I'm assuming since you said 'black scales' you have a Gerrhosaurus validus? You might also have G. nigrolineatus or G. flavivulgaris though. At any rate, they all have a variable pattern with scales that have black on them as well as lighter colors like yellow or even whitish color. If it's isolated scales it could just be a color change occuring with increasing age. Or, it could be an infection of some sort that has affected the underlying scales. Usually though, an infection of the keratinous layer covering the osteoderms will be fairly widespread. Is the white scale area the same in appearance to normally colored surrounding scales or does it have a rough or pitted appearance? A pitted appearance could also be the result of the aforementioned infection or if you're housing multiple individuals together, bite wounds.
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Matt Campbell
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal/Reptile House
Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, Illinois

Assistant Curator
Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, Illinois

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