Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,

I've looked through some of the past posts and haven't found what I'm looking for, so I'll post this question here

Some friends of mine have a young Ball Python that they purchased as a baby a few months ago. Generally he has done OK, except for one issue with being a little dehydrated during his last shed about a month ago. He eats well on both f/t and live mice, and has put one quite a bit of weight/length in the last month or so since his shed. I was talking to my friends last night and they mentioned that Neptune (the BP) had some weird stuff on his belly. When I saw the snake, he has what I beleive to be scale rot. Parts (not all) of his otherwise white belly have a redigh/brownish color to them (not at all pink like an upcoming shed would be) and some of the scales look to be less than healthy. I don't have any pics of his belly since this occured, but I hope to get some and post them this evening. I keep Brazilian Rainbow Boas, so Ball Pythons are sorta foreign to me.

Currently, he is in a 10 gallon tank with (I think) cypress mulch as substrate and a couple coconut shells as hides. He used to have a hide filled with moist moss, but he never used that so it was removed a few weeks ago. He also has a branch and a moist washcloth in the corner of the cage.

Assuming that this really is scale rot, what would be the course of treatment? The BP book that they have says to use neosporin and get him of the damp substrate, anda smaller water bowl so he can't curl up in in (but we've never seen him do that anyway). He has been placed on paper towel substrate for the time being. Should they be finding a good reptile vet?

Thanks for any and all help you call can offer.

Below are two pictures that I took of him about 10 days ago, before all this happened.

-- Ryan

Neptune in all his glory:

Here's a better shot of the enlcosure. From this pic it's apparent that some of the substrate is moist/wet. Could this be causing the problems.

Check this website out.
Website

Scale rot is usually caused by excess exposure or contact with moist or wet substrates. This is characterized by bleeding into the belly scales. Your description sounds like a pretty likely candidate. A trip to the vet is probably in order for an exact diagnosis and treatment. Best of luck to you and your friend.

np

This is a pic of a very mild case of scale rot. This snake was treated with neosporin daily, and changed to newspaper substrate. His ventral scales healed and looked great after his next shed.

Your friend should look for a reptile vet so he/she knows where to go if needed, but if it is a mild case of scale rot you can give neosporin a go first.

Good luck!

I have also 'dipped' them in a dilute betadine bath. Be sure and bath them in water first...so they get a drink of good stuff and not try to drink the betadine 'tea'. Or dawb it onto the affected areas. Let it dry on.
-----
Sonya

...yes it sounds like early blister disease. This is one of the problems with cage carpets that are not cleaned/sanitized properly and that remain wet-lots of baceria. Neosporin or Polysporin is good for the bad spots, as is povidone iodine (Betadine) ointment. For more advanced cases soaks in a 1/4" deep solution of Betadine diluted 1:10 every other day for 30 minutes, while the snake is kept in a DRY paper-lined cage between treatments. Hope this helps. Scott J. Michaels DVM