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Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
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Bell or Hypo Bell and skin question

Omnivorous Feb 15, 2009 10:55 PM

OK first two pics are of the bell the next 3 are from the SHTCT. I am not sure if he is a Bell or Hypo Bell. I know it has spotting but not sure if that counts for Hypo since there seems to be a differentation between Hypo and Super Hypo. He is about 7 months old I think. I dont have a hatch date on him. My skin question is I got this SHTCT. I will call her that for now although I am not sure she has enough carrot in her tail to qualify. Anyways. A couple times she has had a few pieces of stuck skin from sheds. Not all the time. Never on her feet, mouth or eyes. I will try to rub it a little with a moist q-tip and she has a good humid hide. She tolerates handleing somewhat but doesnt like you rubbing her with q-tips and such. If you look at the pics she seems to have a scar on her back and one near her rump. If you can see the darker markings on her back some are not color they appear to be scar like. I am not positive if it is where a previous stuck piece of shed was but I believe it is. She hasnt had any stuck shed pieces lately. I look at her tail and it seems fine but a little bit as if some skin is stuck but its not pieces it looks "powdery". Like stuck pieces of skin but its so small. Like only around the little nubs they have on their tails. Sorry if my explainations sound dumb. I dont know if you can see from the pics. I am not sure If I am being anal and its really nothing. She has always been kept with another female. Both are fine. Infact she is a little smaller than the other she is with but weighs more. I dont notice any problems with the other. Just wondering if thats some sort of skin disorder or if I am just being ocd. I dont notice any fecal problems, eating is fine, everything else fine. I took the best pics I could. Anywho thanks your help would be appreciated.

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Replies (4)

Niki458 Feb 16, 2009 10:58 AM

It looks to me like she has been bitten. I have had it happen as well. When mine breed I have noticed that sometimes where the male has bit my female as he is trying to mount her she will have a little sores and it does not shed right for a couple sheds. If she is not with the male it might be the other female she is with nipping her to show dominance. The sores do heal. I would just put her in her own tank for a few weeks. Hope this helps

indictment Feb 16, 2009 03:31 PM

Yes, the shedding is somewhat awkward where they used to have "wounds" recently.........they will go away after another shed or two.

It appears the Bell's pattern is still changing, but as of right now I wouldn't consider it a "Hypo". Most breeders suggest that a "Hypo" must have no more than 10-12 spots on the body(not counting head or tail). And a "Super Hypo" usually has no spots, but can have as many as 2 spots. Again, there is no clear-cut definition and it varies from breeder to breeder.
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

Omnivorous Feb 19, 2009 08:43 PM

But the powdery looking skin flakes on the tail arent a problem that I need to have someone look at is it?

indictment Feb 19, 2009 09:23 PM

Not unless it's constricting blood circulation in the tail.
-----
1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

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