Reptile & Amphibian Forums

one of my pastel famales, the largest by far, has had this pinkish tint to her belly and jus recently it looked a little brighter/more pronounced, actually its more of a veinulated/striated kind of thing almost looks like pink stretch marks on a human... its not isolated to one spot, it runs on the underside from the tail to neck the whole length of the snake for the most part. i had worried it could be the heat element but its flexwat on a thermo with a night drop and i check it frequently, it honestly doesnt get particularly hot ever...its set at 90 so comes thruogh the tubs at about 88.

ive included 2 pics...any ideas? thx.

">Image

...
">image full shot

nt

pics.

pic

the closeups a little blurry its actually more like multiple tiny pink lines running throughout the belly scales...

It has either been sitting in moisture which could be the signs of a bacterial infection, or it could be about to shed. All my snakes get that pinkish look to their bellies about a day before they slough their skin. What is the humidity like? Well humidity wouldn't really do it. Is the substrate unusually damp?
Will

i use unprinted newspapper. there Was a waterbowl in there with her and she had splashed it out a litte bit leaving a little wet spot (i just cleaned the cage today when i snapped these pics) however the air here (Las Vegas) is quite dry. i suppose it could be some preshed coloration?she is a bit dull like going into shed but i dont recall seeing her chalk up but coulda missed it.

All of my ball pythons go through this process for shedding:

about 10 days before shedding belly gets pink
about 7 days before shedding scales are dull and eyes are hazy
about 5 days before shedding eyes are blue and scales are "dusty" (what you called "chalk"
about 2-3 days before shedding eyes are hazy, scales are "dark"
Shed!

Every one of my snakes get "pink belly". I think most people don't notice it because it happens before the "chalk" look.

Unless you are using a hot rock or have a hot spot above 100 degrees, I'd expect a shed in about 10 days. Of course, a vet check is always a good idea if you are concerned.

Let us know how it goes!
-----
Cheers,
Jessica Gibbs
Ball Pythons; Corn Snakes; Green Tree Python; Jungle Carpet Python; Bci; Bcl; Bco
www.supercoilconstrictors.com
LEARNING PREVENTS IGNORANCE OF THAT WHICH SURROUNDS YOU...AS LONG AS THE SOURCE FROM WHICH YOU LEARN IS A VALID ONE.

thx! thought it might be something simple, ive noticed it before just seems more intensely pink than i could recall. just wanted to check, ill post if she shes/if anything odd happens.

What IS your humidity? Especially with the dry air down there, are you misting and whatnot?
-----
Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.1 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 Whitesided P. catenifer sayi, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

"Unless you are using a hot rock or have a hot spot above 100 degrees, I'd expect a shed in about 10 days."

The substrate being damp is a very pliable reason. Heat has nothing to do with it! Those are not burns. The pink belly is caused, like I said in my previous reply, by excess moisture or a shed cycle. They will get a pink belly very quickly sitting on damp anything and now that you explained about the damp paper and water bowl spill, I am leaning toward humidity issues. When a snake sits on a damp area it causes a humidity pocket. This humidity gets trapped under the scales irritating the skin (which gives it the pink appearance). It can actually lead to blisters and lesions pretty easily if it isn't dried out. They will shed either way when this happens so you can't say "Oh it shed it's skin today, it is fine, thats all it was." Snakes will slough their skin to try and clear up any issues going on. Either way humidity issues, or shed cycle the end result is going to be the same. Do not dismiss this as Jessica has suggested as only a shed, but look closely at the humidity. Make sure it has a proper shed, and when it does check out the belly. If the belly looks clear then continue to use proper husbandry techniques (never let them sit in water or on anything wet for prolonged periods), check temps etc. but if it isn't clear after the shed then definitely go to your herp vet. They usually proscribe something topical that works well if caught in time.
Will Wohlers

The original poster mentioned there wasn't a particularly big wet area and their climate is dry, as well as a slight dull look, thus my reply. I did also recommend taking her to a vet if there was concern.
-----
Cheers,
Jessica Gibbs
Ball Pythons; Corn Snakes; Green Tree Python; Jungle Carpet Python; Bci; Bcl; Bco
www.supercoilconstrictors.com
LEARNING PREVENTS IGNORANCE OF THAT WHICH SURROUNDS YOU...AS LONG AS THE SOURCE FROM WHICH YOU LEARN IS A VALID ONE.

this is a sign that she is in/going into shed...nothing to worry about
Kyle
Poggiali Reptiles

Looks like pre-shed pink to me
-----
Neutiquam erro. Hostes alienigeni me abduxerunt.