Rough dry scales??

[Simon17]

As Ive said in an earlier post, my Irian Jaya had a bad shed a few weeks ago, and now ive noticed that he has dull patches and rough to touch. They look like bits that havent came off properly! I ve had him in a warm bath for an hr and then let him slide through an old hand wash cloth to help him remove any bits that remain, however that hasnt worked, any other methods or tips on this??

Heres a pic, check the dull patches

[shaunyboy]

its hard to tell from that picture,if possible.....

could you get a more focused shot of,the 4 dark patches,from your finger and thumb upwards,in that picture

can you see scales underneath those dark patches ?

cheers shaun

[Simon17]

its hard to tell from that picture,if possible.....

could you get a more focused shot of,the 4 dark patches,from your finger and thumb upwards,in that picture

can you see scales underneath those dark patches ?

cheers shaun


I'm glad you your still on here!! lol but that is a focused pic, thats the best i can get it. To the eye up close thats pretty much it, no cant see any underneath, tho there was one bit of scale that was cream in colour....? I know its from the bad shed but tired the warm water trick, he has some scale bits sticking out round them dull parts.

Its like the old bits not properly came off.

[shaunyboy]

so as far as you can see theres NO complete,individual scales under the dull parts

the patch closest to your index finger and thumb...

looks like it has a few black shiney scales and the rest of the scales are missing

could the snake have squeezed itself between something,that was a little tight,causing it to tare scales off ?

i had to fit all my bulb guards,tight to the side of my tanks,as some of my carpets,loved to squeeze between,the guard and the side of the tank,it was that tight a fit for the snake,as it squeezed through the side of the tank,used to creek and groan

could it have damage it's scales on something ?

with retained shed,you should be able to see/make out,scales underneath,unless it happened to have retained shed on the same spots,3 to 5 sheds in a row (that was a guess,as to how many retained sheds,it would take,to get to the point,that you could not make out any scales underneath,if thats even possible,sorry i've never had to deal with multipule retained sheds mate)

cheers shaun

[Simon17]

See im still a newbie at all this, but this is after he had that bad shed, before his shed he was smooth all over. Rough wise there's nothing in his tank that has rough parts to it, i've cork bark branches, and a cork bark flat piece as a hide, sub is bark chips.

Ceramic has guard, I wont have a heat source unless its guarded!

Dont look like damage either, to me it really is a result from a bad shed!

Tho he's been more active than normal lately, I've a female ball python above him,and a baby female boa below him, and he really pushes to get out, once out of the tank hes ok, like hes more settled that hes out and all temps are bang on!! lol

I dunno :(

[Simon17]

See the dull bits on his black patches.....thats the problems im talking about it! He's smooth to touch everywhere but thoses bits are rough in feel

[shaunyboy]

sorry to repeat myself,but...

does it look like there are absolutely,no scales on the rough part ?

could its scales have come off and its rough skin you are feeling ?

sorry mate,but all my tapping on the keyboards waking my wife up,my computers right next to our bed,and shes up at 7am

i will have a read and do a bit of research,then get back to you tomorrow...

could you please,try and get picture of,the rough/dull patch,nearest your,thumb and index finger,in the picture you posted

cheers shaun

[rmfsnakes32]

Soak him again then use a light coat of baby oil it works a ball python breeder swears by it and I have used it a few times myself

[shaunyboy]

Soak him again then use a light coat of baby oil it works a ball python breeder swears by it and I have used it a few times myself

retained shed is easy to deal with...

what worrys me is...

if you look at the 2 dull patches,nearest the op's fingers,the shiney black scales,seem raised up,compaired with,the dull area around it

i would like to confirm,the snake has NOT lost scales,before suggestion methods of how to take skin off

if for some reason its lost scales,imo putting baby oil on it,may make the condition worse...

thats why i requested closer up pictures

i'm not being cheeky mate,i'm merely concerned that,the quality of the picture,may be causing us to miss something (i may be overly cautious,but better,safe than sorry)

to the op
i'll speak to you asap tomorrow mate

cheers shaun

[Simon17]

retained shed is easy to deal with...

