Crystalized salt on scales of my red tail

cerelia · 09-18-18, 07:10 AM

Hello everyone,

As snakes don't have sweat glands, I'm confused how this happened. Last night, my red tail had what seemed like crystalized salt lines on her scales (upper third of her body in various places), very similar to a human. I did a quick taste test and it tasted exactly like salt.

I have always used filtered water, and never seen this before. The temp is a little higher for the last few dsys as she has a slight respiratory infection - I don't think this could have crystalized minerals out of the water but I'm not sure.

If anyone has any ideas or had seen this, Id love to hear.

Thank you very much!

akane · 09-18-18, 08:57 PM

Given hard water deposits are not salty unless you are using brackish water in your enclosure my guess would be you just tasted the equivalent of snake pee. I'm not sure what else salty substances would end up in your enclosure except the uric acid salts reptiles excrete separate from their feces.

richardhind · 09-19-18, 01:31 AM

can you post any pics up

cerelia · 09-19-18, 08:46 AM

I unfortunately can't take pics as I cleaned her right when I saw this. I could be wrong but I think it's unlikely to be snake pee simply because of the pattern. It was striations, each of them around 1-2 inches long - maybe about 4 or 5 of time in completely different places - exactly like the edges of our brow when we sweat a lot and there is a crystallized salt line. Very pretty actually!

But then I guess I can't think of anything else it could be...

richardhind · 09-20-18, 09:59 AM

it could also be if they have had a drink and slobbered(drool)a bit , sometimes people have it when they wake up in the morning

phenyx · 09-20-18, 01:52 PM

You mentioned filtered water. Does your water come from a water softening system that uses salt? We get salt residue from ours from time to time.

akane · 09-20-18, 08:17 PM

I've never had a water softener leave that much sodium to notice but then it's practically useless around here over a physical filtration system. 9ph "liquid rock" water that leaves grit in your teeth from the limestone bedrock it comes from does not appreciably change in a standard water softener. The resulting residue is still nearly all calcium carbonate. Reason I started buying RO systems for at least some purposes in every place I've lived. Cheaper than ongoing water softener salt really.