Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

While taking Zia out for handling today, I noticed two blotches of slight pinkish discoloration on her belly. This was nothing like the uniform pink color I posted about months ago - I suspect that she may have been burned. It appears that she might have dislodged the thermostat probe for the UTH from its usual position under the substrate, causing the temperature under the substrate to rise. I found her coiled in her hot side hide, and when I took her out for a warm water bath, I noticed the discoloration.

My big problem is - I'm going 2 hours out of town to visit relatives this weekend - I'll be leaving tomorrow evening and returning Monday night. The posts on burns in the forums all suggest monitoring the burn over the next few days, but I will not be home. Should I set up a temporary cage and bring her with me so I can watch her, or should I just hope for the best and check on her when I return Monday night? How fast do burns develop? By the way, I will be taking her to the vet as soon as possible.

Thank you so much for any help! I will have to make a decision within the next day, so I appreciate your replies.
-----
::i believe in joy > http://www.winds.org/nekomi/hope.html

::my homepage > http://www.winds.org/nekomi

My Growing Zoo:

1.0 Husband (Byron) ^_^
0.1 black cat (Shade)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Zia)
1.2 Cockatoo cichlids (A. cacatuoides yellow-gold)
1.1 WC Cockatoo cichlids (A. cacatuoides blue Peru)
3.3 Pygmy corydoras (C. pygmaeus)
2.0 Endlers' Livebearers (P. sp. Endlers)

...It is hard to tell without seeing your snake whether it has a thermal burn or not. They do sometimes get pinkish looking color on the belly. This is most common when they are approaching a shed cycle. It also seems to occur more with BRBs that are kept on substrates that are slightly acidic or basic. BRBs produce lots of urine which is very acidic and if the substrate is not changed or thori=oughly cleaned often it will become acidic enough to cause chemical burns on the skin. If a burn (chemical or thermal)is serious the skin at the site will begin to look worse over a couple of days. If there is nothing more than a pinkish tint after a day or two I would think that it is not a serious problem.
Jeff

>>Hello all,
>>
>>While taking Zia out for handling today, I noticed two blotches of slight pinkish discoloration on her belly. This was nothing like the uniform pink color I posted about months ago - I suspect that she may have been burned. It appears that she might have dislodged the thermostat probe for the UTH from its usual position under the substrate, causing the temperature under the substrate to rise. I found her coiled in her hot side hide, and when I took her out for a warm water bath, I noticed the discoloration.
>>
>>My big problem is - I'm going 2 hours out of town to visit relatives this weekend - I'll be leaving tomorrow evening and returning Monday night. The posts on burns in the forums all suggest monitoring the burn over the next few days, but I will not be home. Should I set up a temporary cage and bring her with me so I can watch her, or should I just hope for the best and check on her when I return Monday night? How fast do burns develop? By the way, I will be taking her to the vet as soon as possible.
>>
>>Thank you so much for any help! I will have to make a decision within the next day, so I appreciate your replies.
>>-----
>>::i believe in joy > http://www.winds.org/nekomi/hope.html
>>
>>::my homepage > http://www.winds.org/nekomi
>>
>>My Growing Zoo:
>>
>>1.0 Husband (Byron) ^_^
>>0.1 black cat (Shade)
>>0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Zia)
>>1.2 Cockatoo cichlids (A. cacatuoides yellow-gold)
>>1.1 WC Cockatoo cichlids (A. cacatuoides blue Peru)
>>3.3 Pygmy corydoras (C. pygmaeus)
>>2.0 Endlers' Livebearers (P. sp. Endlers)

Thanks, Jeff! Sorry for the late reply - turned out she was going into a shed cycle after all, or the burn was so minor that it completely disappeared two days later.

I won't panic next time, I promise...
-----
::i believe in joy > http://www.winds.org/nekomi/hope.html

::my homepage > http://www.winds.org/nekomi

My Growing Zoo:

1.0 Husband (Byron) ^_^
0.1 black cat (Shade)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Zia)
1.2 Cockatoo cichlids (A. cacatuoides yellow-gold)
1.1 WC Cockatoo cichlids (A. cacatuoides blue Peru)
3.3 Pygmy corydoras (C. pygmaeus)
2.0 Endlers' Livebearers (P. sp. Endlers)