what worrys me is...

if you look at the 2 dull patches,nearest the op's fingers,the shiney black scales,seem raised up,compaired with,the dull area around it

i would like to confirm,the snake has NOT lost scales,before suggestion methods of how to take skin off

if for some reason its lost scales,imo putting baby oil on it,may make the condition worse...

thats why i requested closer up pictures

i'm not being cheeky mate,i'm merely concerned that,the quality of the picture,may be causing us to miss something (i may be overly cautious,but better,safe than sorry)

to the op
i'll speak to you asap tomorrow mate

cheers shaun


Cheers shaun,

I'll try and get a better picture some stage today and will put them up, i'm concerned aswell dude, ( Im over cautious too )

[shaunyboy]

Cheers shaun,

I'll try and get a better picture some stage today and will put them up, i'm concerned aswell dude, ( Im over cautious too )


i'll fling our Mykee a pm,see what he comes up with,until we get better pic's

cheers shaun

[mykee]

Dont use baby oil, it's damaging. Terrible advice, I don't care who the breeder who mentioned it was. As for the snake, it looks to me like there are scales completely missing which would lead me to think that there is some skin condition going on. Apply a topical antibacterial ointment (Polysporin if it's available where you are) and keep the animal very clean. It could be bacterial and Polysporin treatments will help that out over time. Apply daily.

[shaunyboy]

Dont use baby oil, it's damaging. Terrible advice, I don't care who the breeder who mentioned it was. As for the snake, it looks to me like there are scales completely missing which would lead me to think that there is some skin condition going on. Apply a topical antibacterial ointment (Polysporin if it's available where you are) and keep the animal very clean. It could be bacterial and Polysporin treatments will help that out over time. Apply daily.

thanks mate:)

you confirmed what i've been thinking regards missing scales

re baby oil
bad call as most baby oils are scented,just because somethings human friendly,it don't mean it's reptile friendly

i DON'T use oil on my snakes for anything,if i had to choose a safe oil...

it would be olive oil

Simon a trip to your vet will get you the correct ointment/treatment mate

cheers shaun

[Simon17]

Some more pics

[Simon17]

more pics of the problem, hope these are better for you's to see

[Terranaut]

Dont use baby oil, it's damaging. Terrible advice, I don't care who the breeder who mentioned it was. As for the snake, it looks to me like there are scales completely missing which would lead me to think that there is some skin condition going on. Apply a topical antibacterial ointment (Polysporin if it's available where you are) and keep the animal very clean. It could be bacterial and Polysporin treatments will help that out over time. Apply daily.

Just to add that when using polysporin make sure it doesn't have pain relief as well. Just original Polysporin is best. Good luck. Also if the scales are gone where are they? Are they in the shed or in the snakes enclosure?
This could help determine what the cause is.

[Simon17]

Theres nothing in his cage that would cause this, all branches and woods are all cork bark, and then some plastic hanging plants plus exo terra water bowl.

Substrate is repti bark.

Before his last bad shed he was fine all over, then after the bad shed this is whats left on him. His shed was all in bits tho when i think back, there was some dark spots in the old shed.......

[shaunyboy]

See the dull bits on his black patches.....thats the problems im talking about it! He's smooth to touch everywhere but thoses bits are rough in feel

on those rough bits,are there scales attatched ?

or are the scales missing ? (indentations where the scales should be ? )

if they are missing,which is how it looks in the first pic's,then you need to take Mykee's advice and also trip to a good reptile vet would be advisable mate

cheers shaun

[Simon17]

Hey guy's just an update on the issuse in hand. I got a guy out last night (same guy) when my very first jungle died only after a week of having her. He checked over him and everything else, and its nothing to worry bout, it is just old shed thats still on him and just have to go thru the shed process again untill its cleared.

Tho he wants me to get another boa (male) think he was wants me to get into the breeding side of things, but im no where ready for any of that yet, as i freak out over anything with my snakes lol