Is this scale rot? - Page 3

Hillsberry · 02-23-13, 06:38 PM

I am going to the white plain reptile expo tomorrow. There is a reptile vet there. I am going to bring the picture and see what he thinks.

moshirimon · 02-23-13, 06:42 PM

Could be a scratch she did to herself during shedding. I noticed it happens the odd time. Doesn't look too bad though , will probably heal up with a couple if sheds

concinnusman · 02-23-13, 06:50 PM

If the air temperature in an enclosure is too low, a large snake may have trouble reaching a high enough core temp. As a result they will often sit on surfaces that are too hot, resulting in burns. Nobody can really remote diagnose but it does look like a burn. condensation buildup isn't good either. That's a pretty good indication that ventilation is inadequate and it also allows harmful bacteria and fungi to thrive, resulting in skin infections or RI's.

Regardless of what it is, it can't hurt to treat with betadine / iodine solution. Antiseptic skin cleansers with chlorhexidine gluconate work well too. I prefer to use that. It's less toxic and has longer effective duration.

It does not look like scale rot. Scales will sort of look like they are shriveling up and will have a brownish discoloration if it's scale rot.

Hillsberry · 02-23-13, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by concinnusman

If the air temperature in an enclosure is too low, a large snake may have trouble reaching a high enough core temp. As a result they will often sit on surfaces that are too hot, resulting in burns. Nobody can really remote diagnose but it does look like a burn. condensation buildup isn't good either. That's a pretty good indication that ventilation is inadequate and it also allows harmful bacteria and fungi to thrive, resulting in skin infections or RI's.

Regardless of what it is, it can't hurt to treat with betadine / iodine solution. Antiseptic skin cleansers with chlorhexidine gluconate work well too. I prefer to use that. It's less toxic and has longer effective duration.

It does not look like scale rot. Scales will sort of look like they are shriveling up and will have a brownish discoloration if it's scale rot.

Will the Antiseptic skin cleansers help heal a burn? The only thing is the heat panel is on the roof of her enclosure. So I can't see how it could be a burn.

Corey209 · 02-23-13, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hillsberry

Will the Antiseptic skin cleansers help heal a burn? The only thing is the heat panel is on the roof of her enclosure. So I can't see how it could be a burn.

Too much heat with too much moisture on the snake could cause a burn if I'm not mistaken.

Betadine will help stop spreading any infection so yes it will help the burn.

**Aaron_S** · 02-23-13, 08:42 PM

It doesn't really look like a burn from that picture. It's a little difficult to tell but the black scales don't look any different so it would be odd that only the surrounding scales would be burned and not those. Besides, there's no blisters or anything of the sort.

It also is not scale rot. That's from sitting in too damp conditions for a prolonged period of time. By this I mean a really long time. Like weeks upon weeks. It starts on the belly scales and moves up. It's generally a red colouration.

I wouldn't treat it yet. Leave it be for now unless the vet says anything. If he is unsure I would just wait and see what it looks like after the next shed cycle. When snakes have injuries of any sort they will kick into a shed cycle sooner than normal to help heal it.

Squirtle · 02-23-13, 08:50 PM

When was the last time it shed? I have seen snakes turn almost completely white after a shed. There's actually a video on YouTube of a boa constrictor that looked almost like a paradox after it shed, I'll try to look for it and post it here.

Squirtle · 02-23-13, 08:53 PM

Here's the video. If you look at the persons other videos, you can see that his boa was normal colored, although when it shed, this happened:

Crap, I don't know how to post YouTube videos. Anyways, here's the video link: Red Tail Boa Changed Colors - YouTube

**lady_bug87** · 02-23-13, 08:57 PM

Talk about being in over your head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

I remember reading a post about doing a betadine wash to prevent infection with burns and I just looked it up with multiple sources recommending this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

Too much heat with too much moisture on the snake could cause a burn if I'm not mistaken.

Betadine will help stop spreading any infection so yes it will help the burn.

You don't even know what it is. Why are you prescribing a treatment that could make it worse?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

Just read about white scales caused by Septicema on a forum.

Here's a site about it Bacteria In The Blood in Reptiles | petMD

First its a burn and now its a blood disease? Maybe you should give Google a break for tonight and sit back and learn.

**Aaron_S** · 02-23-13, 08:59 PM

Corey, she's correct. You're joining a conversation you have NO experience with and just regurgitating information. Hills can google himself. He wants first hand experience.

Just read.

Corey209 · 02-23-13, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Corey, she's correct. You're joining a conversation you have NO experience with and just regurgitating information. Hills can google himself. He wants first hand experience.

Just read.

I was giving the betadine treatment based on the other person with experience saying it was a burn because that would actually help, but you have a point.

Hillsberry · 02-23-13, 10:04 PM

I appreciate all the help. I am going to go with what Aaron said. I talk to some big Retic breeders and they basically said the same thing as Aaron. See how it is after the next shed if it doesn't go away then call the vet. Retics are very hardy snakes so I can't imagine it being that bacterial infection. Also my husbandry is almost post on. Again thank you everyone. I will keep you all informed on how she is.

P.S. Aaron I am a "she" not a "he" hahaha!

**Aaron_S** · 02-23-13, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hillsberry

I appreciate all the help. I am going to go with what Aaron said. I talk to some big Retic breeders and they basically said the same thing as Aaron. See how it is after the next shed if it doesn't go away then call the vet. Retics are very hardy snakes so I can't imagine it being that bacterial infection. Also my husbandry is almost post on. Again thank you everyone. I will keep you all informed on how she is.

P.S. Aaron I am a "she" not a "he" hahaha!

I apologize Hillary.

marvelfreak · 02-24-13, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

I was giving the betadine treatment based on the other person with experience saying it was a burn because that would actually help, but you have a point.

He was just trying to be helpful base off of what i said i thought it was. To me that shows a lot about he character. Base on the fact me and him had it out yesterday. He was trying to help out base on what i thought it was. He didn't care that we had a disagreement but it was all about trying to help Hillary and her snake. To me that says something.

**lady_bug87** · 02-24-13, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

He was just trying to be helpful base off of what i said i thought it was. To me that shows a lot about he character. Base on the fact me and him had it out yesterday. He was trying to help out base on what i thought it was. He didn't care that we had a disagreement but it was all about trying to help Hillary and her snake. To me that says something.

To me it says that though he may have good intentions... he works Google harder than a hooker on New Years.