Hi,

Sorry to hear about your sick bp. If the skin is cracked and bleeding and looks like "hamburger" then something is obviously seriously wrong with the animal. If the problem is on the belly, then it is likely the result of a burn from the undertank heater. Those should always be on some type of temp control like a rheostat, because they get way too hot w/o one. It could also be a form of necrotic dermatitis (skin rot), which can be caused by constant damp, or filthy conditions. That is why I think that carpeting stuff is a crummy substrate. It doesn't absorb anything like pine or aspen does. Urine just soaks through the carpet and creates a place for bacteria to thrive, while keeping the snakes belly constantly wet.

I'd skip the "herpetologist" and go right to a vet that has some knowledge of reptiles who can treat the problem. Also, this type of problem is usually a symptom of prolonged poor husbandry. I am not sayng that you are the one at fault, but whomever cared for that snake in the recent past did a p!$$ poor job. Ball pythons are tough as nails and it really takes some serious neglect to to cause a skin infection like that. the burn is another story, that could occur over the span of a couple of days. In either event, skip the "herpetologist" and go to a vet. Good luck.

Will

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• Calling all snake lovers!! Help??????? - redhuskerrod, Sun May 14 10:42:37 2006
• RE: Calling all snake lovers!! Help??????? - the_jackel, Sun May 14 11:25:08 2006
• RE: Calling all snake lovers!! Help??????? - redhuskerrod, Sun May 14 12:05:27 2006
• RE: Calling all snake lovers!! Help??????? - goregrind, Sun May 14 11:43:10 2006
• RE: Calling all snake lovers!! Help??????? - redhuskerrod, Sun May 14 12:06:56 2006
• RE: Calling all snake lovers!! Help????? - Kingofspades, Sun May 14 12:34:08 2006
• RE: Calling all snake lovers!! Help????? - Snakefreek, Sun May 14 17:19:29 2006
• RE: take him to a vet ASAP - willstill, Mon May 15 14:55:53 2006