Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I POSTED THIS PROBLEM LAST WEEK, BUT I RECEIVED NO FEEDBACK, AND AS I AM STILL DESPERATE FOR PRE-VET FEEDBACK, HERE IT GOES AGAIN...
about 3 months ago i noticed a dry, discolored scale on my one year old corn snake, Ghedi. i thought nothing of it, assuming it was nothing more than a retained scale from her last shed... i noticed that same greyish colored scale a few more times over the last 2 or 3 months (i assumed it was the same 1 scale on her each time..) but last night i had her out and realized that now she has this very same affliction on many scales on her body now. when i touched the scale she twitched as if it hurt so i looked under the up-peeled scale and noticed that it looks somewhat moist underneath, as if her inner skin is exposed with no outer scale covering it up....
i do use coconut fiber (for now) for substrate... now i'm wondering if it's a humidity issue... i checked her over multiple times last night and could not see any signs of external parasites like mites, as i have always checked her for, what are everyone's thoughts about this?? anyone else ever get crazy-upturned-grey scaled on their corns (or other snakes for that matter)??
really, thank's to anyone that has the time to support a fellow herper!!
Patrick

I'm no expert by far, but if I thought there was a humidity issue I would try changing the substrate. Maybe to aspen or even newspaper/butcher paper with a large water dish (for soaking) and a humid hide for the snake if she needs it. I've never seen anything like this and haven't been keeping corns that long compared to others (about a year). I know that we use aspen for our 3 snakes and they've been fine. I'm sure someone else will chime in...

~Katie
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JK Pets - Online Pet Supplies

2.1 Cornsnakes (Slink, Shadow, Suzie)
0.3 Leopard Geckos (Cutie, Lily, and Miss Piggy)
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Sam)
0.2 Pac Man Frogs (Gordito and Spud)
1.2 Suriname Toad (Squishy & the Squishettes)
0.0.2 Giant Millipede (Mega & Mila)
0.0.1 Green Iguana (Iggy)
lots of snails and fish...

>>I have never had this problem but it sounds to me like there is too much moisture. Maybe the coconut fiber retains more moisture then aspen.
What I would do....remove all substrate and replace with paper towels. Check you temps and make sure they are in acceptable ranges.
Make sure the humidity isn't too high. I would try for maybe around 50 to 55%
Give the snake until it's next shed and if you see improvement you know you are on the right track.
If there is a noticeable improvement you might want to go ahead and switch it over to something like aspen or you might want to wait until it's next shed to play it safe.
This is just speculation and what I would probably try if I encountered this problem. I may be way of base. Juat an idea.
Jimmy
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

we need to see if they look like groups of scales in a sort of pus filled blister, or if it is something else. Also, the area of the snake is important (bottom, top, or sides). In the meantime, changing the substrate as the other posters suggested is a good place to start.

i don't know what it may be...how ever i did recently switch to cocnut fiber as my substrate on my 2 corns. i did this becasue i live in a very dry climate and it helps hold mosture, and becasue it makes it easier for them to tunnel which both of mine do whenever they get the chance.
To keep it form getting too moist i let it dry completly and then i mist lightly when they go into shed. so if it does turn out to be a mosture problem try switching subsrates becasue coconut fiber holds mosture very well.