Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was just curious if anyone had any pictures of what scale rot looks like, or can explain how it looks to me, i'm just curious. also what is the best way to prevent your bp from getting scale rot, other than keeping a clean cage. i am using that ecoearth stuff (the coconut shell stuff) for the bottom of my little girls cage, what is the best way to clean that, can i just spray the cleaner(disinfectant) right on that stuff, or do i have to remove the substrate, i know to remove the water bowls and snake, i just need to know because i recently switched over from cage carpet to this new substrate!

thanks in advance for the advice
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~dana~

0.2 ball pythons (roxy and haileigh)
0.1 albino cornsnake (avery)
1.0 cat (whiskers)
1.1 russian hamsters (peanut and tj)

I'm afraid I don't know anything about your substrate. If it is loose like a mulch or aspen is, then scoop out the feces and all wet material around it. Periodically change the litter, swab out the entire enclosure and replace with fresh litter/substrate.

Avoid belly rot by staying clean and dry. Marvin (Snake in the pics) was a victim of poor/uninformed husbandry. He was kept in a Vision tank and I was misting him as well daily. This was needed for the Regular screen top tanks, but the Vision held the moisture in...........causing the scale rot.


This is a VERY mild case, I caught it quickly. A litte neosporin daily and after his next shed he was fine.

Hope that helps!

thanks for the reply. the substrate is like a mulchy loose type of stuff. how often should it be completely replace??? i do the spot cleaning with taking out the old poopy stuff, but would like some imput on how often i need to change all of it.

thanks again, thought that my little girl might have a problem with the scale rot, but she's starting to do a shed, and one of her belly scales just got a little bent back, unless that is the begining of scale rot?? the scale isn't miss colored and i've been putting neosporin on it anyways just incase.

thanks again! you were a great help!
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~dana~

0.2 ball pythons (roxy and haileigh)
0.1 albino cornsnake (avery)
1.0 cat (whiskers)
1.1 russian hamsters (peanut and tj)

And I sure wish I had a good answer for you.

I believe "Once a month" would be the "Right" answer. And really, it's what I mean to do, but it's not what actually happens here. Pretty much I do a complete substrate change whenever~

1. The substrate begins to smell or look "Funky"

2. I've scooped the current substrate enough times that what is still in the tub does not look like enough to spread around and cover the entire tub anymore.

3. I can't recall the last time I changed this particular tub (I have quite a few) or if I can remember changing this one~ it was more than 3 months ago. (Fasting BPs do not deficate often, so the substrate still looks and smell fine........but if I can't recall the last time I changed it, then I figure it's time for a change even if it looks fine)

I keep meaning to schedule regular days of each month to just clean all the tubs~ but I've not gotten around to it yet.

Good Luck

I hear that scale rot looks like brown damp scales