crap. scale burn...

[axwielding1]

I've mentioned before that my 38" sumatran borgersmai got burnt . I have her in a breeder tank with a heat pad under half, and use a balck bulb as added heat. She's had reptile felt as a substrate since I've had her and was doing great. She stopped using her hides as she got older/bigger, and seemed to want to burrow more (under water dish, etc.)
I switched to sphagnum moss and she loved it, easy to keep the humidity higher too. She , however, recieved a burn from the heat pad, overnight. I removed the moss and returned to the felt.
Too late. She got a crappy burn under the last half of her belly scales.... I've been treating them with neosporin (regular) and keeping her temp up slightly, as well as her humidity.. Seems uncomfortable for her, but she is still sweet as ever!
Tonight, as I rubbed her down with the neosporin, the scales seemed to separate easily, and I basically rubbed them off (very carefully) Her skin below is new and soft, and I assume somewhat tender, but she seemed to be happy to be rid of the hard scales.. She didn't hiss or huff once! And with all the rubbing, she crapped.... several times....
When she gets through her next shed, I'll probably got back to the moss, although I'll definitely leave the felt under the moss. It seems a no-brainer to use this moss with these snakes, they love it!! BTW, I yanked off the old heat pad, and got a new one.
So much for thermoregulation! Glad I checked her when I did, could have been alot worse!! All is well now, and she looks ready to eat right now!
ax.

[Smulkin]

In those situations I've found an excellent solution is to provide a heat baffle they cannot get under - and it is AMAZING how much stuff a blood can manage to get itself under.

Go to home depot or Lowes etc and pick up a sheet of plastic pegboard (def not the wooden stuff) and cut it to a tight fit within the cage - heat gets through just dandy and gone is the possibility of that belly burn.

http://www.seltd.net/25001w.jpg

[axwielding1]

Excellent idea! Wouldn't have thought of that ! It IS amazing what they can get under... I've seen the water dish half full, balanced on her back.... I'll try that plastic pegboard. Should do the trick.... Thanks again....
ax.

[sapphire_moon]

hmmm, might have to try that! :) Hope your snake gets better.

[axwielding1]

She seems slightly uncomfortable still, fresh scales and all....
She ate last night, I knew she would, she was definitely LQQKING! Been 2 1/2 weeks since she last ate her medium rat...
Hopefully she'll feel better after her shed (which should be coming soon). I keep a pretty close eye on her, and am pissed that this happened, but have to chalk this one up to experience I guess... I'm not a very experienced keeper, but have done much reading/learning on the computer/books. Reading about experiences of other Blood owners is the best way to stay out of trouble. I'm gad there is a forum dedicated to this species as there is not much written about them....
ax.