Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm hoping someone here can help me out, I don't know what I should do.

A couple weeks ago, I noticed that my bp's belly was very pink. My immediate thought was that the new heat mat I had installed under his tank was too hot and he had burned himself on it. I turned the mat off and treated his belly as I would for a burn. The pink faded, then about a week later had returned even worse.

At this point, I moved him out of his usual tank and into a new one, with just a plain newspaper substrate a water dish and a couple of hide boxes. I thought maybe it was something in his tank that was the culprit.

He shed the scales from his belly (one at a time, not like a normal shed), then about a week later went through a full shed. I have been treating his belly daily with a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution and with betadine. The pink faded, and only a couple of spots still looked bad.

Tonight I took him out to apply the betidine again, and saw that once again, his belly is all pink.

I have no idea what is wrong with him, and don't know what to do. Any suggestions? I don't know of any herp vet in the area that I can take him to, and I don't have a car to get to one further away. I'm very worried about him and am out of ideas. I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks much.

Just from what you said it may have been this. Your snake got a pink stomach as all BP do previous to a shed. You, thinking there is something wrong with him treat him with meds and take him out of his enclosure and proper humidity. This caused a partial and bad shed. Now his system is in shock and acting irratically.
I am not a vet though. If you are that concerned take him to a vet.
What was the temp of his belly heat?
Hope it helps!
-Bill

I think Bill is right, at least partially. From what you descibed it sounds like he was just beginning a shed cycle. The pink that is seen can very from shed to shed sometimes it is barely noticeable and at other times it can look as though your snake has a new burn.
The peroxide and betadyne you are currently applying will not help matters at all. Trust me on this, I perform wound care everyday, it what I do.
Both will damage tissue (this is why they are sometimes used to clean fresh wounds) neither should be applied to a wound that is not new. Instead, I would recommend stopping all treatment for a few days and observing it's belly then. I'd be willing to be the pinkness fades.
Just in case, though, I have a few questions.

What are the temps in it's normal cage? What are the temps on the substrate? What type of substrate are you using? How wet is the substrate?

If you are using under tank heating of some type and the substrate is loose enough for your snake to push it aside, he could have burned himself this way. Try adding more bedding on the warm side over the UTH if this seems to be the case.

If the bedding was/is moist or damp for an extended period of time it can cause all types of problems. The bedding should be dry at all times unless they are entering a shed cycle and have had difficulty shedding in the past.

If the problem persists or gets worse, find a qualified vet. I've found that if you have a good vet, even if they do not have much knowledge of herps they will be willing to help out. I had a vet for years who had limited experience with herps himself, but was willing to call other vets and specialists to help diagnose and treat my animals (as well as quite a few other local herpers I know). Great doctor, because he was willing to listen and learn. Find one like that and you are set.
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Sometimes, things are exactly as they appear...sometimes.