torn up belly scales :(

[kuester]

I noticed my corns belly scales on the ends of them seem torn up and browned... any ideas why?

[jjhill001]

Pics??????????

[KyleKennedy]

Sounds like scale rot. But you would need to post pics so we can know for sure.

[SSSSnakes]

Originally Posted by KyleKennedy

Sounds like scale rot. But you would need to post pics so we can know for sure.

Exactly what I was thinking. Keep it clean and dry and on newspaper and it should clear up after a shed or two.

[kuester]

Ive tried uploading pics to this site before but it didnt work... The enclosure was just refreshed with brand new aspen about a month ago. Hes never had shedding problems(in the 10 years ive had him) so i didnt mist his cage at all. But the last shed was in pieces so i mist him once every 10 days.

[kuester]

His humidity is not high also his substrate is not wet.

[jjhill001]

Could be the heat pad is malfunctioning causing burns.

[kuester]

He has a ceramic heat emitter...

[PatrickT]

Hard too say without pics. Could also be that he simply scratched somewhere and some scales got "lifted" upwards.

[Rattlehead]

Upload the pics to a site like photobucket. Then copy the link to the photo and paste it here if you have difficulties uploading directly to the forum

[kuester]

Ive tried doing it through photobucket before didnt work. I do it all on my phone. Its like almost every scale and it wasnt there like a week ago..

[prairiepanda]

I find the easiest image host to use via phone is imgur. Very streamlined process, with or without the app, and no fuss over making an account.

Do you have a water dish in the enclosure big enough for your corn to soak his whole body in? That would be more effective than misting if you're wanting to improve sheds. But considering he's never had a shedding issue with you and his most recent shed was suddenly bad, it could be related to whatever is going on with his belly scales right now rather than an issue of dryness. Unless you've moved recently or changed something in the enclosure.

It does sound like scale rot, but that is usually(not always) localized in a small area. We can't do much more than speculate without pictures. If you really can't get pictures up at all, then a trip to the vet will get an answer.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

You can make a humid hide--stuff a tupperware container with damp sphagnum moss, and cut a hole in the top for access. That way he can have higher humidity and his leisure. I do this for my snakes and it works great.

Some damage to belly scales may just be wear and tear, depending on what you have in your enclosure. That was the case for my garter snake--he sheds it off every time.

[kuester]

I switched cages. He went from heat pad to ceramic heat emitter. And when i spot clean(check everyday) i move some of his decor around slightly. And yes his water dish is large enough for him to fit in.

[kuester]