Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My female boa just had a shed today and there is a patch of scales that are discolored... about the size of 2 quarters - the scales are whitish - just in that one spot and she was not like this before. The only thing I can think of is scale rot?? but I've tried to do some research on the internet and it doesn't seem to fit the descriptions I am reading about scale rot.. the patch of whitish scales are on her back, not her stomach.. she seems healthy, excpet for this change. I had her with a male and a few weeks ago, she and the male both had a rather large defication and urination on the same night (I'm guessing it was both of them, because there was a really bad mess in their cage.. ). they were both pretty dirty as they were courting.. they were also both opaque.. the male has not shed yet, but the female did. I tried to clean them both up after the mess in their cage. I'm wondering if the patch of whitish scales are from the mess they made? Did she get an infection? I plan on taking her to the vet this week, but I was desparately hoping to see if anyone knew what this might be. I will try to post a pic.

The description you gave was excellent and yes I have seen this in my boas just the way you described. I currently have the problem with one of my females Anery Boas. She did the same thing. Had a very messy defecation while in blue stage of shed, ran her body all over it and made a huge mess. After I cleaned her and her cage she shed and there were a couple of patches that seemed to have the pigment pulled from them during the shed. Now I am not sure if it is a bacterial issue from the stool and her rubbing here body through it or if it is a fungus issue that caused a skin irritation that made her rub her body through her feeces to help relieve the itch? Either way I have been able to clear up the problem with a Benadine bath. I gave her one every week until she shed again. She did go into shed within the month again, and her second shed was fine.
I hope this helps, however this advice is not intended to replace sound Vet care for your snake and I would still recommend taking her into the Vet’s to be checked.
Good Luck
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

Thanks for responding.. I was hoping someone might have had a similar experience. I'm still working on getting the vet to see her.

thanks again,