Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I noticed today my Female Ball had Red spots under her scales in random locations. I have been keeping the cage fairly wet to keep the humidity up so her and the male will mate. She also Shed last night. Could it be from the shed, or the cage being too moist?

It's from the cage being too wet and it may develop into something you may not be able to fix if you don't change out the substrate. It's called scale, or belly rot. The scales will eventually turn all red and infected and start to peel or disintagrate.

You can't have a constantly moist enclosure, and it's NOT necessary for keeping a proper humidity level. It's true they need a bit more to help in shedding and some believe it helps with breeding, but a cupful of water dumped in one end every few days to a week or just a misting of the enclosure every day during the shed period will be sufficient(sp). Please change out that substrate.

Quig

I experienced this same thing and it turned out to be scale rot.... change the substrate to newspaper, keep her a bit dry (you can mist daily or twice daily) but keep her substrate dry..... Mine had to be on newspaper for two weeks, until he shed again, and then i was able to put him back on the coconut fibers... Don't mess around with this, it could get bad.......

Also you can start cleaning her belly with a nolvasan mixture... 1 part nolvasan 3 parts water.... clean her belly twice a day for a week or so, she should get better and shed out again soon.

I've learned that snakes with scale issues tend to shed more frequently.... so be prepared for her to shed again once the belly inflamation goes down.

Good luck

Teri