Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My California Kingsnake has a patch of scales that is rough and they seem dry and dull. I have never seen this before on him so I am not sure if i should be worried or not. His habitat has been maintained and nothing has changed so I am curious as to why this is happing.

Does it look like a patch of skin that did not shed? Does the snake have a humid hide (e.g.- plastic container with moist moss inn it?)

It does not look leftover from a shed. It appears to just be a dry patch where the scales are rough and discolored. My snake has also become very inactive it is about 1 year old and with age has become much more mild. It will not eat as often and hasn't shed in months. I am very worried.

It is Winter. With lower ambient temps, expect the snake to slow down, not eat (as much or at all) and not shed often compared to Spring/Summer.

Give it a cool area. You can have a heated part of the cage, but leave most of it cool. Leave the snake be. Check on it, but refrain from too much handling except to check its health/strength/vitality.

Regarding the patch, not sure. I have seen damaged scales before (due to a snake trying to squeeze through a gap between cage and lid and scraping the scales.)

I have heard of patches of skin having fungus due to too moist of conditions for too long, but I have never seen it.

Mark is probably right about the snake slowing down normally for its first winter.

Patches of dry dull scales that are truly rough and wrinkled make me nervous about fungal dermatitis. If you are sure it is not retained shed, and you don't believe it is an injury or scar, and especially if it persists for more than one shed cycle, I would get it checked out by a good herp vet.

Letting a snake with fungal disease brumate can make matters worse.

Can you post a picture of the area?

Still have the discolored scales?

There are some safe treatments you can easily try at home. Post an update, maybe we can help.