Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was handling my female yellowhead today when I noticed about 3mm of the scales right on the top of her head were discolored. They look almost white compared to her yellow head. Her head is the only spot they are located. I don't think it could be a thermal burn, because the ceramic heat element is behind steel screen. I think it may be an abraison. It just appeared today. The snake is very healthy and is feeding great. She did recently have an incomplete shed though. Sorry for the crappy photos. Thanks a bunch.
Nick

Yeah dude looks like a rub to me. When i first got my first retic i had a covered screen top and he got a rub on that exact spot. much larger than what your has going right now. It pretty much looks like they can remove the top part of the scale exposing the white color. The good news is they can heal up very well over time becoming hardly visible if cought in time. But I would never use anything in my retic cages that they could possible hurt them selves on (screen top) because mine tend to destroy or hurt themselves on just about anything with a point or rough texture.

Just speaking from experience im not an expert.
-----
1.0 American Alligator
0.0.1 Yellow anaconda
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.1 Retic (normal/super tiger)

Thanks, Should I put some antibiotics on it or something? Also, what do you recommend in place of the screen top?
Nick

In my case i waited a shed or two before i put some vitashell on it. Its made for damaged turtle shells, and i wouldnt say its a must for anyone. I bet most people on here think thats an odd practice but i think it makes them look good. Maybe there is another product to use immediatly, im not sure maybe someone else could chime in on that one.

About the screen top... First thing that comes to my mind would be tape up plastic on the bottom side of the screen. Ive also seen a good pet store use what looked like a thick piece of cardboard or ply wood with a smooth white finish as lids on aquariums.

Is it possible to get a clear pic? When i heard u use the term "almost white" I immediatly though rub, but maybe erasurehead is right?
-----
1.0 American Alligator
0.0.1 Yellow anaconda
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.1 Retic (normal/super tiger)

my retic did the same thing once while it was shedding, it was gone after a single shed. as you can see it messed up the head stripe a little.

before

after

hard to tell from the pics.... but it looks like soms scales are going through some kind of premature molting process... i have had that happen to one of my males and it has gone away. i dont know what makes that happen... a little TLC wouldnt hurt though.
-----
www.monstersnakesforums.com

Some time ago my male Jampea lost a scale in the same area as your yellowhead just did. I've read that it's actually not very uncommon for a retic to lose the scale on the top center of its head. Don't know why. Mine did it during shedding; it left a white spot with a very tiny bit of blood.

When I saw it I just applied a bit of Neosporin for a few days.

Today it's all healed. Can't tell it ever happened. But I don't believe the missing scale re-grew; I think the other scales just closed in around the area and joined together.

Bill

I set up a vet appointment for Friday, thanks for the help.
Nick