Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A few months ago, I had to take my ball python to the vet for a skin problem. It had pink colors in the scales, and some dried, fungus-looking scales. I had suspected that the cause was prolonged exposure to damp substrate. The vet said it was a mild case of what would normally develop into "blister disease" and that with removal of the cause, it would clear up quickly. In addition, upon first noticing it, I put on an antibiotic ointment. All was well in a week.

Now I noticed a return of some of the syptoms. Now, though, there is a single blister. It's not to large, but is very bulbous, sticking out fairly far cause big white spaces between each scale. I had swithced from aspen to newspaper right after the first problem to eliminate excess moisture from sticking around. The cage has been kept dry and clean ever since. She has a small shallow water bowl that's not nearly sufficient for any soaking, so I don't see that as a problem. What makes this even more strange is that she appears to be entering a shed cycle (blue eyes.) It is my understanding that shedding can be brought on by sickness.

Anyway, I spent $50 at the last vet visit to have him tell me it was fine and healthy and just give me peace of mind. But now the blister has me concerned (assuming it is a blister. Does anyone know where I could find pictures of skin infections online?) I was thinking of waiting for this shed and see what happens, but I don't want the blister to burst and cause more problems. Just, please, someone give me some advice.

I doubt it had anything to do with a slightly damp substrate.

Too cool and damp, too dirty and damp, no fresh air flo, are probably the reasons.

Chad

Gradient: 75-95. Newspaper- fresh and dry. Air flow- screen top in a room that gets fresh air fairly regularly. Cage- recently cleaned just before this whole thing started.

Update: The blister is gone, and in place is a whitish blemish. It looks fine, but I gave it more antibiotic ointment. All the skin is getting wrinkly, which seems to be a sign of the impending shed. Do I moisten the cage, and risk damp conditions? Or leave it dry, and risk bad shed?

Please help!

Everything sounds perfect. I would not risk a bad shed over the blister, because if it's not that bad, shedding will probably take care of it. It's hard to say without a pic, but I would still go for a good shed.

Problems with sceen tops and humidity are: If the ambient room humidity is too low, wetting the substrate does little to up the ambient humidity in the enclosure.

Chad

Good point about humidity. I'm partially covering it with a towel now. That should help.

I would not add any humidity until a couple of days after the eyes clear from the opaque stage. I would apply the ointment to the affected area daily until shedding, and apply once or twice to the same area after the shed. My guess is that some of the pathogens are too deep to get with the ointment, but shedding gets them shallow enough to kill them before they can dig back down into the lower layers of the skin. Good luck.

Paul Hollander