Dry Skin

BOA68 · 09-30-04, 04:44 PM

I just recently got a new Boa. I posted a small pic of her ealier. I got her from a pet store recently. She is just over 5 ft long. I inspected her at the store before brought her home and everything looked good except one thing. I noticed that she has one or two wut look to be dry patches. These are tiny patches of only about 3 or 4 scales. The scales almost appear to be caliced. Does this sound like something that might be normal and if not what should i do. Also since bringing her hom i have noticed that she has an odor to her. IDK why. Maybe the pet store wasn't cleaning her tank enough and she sat in waste for a period of time. Will this odor go away with time or a shed. Or can i do something to clean her. I have never experienced either of these two things with any of my other snakes in the past.

Linds · 10-01-04, 09:06 AM

No, the odd patches of scales are not necessarily normal. Is it possible that it is just dried urates or is it indeed the scales have become discoloured? Try washing the areas gently with warm water and see what happens. If they are really the scales, I'm honestly not sure what would cause that, not dry skin, possibly a bacterial or fungal problem. You can try treating them with betadine solution 1-2x daily, as it takes care of both types of problems. Smelly snakes can be caused by either unsanitary conditions or by sickness. If it is caused by filth, then it will come off with her next shed. You can try and give them a bath if you catch it fresh, but it seems to just soak right in their skin, so likely wouldn't help much now (if that is indeed the case). Good luck with your new little friend, hopefully it all works out ok. Next time try buying from a more reputable source, as to avoid problems

BOA68 · 10-01-04, 11:07 AM

I didn't buy her. I guess you could say that i rescued her. She was given to a pet store and they didnt have enough room for her and she was in a tank way to small for her. So i told them i would take her. I don't believe she is sick, i am fairly knowledgable on snakes and i inspected her and observed her several times before i took her. She seems to be in perfect health. No visible signs of illness and no behavioral sign either. These dry patches don't aren't effecting her negatively in any way, i was just wondering what the cause might be. I am pretty sure the smell is from unsanitary conditions at the pet store because of the size of the tank she was in.