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tracey0217
08-31-12, 04:54 PM
i need help!!! please!!! my daughter got a corn snake recently, and about a week ago, he got a black spot on his belly. looks like a burn maybe??? very dry and crusty feeling. he didn't shed properly....what do we do???? here are a couple of pics.

thanks

tracey
alessia55
08-31-12, 04:57 PM
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snake man12
08-31-12, 04:58 PM
Welcome.

Looks like scale rot.

What is the setup like?
alessia55
08-31-12, 05:00 PM
We really need to know more about his setup.... A photo would be great. What are the temps? how are you heating the enclosure? what is the substrate?
tracey0217
08-31-12, 05:01 PM
it's like a 50 gallon tank....i think. he has been in it for 10 years, we left everything exactly the same when we got it. EXACTLY the same. scale rot??? what do i do?
iBaman
08-31-12, 05:02 PM
I'd say burn or scale rot...
tracey0217
08-31-12, 05:02 PM
his setup has been the same for years. we didn't change anything at all. when we got him a few weeks ago, he was in the process of shedding. he didn't shed right. it was in pieces. she soaked him in water, like suggested.
snake man12
08-31-12, 05:04 PM
it's like a 50 gallon tank....i think. he has been in it for 10 years, we left everything exactly the same when we got it. EXACTLY the same. scale rot??? what do i do?

You have had a snake for ten years and you don't know how to handle scale rot?
tracey0217
08-31-12, 05:04 PM
i thought it looked like a burn also. i have adjusted the heat, because it did feel fairly hot. what do i do to treat it? we have been using triple antibiotic ointment.

tracey
alessia55
08-31-12, 05:05 PM
You have had a snake for ten years and you don't know how to handle scale rot?

I believe the snake is 10yrs old, but only just recently came into their care.
tracey0217
08-31-12, 05:05 PM
NO! HE is about 10 years old. WE got him about 3 weeks ago.
Lankyrob
08-31-12, 05:06 PM
his setup has been the same for years. we didn't change anything at all. when we got him a few weeks ago, he was in the process of shedding. he didn't shed right. it was in pieces. she soaked him in water, like suggested.

How long have YOU had him and by "the same" what do you mean, in order for us to help you we need temps/humidity/substrate info etc :)
snake man12
08-31-12, 05:06 PM
I believe the snake is 10yrs old, but only just recently came into their care.

Ahh thank I didn't see that part;)
tracey0217
08-31-12, 05:10 PM
the tank is a 50 gallon tank....aspen bedding....it's between 75 and 82 degrees all the time. he has 2 water bowls, 1 stick, a log, a climbing "tree", and his "house". there is a heating pad on one side of the tank. the girl that gave it to us, gave us everything with him, and we didn't change ANYTHING at all. even faced the tank the same way, and put it near a window, just like she had it.

tracey
tracey0217
08-31-12, 05:16 PM
aspen bedding, one heating pad, temp. between 75 and 83 degrees.
DeesBalls
08-31-12, 05:26 PM
should not put glass tanks by a window, the sun coming in the tank will make the tank hotter.

is the UTH on a thermostat? if not, i would say it is a burn...
mykee
08-31-12, 05:30 PM
That's belly burn. 82 degrees DOES NOT do that.
tracey0217
08-31-12, 05:33 PM
it's only near a window. the window has shades and blinds over it, if it is a burn....what do i do? i have heard betadine.....triple antibiotic ointment, which is better? i have no idea if it on a thermostat or not. my daughter did everything the chic said to do. we are new at this, and are basically going by what she says since she has had him for about 10 years. but...any pointers are welcome.

tracey
Nobodyspecial
08-31-12, 05:36 PM
Yeah that looks like a burn to me. Is your heat pad not on a thermostat or something? Also get the tank away from the window, that's not helping him any.
tracey0217
08-31-12, 05:36 PM
my daughter had the tank on the floor for a few days....and i put it on a pedestal because it seemed warm to me. i thought it looked like a burn as well, from it getting too hot because the heat had no where to go, however, since he was shedding as well....and didn't shed properly, i was trying to find out what to do. she is 16 and new at this, reading books and looking stuff up online doesn't always help, that's why i came here.
tracey0217
08-31-12, 05:39 PM
honestly, i couldn't tell you if it's on a thermostat or not. she told us to just plug it in and everything would be good, because he was used to it. she told us to put it NEAR a window, because that's where he had always been. it is not close enough to get the tank hot, and the blinds are always closed on it anyway, it just lets a touch of light in.
Nobodyspecial
08-31-12, 05:41 PM
it's only near a window. the window has shades and blinds over it, if it is a burn....what do i do? i have heard betadine.....triple antibiotic ointment, which is better? i have no idea if it on a thermostat or not. my daughter did everything the chic said to do. we are new at this, and are basically going by what she says since she has had him for about 10 years. but...any pointers are welcome.

