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Background Info:

My 1.0 CB CRB that was a rescue is housed in a 29gl w/ screen top. I use astroturf substrate and only use an UTH during the night (no open heating elements).

I made my daily rounds on checking on my animals to find that during the night my CRB shed. It was a complete shed, except for the area on top of the head between the eyes.

The picture says it all. I have no idea what caused this. I can only think that it happened from rubbing during the shed or from rubbing on the sreen top.

There were no scars or signs of injury before. I handle this guy almost daily and keep good tabs on him since he is my only rescue.

I have sinced treated the wound with neosporin. The wound appears to be approximately 3 scales deep and is not bleeding.

At this point I have a lot things I am thinking of doing, but want advice from others.

I am going to build a safer, new home for him this month.
I am thinking about keeping him in a rubbermaid tub until then.
Should I get any meds to prevent infection? Should I consider possible bandaging?

Thank you for the help... I will wait until I hear from others before I take further action.
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-Iman
1.1 Sugar Gliders (Gizmo and Nema)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Spot and Speck)
0.1 Colombian BCI (Belle)
1.0 Colombian Rainbow (Rex)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow (Just arrived!!!)

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Imans House of Herps

Sorry...

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-Iman
1.1 Sugar Gliders (Gizmo and Nema)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Spot and Speck)
0.1 Colombian BCI (Belle)
1.0 Colombian Rainbow (Rex)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow (Just arrived!!!)

Loving to Learn
Learning to Help
Helping to Love

Stimulate debates, stifle arguments.
Please be nice always.



Imans House of Herps

use a topical triple antibiotic (neosporin), and i would clean it out too. I would use novasan if you have access, or hydrogen peroxide, but that dont feel too nice

I would also take out the substrate just so it stays clean, put down some newspaper, just remember to spray it so it doesnt suffer from lack of humidity.

good luck

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-echo-

1.1.1 - Ball Python
1.0.0 - Tiger Retic
0.0.1 - Brazilian Rainbow Boa
0.0.1 - Savu Python
0.0.1 - Spotted Python
1.0.0 - Tiger Salamander
1.1.0 - Red Spot Toad
0.1.0 - Betta Fish

Keep in mind I have some experience in dogs/cats but limited experience in reptiles. IMO it is a very fresh or very well cleaned injury. I don't know what happened but, it looks like it will heal well. The bleeding around the edges is good, it scab over, shrink up, and get smaller and smaller as time passes.
I would keep using the neosporin or some other non-cortisone topical antibiotic. The wound has a good blood supply so should heal quickly. Keep in mind I know nothing about injuries in reptiles! The only thing 2 things I would be concerned about is bacteria building under skin soon to be shed (which should be a while), and (2) the slight possibility the would could have ocurred from inside (sinus cavity?) snd has basically made an abcess that ruptured. It looks to me the wound came from the outside.
It sounds like your are already in the process of retiring that good ole screen top....good choice.
By the way, that was an excellent pic, I'm glad you have become part of the forum.

Linda

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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer

Thank you all for the assistance, don't know what I would do without it. I scrutinized the cage today and found the scales from the injury. They are intact and it is just thiker and solid dark-brown like his skin color with some of the shed surrounding it. I can't figure out why it came off so thick.

My CRB has retired to his waterbowl all day. Periodic monitoring shows that he has no unusual side-effects in his actions. The wound has been treated with neosporin.

He ate this evening with no problem. (Normal schedule)

He's not showing any agression or concious signs of 'pain'. (Don't know if that ever was important?)

Is the water bad for his wound? Will it keep it from scabbing over? What is the 'white' membraine that is showing beneath the injury? (Bone?) How often should I apply neosporin?

Thanks again.

P.S. - If there is anything I missing, please
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-Iman
1.1 Sugar Gliders (Gizmo and Nema)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Spot and Speck)
0.1 Colombian BCI (Belle)
1.0 Colombian Rainbow (Rex)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow (Just arrived!!!)

Loving to Learn
Learning to Help
Helping to Love

Stimulate debates, stifle arguments.
Please be nice always.



Imans House of Herps

If I am missing something, please let me know.

Thanks again
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-Iman
1.1 Sugar Gliders (Gizmo and Nema)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Spot and Speck)
0.1 Colombian BCI (Belle)
1.0 Colombian Rainbow (Rex)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow (Just arrived!!!)

Loving to Learn
Learning to Help
Helping to Love

Stimulate debates, stifle arguments.
Please be nice always.



Imans House of Herps

Ian,
. I have seen several Colombian Rainbows that lost a few scales there on the top of the head when they shed. They usually leave the pulled off scales right there stuck inside the shed skin like they were actually pulled off by the shedding skin rather than being scraped against something. That tissue you see in the wound is muscle. Boas have very muscular heads and their brains are small and buried below muscle down in between the bones deeper into the top of the head. Treating with antibiotic ointment until it scabs over is a good idea. After that you should just have a look at it every few days to make sure it does not become infected. It should slowly regrow the scales and after a year it should not show any remaining scar from the injury. I never see this with other subspecies of Rainbow Boas.
Jeff

>>Sorry...
>>
>>-----
>>-Iman
>>1.1 Sugar Gliders (Gizmo and Nema)
>>2.0 Ball Pythons (Spot and Speck)
>>0.1 Colombian BCI (Belle)
>>1.0 Colombian Rainbow (Rex)
>>0.1 Brazilian Rainbow (Just arrived!!!)
>>
>>Loving to Learn
>>Learning to Help
>>Helping to Love
>>
>>Stimulate debates, stifle arguments.
>>Please be nice always.
>>
>>
>>
>> Imans House of Herps
>>
>>

Iman,

the neosporin was the right thing to do. since there were no injuries prior to the shed, i think your right about the rubbing.

i have seen worse...and snakes are incredibly resiliant. put neosporin on it daily...continue with your plan to build a safer cage.

monitor the injury, it sould scab in a couple of days. a couple of sheds, and i'll bet you can't even tell.

good luck, chris
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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com

Is water bad for the wound?

My CRB enjoys his waterbowl more than the hides... it is well covered with foliage and he spends approx 50% of his days in there.

Thanks.
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-Iman
1.1 Sugar Gliders (Gizmo and Nema)
2.0 Ball Pythons (Spot and Speck)
0.1 Colombian BCI (Belle)
1.0 Colombian Rainbow (Rex)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow (Just arrived!!!)

Loving to Learn
Learning to Help
Helping to Love

Stimulate debates, stifle arguments.
Please be nice always.



Imans House of Herps