Hi all, this is my first time posting. I've noticed that my juvenile Hognose has some black around her (*we call her 'her' but have not sexed the snake) mouth.
https://imgur.com/a/zKAjM
It's just at the corners of her mouth as hopefully you can see in the images.
History:
Got the snake about 6 weeks. She has fed well at home. Gave her a week to get settled at home, then was feeding on a 5 day schedule. She ignored mice about a week ago, but when I left a thawed pinkie in her enclosure last Sunday she ate it on her own time. She hasn't been fed since, when inspecting her I decided she probably needs a visit to the vet so I figure it is best to withhold food until the appointment?
She has not shed in this time. When I got her, she did have some discoloration on her head, I assumed it was an abnormal scale that might go away with shed. I don't know if it's related to the mouth? The color is completely different.
I first noticed some darkness around her mouth around 10 days ago. She has eaten since then. I wasn't sure if it was something that had always been there and I overlooked, so I decide to observe her more. Now handling her today the black is still there and possibly has spread a small amount.
I am setting up a vet appointment for this week but am trying to find out what this may be. It doesn't look like scale rot from the pictures I've seen online but have never seen it in person, so am just looking for some outside advice.
Her habitat is a 20gal enclosure with an under tank heat mat (temp on the glass currently 92) coolside temp is currently 78 ambient, and humidity is reading 47. Her bedding is fine wood chips (recommended by pet store) which I plan on switching to shredded aspen. She does dig a lot, maybe she has just bumped her mouth on the bottom of the enclosure and needs a thicker layer of bedding?
Thanks so much!
*sorry I'm still working on getting pics to display in thread, but have provided link*
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