tracey

If the pad is plugged into something other than the wall it self, its probably either a dimmer or a thermostat. Thermostats have a probe that goes into the tank as well. Dimmers will just look like a dial-ish kinda thing. Usually. Thankfully I've never had to deal with a burn so I'm not sure what would be safe to use, although I've heard to use a double antibiotic ointment rather than a triple? Someone correct me please if I'm wrong.
tracey0217
08-31-12, 05:45 PM
it is plugged directly into the wall. but, like a said, it seemed very hot to me. but it doesn't now that i put the tank up on a pedestal. do i need to go to vet? or is this actually treatable with something i can purchase myself?
Nobodyspecial
08-31-12, 05:56 PM
do i need to go to vet? or is this actually treatable with something i can purchase myself?

I'd say vet trip to be safe since this is your first snake and you've only had it a few weeks. But that's just my Opinion. I do know that burns take awhile to heal, and his tank is going to have to be kept sterile while it does so. In my 5 seconds of using google fu, it says to apply diluted betadine, then an antibiotic ointment until it heals. I'd still take it to the vet anyways just to be safe.

Also get a thermostat. For normal heat mats I use a hydro farm digital thermostat, you can buy them on amazon.com for like $25-$30. Something to control the heating elements isn't something you can, or should skip out on.
tracey0217
08-31-12, 06:04 PM
thank you so so much!!!

tracey
shaunyboy
08-31-12, 06:13 PM
it definitely looks like a burn.....


1.take everything but,the water bowl and hides out its tank,to avoid the scabs catching on anything,i would use newspaper substrate,until fully healed

2.keep a close eye on it

3.if when the scabs fall off,there is raw looking spots,make sure they're kept clean,i usually dab a DILUTED iodine solution on it

don't worry if after scabs fall off,exposing raw bits that weep a clear,water like liquid,just keep that area clean

it will scab,then the scabs will all fall off,the scar will get better with each shed

please do NOT be alarmed ,the snake sheds more often than normal,as sick or cut snakes,sometimes shed extra to try and heal the wounded area

MOST IMPORTANT
find out the cause of the burn and fix it so it does not happen again

please let us know how it goes

feel free to ask anything

re vet
imo you will do just fine treating this one YOURSELF,just treat as you would a human burn,you will manage just fine

all the best shaun
tracey0217
08-31-12, 06:22 PM
that is sooooo what i needed to hear. thank you so very much, we will get right on that and definitely let you know!!!

tracey
shaunyboy
08-31-12, 06:27 PM
it is plugged directly into the wall. but, like a said, it seemed very hot to me. but it doesn't now that i put the tank up on a pedestal. do i need to go to vet? or is this actually treatable with something i can purchase myself?

YOU can treat this YOURSELF

you need to get a thermostat to avoid this happening again

if you can get a thermostat tomorrow,i would UNPLUG your heat right now,until you get that thermostat

you ALSO should get hold of even a cheap thermometer as well,then place it up the hot end of your tank,then ADJUST the temperature at the thermostat,until your thermometer tells you,the hot end of the tanks at the correct temperature

then you will have one stress free snake

cheers shaun
shaunyboy
08-31-12, 06:31 PM
that is sooooo what i needed to hear. thank you so very much, we will get right on that and definitely let you know!!!

tracey


please feel free to contact me through private mail (pm's),with any queries or questions you may have

i will gladly walk you through the treatment of your snake

imo snakes heal very slowly,this may take 4 to 12 weeks,before its all looking pretty normal again,the look of the scar should improve,each time the snake sheds

cheers shaun
tracey0217
08-31-12, 07:24 PM
you have been so helpful. i appreciate it so very much. i may take you up on that, because this is all new to me and my daughter.

thanks again
tracey
shaunyboy
08-31-12, 07:33 PM
you have been so helpful. i appreciate it so very much. i may take you up on that, because this is all new to me and my daughter.
tracey
thanks again

please feel free to get in touch anytime

cheers shaun :)