Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a ball python from a friend at school. It was miss treated and is now sick. It is very skinny, and has a pink tone to its belly and has some brown near the tips of itsbelly scales. The top of its head is scabbed up. Its livly now, but i havent tried feeding it yet. I just got it today. anyone know whtat this could be, or know what to do to make it better?

The pink belly is probably a sign that he is about to shed. If he is getting ready to shed he probably will not eat so I would let it settle in and make sure the temps and humidity are what they should be. After he sheds you will be better able to access his condition and try to feed him. Good luck and keep us posted. Clay

Yep, thats what I think too. Don't worry about the pink. Watch those brown edges on the ventral (belly) scales. Maybe you could go ahead and put a bit of neosporin on those area's daily until the shed. This may help head off scale rot if that is what the brown edges indicate, and if not~ well........it won't hurt the snake.

~ Mild Scale rot~

Yea he is definatly about to shed all right. His eyes are really gray. Ill post you when he sheds.Thanks for your help.

It's amazing, but 1 really good shed can work wonders for the snakes skin. Keep us posted!
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Greg Holland
G&M HERPS
www.imageevent.com/gmherps
gmherps@sbcglobal.net

...I wanted to re-emphasize the importance of humidity WHEN IT SHEDS to insure a good shed. No need to add a bad shed to this snake's problems. Also, I prefer povidone-iodine (Betadine) ointment over Neosporin (less bacterial resistance). Whatever you use, apply it daily or even twice daily because it'll rub off the belly quickly. Finally, the snake may go back into another shed cycle pretty quickly especially if you can get some nutrition into it. Shedding is part of the healing process. Good luck and thanks for helping this snake along!
Scott J. Michaels DVM

I did not know betadine came in an ointment. I thought it only came in a concentrated wash. Which is a good idea to clean up with (diluted) and I should have suggested that as well. I suggested neosporin as it is an ointment and "Sticks" at least somewhat, so would provide longer protection than the betadine wash would.

Did I misunderstand your use of the word "Ointment" or is there a betadine ointment I am unaware of? Is there a name brand I can use to look for it at the pharmacy?

Thanks!

I've found Betadine ointment (not liquid) among the first aid creams in the local drug store. It's great stuff!

Paul Hollander

Whenever I used one of the other antibiotic ointments in the past, I noticed the snake appeared to lose scales all over the cage (at least when used on other than the ventral surface). Of course, it was just like the top thin layer of the scale that was coming off, do you know what I mean or have you experienced this yourself? When I switched to Betadine (povidone-iodine) ointment, this did not happen. I assume this doesn’t have anything to do with the active ingredient, just the composition of the base ointment? I don’t know why, but I’ve had difficulty finding this sometimes at the drug store, even when they have multiple varieties of other topical preparations.

-Joan