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HELP PLZ BROWNISH YELLOW UNDER BALLS BLY

pitbull76 May 23, 2009 01:05 PM

HI I NOTICE A COUPLE OF DAY AGO MY BALL HAD A BROWNISH YELLOW PATH UNDER HER BELLY ALSO SHE HAS NOT EATEN IN OVER 3 WEEKS SHE WILL USUALLY EAT EVER WEEK BUT LATE I NOTICE SHE WILL GET REAL CLOSE TO THE PRE KILLED RAT SMELL IT AND TURN AWAY.HAS FOR THE SET UP I HAVE A HEAT MAT UNDER THE AQUARIUM AND I HAVE JUNGLE MIX FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE AQUARIUM BUT LATELY SHE MOVES THE MIX FROM UNDER HER HIDE BOX SO HER BELLY IS ON THE GLASS.ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT TNKS.

Replies (14)

toshamc May 23, 2009 01:17 PM

Would help if you could post a picture.
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Tosha
JET Pythons
Toshas Blog

Herp Medicine does not equal a bottle of Baytril - Dr. Scott Stahl

pitbull76 May 23, 2009 01:20 PM

WILL TRY TO POST IN 2 MINS TNKS FOR THE REPLY

pitbull76 May 23, 2009 01:35 PM

HERE IS A PIC IT NOT THE GREATS BUT SHE WOULD NOT LET ME TAKE ANY.
Image

pitbull76 May 23, 2009 01:39 PM

Again sorry not the greatest pic but you can see the brownish yellow part i think it might be belly burn but not sure?
Image

ohernz May 24, 2009 08:34 AM

that seems like a burn to me. I had something similar happening to one of my pastels last year. I think you should take the snake to a vet right away, and find a way to regulate the temperature so it's not that high!
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Neutiquam erro. Hostes alienigeni me abduxerunt.

krfun May 24, 2009 03:08 PM

That looks exactly like my snake 3 months ago. I was using newspaper then switched to something similar to what you use and my snake could burrow to the glass over the uth.

I treated her with triple antibiotic and clorohexidine and she shed twice in one week and this cleared up, she started eating again immedeatly.

You should take a paper towel soaked in clorohexidine and wipe this are twice daily and apply triple antibiotic. Then use newspaper with a paper towels over it. And either get a thermostat or insulate over the uth.

zefdin May 23, 2009 02:43 PM

Pit,

How hot is the suface temp where the snakes belly touches? Feel with your hand if you dont have temp gun or thermostat, it shoudnt feel very hot to the touch, because a human is 98.6 and if it feels very hot to you its hotter than this(98.6) and no good. Are you using a controller to set the temp on the heat mat, or do you run it wide open? Is the sustrate & floor of cage damp or moist? Also, maybe she is just going into shed, your pics arent vert good, you said brown, but is it more of a reddish color maybe? This might mean shed cycle has begun. Finally, are the belly scales starting to shrink back or rot? Look at these center scales for rot.

thunderpaws May 23, 2009 03:40 PM

Hey,

That sure looks like a burn to me. And if it is not a burn that has to be some kind of belly rot. I have seen a few burn pics before and that sure looks like a burn. Unfortunately I cant advice how to treat it because I do not know how sever it is. If it is a burn the snake has to be in pain and it would be great to find out if there is a form of pain killer to administer to a snake. But again I am not a vet. I know if my dog stubs a toe or he limps after falling on a rock while hiking I will give him a half aspirin to help with pain. DO NOT GIVE YOUR SNAKE ASPIRIN I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU WOULD GIVE HIM. TOSHMAC should be able to give you some good advice when he reposts on his next post. Good luck and get your temps figured out. There is no way that is from a shed. NO WAY. IT is a definite problem and needs to be cared for immediately.

Good luck,
Bill

ssnakes May 23, 2009 08:03 PM

That is a burn from an unregulated heat strip or pad. Are there any heat controls on the heat source? If not, go to WalMart or Ace or Home Depot and ask for a lamp dimmer. It looks like an extension cord with a control button or slide on one end. The plug that goes into the wall has a place to plug in the heat source plug so you can control the heat. Many heat strips are WAY too hot and they will burn the snake who has little brain matter to tell him it is harmfull. I have seen Ball Pythons burned so badly that they did not survive. Be Careful!

Susan
SSNAKES

pitbull76 May 23, 2009 04:41 PM

NO I HAVE NO CONTROL FOR IT SHOULD I GET A THERMOSTAT?ALSO THE JUNGLE MIX IS DRY IT"S NOT WET I KNOW THE PICS WHERE BAD BUT THAT WAS THE BEST I COULD DO.WHEN I CAN TAKE A BETTER ONE I WILL UP LOAD IT.ALSO IF YOU SUGGEST A THERMOSTAT WHAT SHOULD I KEEO IT ON.I REALLY THINK IT BURNS ON HER BELLY IF SO WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT?TNKS FOR ANY AND ALL REPLY S

sisco May 23, 2009 08:39 PM

I have treated burns before and they are difficult. This one can be saved though. I once had one that was completly opened up. And he made a complete recovery. If you can get some triple antibotic oniment and wash and apply daily for about a week. The key is to not let any infection set in and keep him moist and clean. As soon as he starts to heal he will shed then he may eat. Dont let his body weight drop more than a third or push a thawed rat pup down him. Keep him clean water. They have a very strong will to survive. Just wash him daily.... good luck

ohernz May 24, 2009 08:36 AM

Very good advice! that's exactly what i did with my pastel and she recovered.
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Neutiquam erro. Hostes alienigeni me abduxerunt.

apeilia May 24, 2009 10:36 AM

Dilute betadine or iodine solutions are good for disinfecting when you are cleaning it. You should add enough to the water to make it look like weak tea. The water should feel slightly cool - remember, our body temps are higher than you need the snake's to be. You can put about a half inch or so in a container and let them soak for a little bit. Then dry it well and apply the antibiotic.

I don't agree with keeping it moist (except with the antibiotic, which is oil-based). The cage should be as dry as possible and you should switch to paper until it's healed. Moist substrate will be perfect for bacteria, and burns can easily get infected and cause even more trouble. Also, first and foremost is getting the temps right. If you can't get a thermostat, you can use a dimmer switch for now. They sell them at hardware stores.

It may also be a good idea to cover the bottom of the cage with something that doesn't conduct heat quite so readily. It has to be something the snake cannot get under. I don't keep my snakes in aquariums, but maybe something like a layer of cardboard to cover the bottom of the tank followed with contact paper over the whole bottom and up the sides an inch or so. It won't look pretty, but it will still be waterproof and greatly decrease the chance of burns. I just thought that one up, but never tried anything like it. It seems like it would work though.

zefdin May 24, 2009 05:48 PM

keep her bedding dry. Get a controller Herpstat or Helix if you can afford one right now, otherwise there are cheaper on/off ones, or the dimmer will work lik someone posted previously. It doesnt look like she is blistering (yet anyway) and this is good because infections set in much more readily if the skin is opened. I would apply triple antibiotic ointment a couple times a day and clean with peroxide inbetween and reapply.

Best of luck. Live and learn at least she didnt get hurt worse. Please be careful, they are gentle creatures in the end.

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