Dehydrated skin?

[red ink]

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if you guys could help me as I have never encountered this problem before.

I have just picked up a new snake (hatchling) from the airport but when I got him home something seems to be wrong.

I think there is something wrong with it's skin, the scales look like they are raised up from the body.

Has anyone encountered this problem before? I called the breeder and he seems to think it's perfectly normal. Could it possibly be dehydrated causing the scales to welt up?

[DeadlyDesires]

possibly scale rot, do you have any pictures?

[Starbuck]

dehydration in snakes can appear as a wrinkled appearance, i.e. when they curve their bodies there are seemingly excessive wrinkles at the bend. Also, the spaces between the skin can appear to shrink, causing the scales to appear closer to the body, look 'rougher', and perhaps look raised from the body as you are describing.

What kind of snake is it? Pictures would definitely help; both for us and for you; this way you have something to compare to in a few days after he has had access to water and hides etc.

[smy_749]

Give some background about what type of snake it is, and some pictures, and one of the people with lots of experience on the species will surely chime in. hard to ask for an analysis without background info.

edit: sorry starbuck, we posted the same time lol

[red ink]

It seems to be all over it's body and not just the one spot.

It's not scale rot as I have seen that before. It does feel rough to the touch when I run my fingers over the skin. The scales are definitely raised.

I'll try and get pics when I can... I just haven't encountered anything like, the skin feels totally weird unlike anything I have felt before. Seems like a pretty unique condition, I'm absolutely baffled?

[Starbuck]

lol red ink, maybe none of the pythons you own have ever been dehydrated then ;) (kudos?)

What kind of python is it?
Young/hatchling snakes are definitely more prone to dehydration. Did you notice him drinking when you got him home?

[red ink]

I haven't noticed him drinking... I put a water bowl in his tub anyway. He's pretty defensive at the moment so I thought I'd just leave him be to settle in.

I contacted the breeder again and their insisting that it's normal?

[red ink]

I'm really worried should I try and put some moisturiser on it or something... do you guys think that would be safe?

[Lankyrob]

Redink's account has been hacked i reckon, he is much more intelligent than he is coming across in this thread.

[Starbuck]

I will ask again:
What kind of python is it?

Leave the snake alone.

Never put anything like moisturizer on a snake.

Lankyrob, i certainly hope so... :P

[red ink]

I finally got a decent pic of my new python...

As you can hopefully see, It has some really raised looking scales on it.
It has a rough feel to it and it's unlike any python that I have seen.
Most likely the rough scale on this python is quite unique... possibly the only one python that has keeled scales.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/roughie/roughie_zps5ff2014c.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/Red-Ink-Buldogs/media/roughie/roughie_zps5ff2014c.jpg.html)

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/roughie/roughie3_zps83e41bad.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/Red-Ink-Buldogs/media/roughie/roughie3_zps83e41bad.jpg.html)

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/roughie/roughie2_zps37b314d9.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/Red-Ink-Buldogs/media/roughie/roughie2_zps37b314d9.jpg.html)


I won't put any moisturiser on it I think I like having a Rough Scaled Python.... hopefully he keeps it as he grows.

[Starbuck]

:P

nice one.

[Theweinz]

Pretty snake, I would love one in my collection. Are they becoming affordable?:)

[KORBIN5895]

I knew something was wrong. Personally I would get rid of it stat. You don't want that spreading through your collection....... I've got it!Send it to me. I'll get rid of it for you. Just contact Kyle as I'm sure his friend would be happy to import it for us.

[Donnie]

I kind of wish I hadn't already seen your thread on rfuk now reading this. I like the cut of your jib :D

[red ink]

I thought of doing the same thing on RFUK but I don't think it would have gone down as well over there lol.

[Donnie]

Your right, I don't think it would have, but it would have given the keyboard warriors something to do for a bit :)

[smy_749]

I thought of doing the same thing on RFUK but I don't think it would have gone down as well over there lol.

I think if you want to cure his raised scale issue, you have to get bit and post the pictures. :D

best of luck, they have quite the set of teeth lol

[shaunyboy]

ive pm'd you a re hydration method mate

cheers shaun

[Donnie]

ive pm'd you a re hydration method mate

cheers shaun

Shaun, did you read all the thread mate ;) vvvvvvvvvv

I finally got a decent pic of my new python...

As you can hopefully see, It has some really raised looking scales on it.
It has a rough feel to it and it's unlike any python that I have seen.
Most likely the rough scale on this python is quite unique... possibly the only one python that has keeled scales.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/roughie/roughie_zps5ff2014c.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/Red-Ink-Buldogs/media/roughie/roughie_zps5ff2014c.jpg.html)

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/roughie/roughie3_zps83e41bad.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/Red-Ink-Buldogs/media/roughie/roughie3_zps83e41bad.jpg.html)

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/roughie/roughie2_zps37b314d9.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/Red-Ink-Buldogs/media/roughie/roughie2_zps37b314d9.jpg.html)


I won't put any moisturiser on it I think I like having a Rough Scaled Python.... hopefully he keeps it as he grows.

[shaunyboy]

I finally got a decent pic of my new python...

As you can hopefully see, It has some really raised looking scales on it.
It has a rough feel to it and it's unlike any python that I have seen.
Most likely the rough scale on this python is quite unique... possibly the only one python that has keeled scales.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/roughie/roughie_zps5ff2014c.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/Red-Ink-Buldogs/media/roughie/roughie_zps5ff2014c.jpg.html)

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/roughie/roughie3_zps83e41bad.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/Red-Ink-Buldogs/media/roughie/roughie3_zps83e41bad.jpg.html)

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/roughie/roughie2_zps37b314d9.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/Red-Ink-Buldogs/media/roughie/roughie2_zps37b314d9.jpg.html)


I won't put any moisturiser on it I think I like having a Rough Scaled Python.... hopefully he keeps it as he grows.


cool mate

glad to see your roughies have arrived :cool:

good luck putting moisturiser on those guys...

have you seen the length of their teeth :shocked::laugh:

cheers shaun

P.S.teach me to speed read and not take your sense of humour into account (my last post :o:o in this thread mate )

[millertime89]

Congrats on the roughies, fantastic snakes, such a strange feel to those scales.

[Ivanator]

I want to touch it! Is it like sandpaper rough or no?

[GUITARZAN509]

Soak the snake in a 50 50 solution of water and Pedialyte for half hour or so at a time until it looks hydrated again

[red ink]

Soak the snake in a 50 50 solution of water and Pedialyte for half hour or so at a time until it looks hydrated again

Nah.. I think it'll be OK without any intervention on my part... I kinda like have the rough look on it.

[TheSuppishOne]

Just make sure to give it a 100/120 grit sanding wheel on a grinder inside it's enclosure. Run it at night so they have some ambient noise and a nice wheel to rub against and you should be fine. Roughies love their bench grinders!

[jarich]

Just make sure to give it a 100/120 grit sanding wheel on a grinder inside it's enclosure. Run it at night so they have some ambient noise and a nice wheel to rub against and you should be fine. Roughies love their bench grinders!

No totally wrong. It should always be a belt sander! They need the upward motion instead of the circular motion. Plus it gives them a nice warm hide inside the belt. Make sure to use a thermostat with the sander though. Dont want to let him burn himself. Silly snakes.

[TheSuppishOne]

You're thinking of the Southern Roughies. I was talking about the Northerns.

[jarich]

Ha! Nicely done.