Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone seen anything like this??? If so, what is it? His belly is extremely pink. Any ideas???

Thanks

sorry, actually it only means it is going to shed. perfetly normal.
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-echo-

He has just shed so its not that...he always look like this. Any other ideas?

That's not a color pattern - could be a mild belly burn or some other kind of irritation. I'd check temps.

looks a little bit like scale rot!!

So, now my snake is sick!!! he eats well, sheds well and has this extrem coloration and now my snake is sick. WRIGHT!!!!
If you don't know what you are talking about please do not respond. I'm just trying to see if anyone has seen anything like this or knows anyone that has something like this. The coloration is fron the tip of his head to the tip of his tail it completly coveres his belly.

Thanks

If this is a condition that is not associated with his shed cycle (you said he's had it for some time). Then your snake needs to be taken to a vet to be checked out, it should not have a red belly, it's not new morph (if that's the answer you were hoping for) it's got something wrong with it. It may be belly rot or an irritation with the substrate its on, it may be a burn, it could be a lot of things, but it's not right, take it to a vet.
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Tosha

8.10.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

I agree....it could very well be a burn.

On a side note:
The day i bought my first temp gun(They are priceless)...I was very surprised to find my own heat pad was in fact running a little to hot...
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Charles Glaspie

None of the reasons for that coloration, outside of an imminent shed (which would be the normal reason), are good. You can ignore all these posts if you want - but if whatever is causing that irriation continues you are potentially in for a very sick animal and big vet bills. Good luck!

Christy

Just a normal about to shed. Hopefully it is not a burn mark though; are the eyes blue?
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4.1 Ball pythons
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator
0.1 albino Cranwell's horned frog
1.1 breeding Clawed frogs
1.0 black kittycat
3.1 Oscar cichlids
Also have fancy goldfish, african cichlids, and rats. And 1 Paint horse mare

Happened to my snake too. Do you use an undertank heater? Mine is an actual human heating pad that has variable temp settings and I have to keep it set on the lowest, because the first time I used it I looked at him the next day and his belly was pink just like that. Almost looks just like a sunburn.

It could have been that...but he has been breeding and is off heat. He has been cooled for several months now.

I am wondering if in his cool tanke he's sitting over the heat all the time because he's cold...if so he could still get a burn, maybe?

Thank you everyone for your responses I appreciate everyones input

Thanks

To me it looks too pink to be a shed (but I guess pink bellies can come in varying shades). IMO it's either a burn or irritation. You should take him to the vet and have him evaluated, his belly shouldn't be red.
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Tosha

8.10.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and currently un-named)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope)
7.9.5 Fish (1,2,3,4...)
0.0.1 Frog rescued from pool skimmer
0.0.2 Lizards rescued from pool skimmer

>>To me it looks too pink to be a shed (but I guess pink bellies can come in varying shades). IMO it's either a burn or irritation. You should take him to the vet and have him evaluated, his belly shouldn't be red.

I agree, the belly should not be that red; My ball recently suffered minor burns, however her belly appeared more brownish in localized areas.. if this is the coloration of the entire belly it is likely that your snke could have a sort of belly scale infection. Definately see a vet

btw my snake recovered quickly w/ vet help and looks beautiful as ever. i have since ditched the heat pad, and honestly don't think it is a nessessary part of a ball python setup

I know you said he already shed, but it is possible to shed again shortly after one shed. Assuming he's not going into shed, I have seen something similar to this when there was either too much humidity or the reptile was laying in a wet or extremely moist area.
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Jay A. Martin

Hello,

I am no expert but my snake's belly looked very much like that after she had been sitting in a wet spot for a while. Someone told me it just meant that she was going into shed so I misted her and then she ended up getting an infection on her belly. Good news was that her belly got much better after I switched her bedding to a drier one and an application of some meds. But I only had to do that after it got bad. I would just make sure he's on dry substrate. Hope all is well

Rafael

Yo Brotha,
Its getting an infection from to much moisture in the substrate. Dry out substrate and infection should go away. May want to take it to the vet just in case to be safe. The pink coloration is from the antibodies being produced to fight the infection. I think thats what a vet told me or maybe i read it somewhere. Good luck and take care. Andrew