is this scale rot?

[slowhite03]

I was holding my snake last week and I noticed he had a loose scale, so i got some tweezers and it fell right off. I just thought it was a stuck scale shed or something. I was holding again tonight and I noticed a another scale like the one before and I did the same thing and it fell right off. I did a once over on him and I noticed he had the same on the side where his belly meets his side. Its not red (well hes a black snake so i really cant tell) but can anyone help me out please and tell me if it looks like scale rot?

[Amadeus]

No not scale rot, Unfortunately I only know what it's not.

Another member may chime in on this.

[possum]

I have seen a snake that had scales that de-laminated like that before...but sorry, I don't know what causes it. Maybe stress? wish I knew...
Has he been exposed to anything new lately? substrate? cleaning solution? outdoors? new food source?

[Starbuck]

i had a snake who had a few 'delaminated' scales like above, caused by adhesive bandaging to an abscess. I only used that brand of bandaging once because of that. She hasnt shed yet since, but i am assuming it will be normal post-shed.

I had another snake with severe scale damage because she was outside all winter (in someone elses care, before i got her). In her case, many of the scales simply fell off due to an underlying mild infection of the skin. They also improved almost 100% after a shed.

I would agree that it doesnt look like scale rot, but ratehr just a 'bad hair day' for the snakes scale. As long as the entire scale isnt coming off (just a top, laminate portion) i wouldnt worry too much. Do a once over of your viv to make sure theres no tight spaces your snake could be squeezing through, damaging its skin.