are slim. Also, if on the bottom, the scales will sometimes "stain" from whatever she has as a substrate. Give us some more info. on her set-up and location of scales and we can give you a better diagnosis.

[Katty]

Hi,
thanks for yr advise. I will soak her.

Ref the scale rot topic:

This morning I examine her again n the scales r definitely not due to color pigment. The scales looks like it had dry up n shrink till very small n looks ugly. The scales r at the side. 2inch down from the neck. I'm very worry. Will the scales grow back??

The set up:
1) Few days ago I had moved her to a 4 ft tank glass tank
2) Bedding: newspaper
3) Humility: 80% ++
4) One very big swimming pool for her
5) One dry hide box
6) One humid hide box. Used to have a damp towel in the box but I took it out this morning
7) No problem with air flow

Pls help!!!


Just me,
Katty

[Mike177]

now are the scales like dead. or could there be any chance that it is a tic or mite? also i am prety shure any cuts will be hard to see after 2 or 3 sheeds

[jpaulson]

Couple of notes on your set-up, Katty. They seem pretty good, but I would like to add a fe comments if I may:
1. I would not recommend using newspaper as bedding for a blood. Newspaper does not hold humidity all that well, IMO. I would go with cypress mulch.
2. Humidity is good, but if she is going into shed, then raising it up to the 90's would be great.
3. Her "very big swimming pool"--exactly how big is it? If it is too big, then she could feel insecure about using it, for fear of drowning. Try using a smaller pool for now, one that suits her size better.
4. Humid box should have spaghnum moss in it. Bloods love to burrow about as much as they love the humidity. Having moss in the hide will give both.

I am not sure what the scale issue is, as of now. I would wait for her to shed, and see if it goes away. Like Mike said, it could be a dead tick. Possibly, it could be an old shed piece that had been left on there, and now it is dried up. Either way, just wait for her to shed and see if it goes away.

[Katty]

Thanks everyone.

I shall wait for her to shed. Really tahnks alot.


Just me,
Katty