Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A couple weeks ago I noticed about 1/3 of my snakes belly scales getting darker. I had switched from newspaper to something called reptibedding about one month previously.

I immedeatly swithed back to newspaper. The situation has gotten worse and its belly looks bad. It has also stopped eating and this has me scared, he was alway a voracious eater.

I live in a small town in Nebraska and no vets here will see this snake. I have heard of belly rot and am wondering if this is what it is. He would also burrow through the old bedding down to the glass right over the UTH so I thought it could be a burn.

Its about ready to shed and I hope all this clears up.

My question is: What is belly rot and how is it treated?

Thanks

Hi,

Get some pics up here. There are many people here who can help.

Bill

Is this 1/3 of your snakes or just 1 out of 3?

If it is just a burn get some neosporine triple antibiotic treatment and apply some to the wound twice- three times a day. It will not clear up right way but keep applying and if it is a minor burn it will shed off in next shed.

Pics would help to diagnose but if belly rot is the problem this is where I would start.

Also keep him one paper towels until it clears.

matt

I am in Nebraska too and there are a couple vets in Lincoln that will see snakes. You are welcome to email me if you want to talk about options.
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1.0 normal ball python
0.1 greyband hybrid kingsnake
0.2 crazy cats
1.0 husband

Here are a couple pics.

I swabbed this area with clorohexidine and then applied an antibiotic ointment. I think I will do this a couple times a day.

What do you think?

Thanks

Another try with the pics.

Image

until healed, keep the snakes on DRY paper towels. and as you are doing, daily put on an antibiotic ointment. change the paper towels often. a visit to a vet for some antibiotics would be a good thing here.

That, my friend, looks like a very advanced case of belly rot. That's really really bad, man. But you're right, it is weird that it's only localized in the last third of the body -- meaning, I'm not dismissing the fact that it could be a burn.

However, I would honestly be rethinking your husbandry before treatment. Something is terribly wrong if your snake is in this condition. You probably should let us know what your set up is like, so we can help you out. Something is apparently too hot or to wet.

Make sure your snake is off ALL bedding and put on paper towels and kept dry!! Chlorhexiderm is good stuff, I live by it, you are moving in the right direction. However, you prolly should be do a little bit more than swab the area... FLUSH the area, don't afraid to be to liberal. Letting your snake sit in it for a few seconds won't hurt either. Twice a day will be perfect, followed by your ointment. If the ointment you are using is like neosporine (thick and waxy), make sure you cover it all, but rub it in and don't use too much... you'll want the wound to breathe. If its like a cream, be liberal with it.

And by the severity of it, you really should get ahold of Bolitochrome to get your snake on some antibiotics. You want to prevent infection, if it is not infected already. Infection can and will kill.

I hope this helps.
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

Thanks for all the replies.

My snake shed two days ago. The dark area shed and it was very thick. The scaled look normal now and it ate two mice yesterday.

I think from examining the shed that it was a burn. The substrate I had switched to a month ago has been tossed. I believe that it did cause the problem as it allowed my snake to burrow down and contact the glass directly over the UTH.

I am using newspaper again and am placing some extra over the uth.