somethings wrong with my snake

[gts4749]

I was hoping I could get some help on what is wrong with her and what to do to help. She's got brown spots on her belly scales that from what I've researched appear to be scale rot? She also has some reddish pink tones to her belly which I understand could mean she's going to shed however her last shed was about 2 weeks ago. I turned the uth heater off in case that was causing burns. Using repti bark as a substrate which I took out and rinsed thoroughly in hot water about 3 days ago. It was still a bit damp when I put it back in. Sorry for the rant I just want to give as much info to help.

[Tsubaki]

Try to keep it on dry clean bedding for a while, it should clear up with shedding. Always be careful putting damp bedding into an enclosure.. Snakes need a clean and dry place to lie down. Does it smell fowl? Scale rot often has a very foul smell.

[sharthun]

Try to keep it on dry clean bedding for a while, it should clear up with shedding. Always be careful putting damp bedding into an enclosure.. Snakes need a clean and dry place to lie down. Does it smell fowl? Scale rot often has a very foul smell.

Also, I don't know if you have your heat mat connected to a thermostat. This will prevent any unnecessary burns and control your hot spot's temp.

[gts4749]

Last night I checked her bedding it is dry now. I did notice a smell, could've been the terrified rat I attempted to feed her though. I will check again tonight. Also no the heat mat is not connected to a thermostat yet, where should I place the temp probe once it is installed?

[sharthun]

Last night I checked her bedding it is dry now. I did notice a smell, could've been the terrified rat I attempted to feed her though. I will check again tonight. Also no the heat mat is not connected to a thermostat yet, where should I place the temp probe once it is installed?

When I was using heat tape, I placed the tstat temp probe between the heat tape and bottom of tank. Then I monitored temps where the snake hangs out in hot spot to adjust to desired temp. Worked well for me. I use RHP's now.

[shaunyboy]

Last night I checked her bedding it is dry now. I did notice a smell, could've been the terrified rat I attempted to feed her though. I will check again tonight. Also no the heat mat is not connected to a thermostat yet, where should I place the temp probe once it is installed?

you need to get a thermostat asap mate

it may be burns on the snakes belly,it may have been caused by the water in the damp substrate heating up,or the heat mat getting too hot because it don't have a thermostat, (un stated mats have been known to go on fire)

i once had a Carpet Python in a quarantine tub,it trailed itself through it's water bowl,then moved all the substrate off the bottom of the plastic tub at the hot end,the snake then sat directly on the hot end,the water on the snakes belly heated up enough to cause burns,and that was on a heat mat with a thermostat,the mat was on the outside of the tub

re probe
when you get a thermostat,the probe needs to be in the hot end


cheers shaun

P.S. If your snakes burnt,the pink areas will turn brown and dry out,it may even scab up (depending on how bad the burn is)

[pdomensis]

I agree with those above. Get a thermostat and a good way to measure temps like a temp gun. If it's not a burn then you would want to get your UTH going again before you run into new problems from being too cold. My two cents, the pink looks like pre-shed to me, but I couldn't see the spots that well. Also, if at all possible, go with frozen/thawed rats in the future. Hope it turns out ok.

[sharthun]

A good inexpensive on/off thermostat is hydrofarm.

Digital Heat Mat Temperature Controller by Hydrofarm - Essential Hardware (http://www.essentialhardware.com/product_detail.php?pid=147951&gdftrk=gdfV28536_a_7c3119_a_7c11872_a_7c147951&gclid=CPrO-LPm5b0CFUYV7AodtS8Agg)

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-Digital-Temperature-Controller-Heat/dp/B0047KKOMI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1397678625&sr=8-2&keywords=seedling+heat+mat+thermostat

[gts4749]

Thank you all for the responses. I checked her again tonight I didn't notice any smell. I broke off a leaf of aloe and applied it to her belly hopefully that will help. Thanks for the link sharthun I've been looking for a good thermostat and I'll be picking one up for each of my snakes. I've got a 150 watt IR bulb above her for now and a ceramic heater over my boa till I can get the mats properly regulated.

[SnakeyJay]

So now your running ceramics and incandescent bulbs without a stat?!

[gts4749]

Yeah I need to keep them warm somehow until the thermostats arrive

[gts4749]

Unless you have another suggestion?

[sharthun]

Thank you all for the responses. I checked her again tonight I didn't notice any smell. I broke off a leaf of aloe and applied it to her belly hopefully that will help. Thanks for the link sharthun I've been looking for a good thermostat and I'll be picking one up for each of my snakes. I've got a 150 watt IR bulb above her for now and a ceramic heater over my boa till I can get the mats properly regulated.

Two excellent thermostats are: Spyder Robotics (Herpstat)and Vivarium Electrnnics (VE).

Spyder Robotics (http://spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html)

Vivarium Electronics (http://www.vivariumelectronics.com/)

Of course these cost more but are well worth it. I will upgrade my hydrofarms if/when they ever fail.

[Lankyrob]

A ceramic will cause way more serious burns than a heat mat. They can easily get over 400f. Is it at least guarded so the snake can't touch it?

[gts4749]

Yes it sits about 14 inches above my boss hide on top of the screen cover. Same with the IR bulb for my ball

[sharthun]

Yes it sits about 14 inches above my boss hide on top of the screen cover. Same with the IR bulb for my ball

I would recommend radiant heat panels. Won't burn your snake and mount on top of cage.

RBI Radiant Heat Panels (http://www.reptilebasics.com/rbi-radiant-heat-panels)

[gts4749]

Ok pretty sure it's scale rot as I noticed today it seems to be getting worse. Hopefully the pictures are a bit better. I've been keeping her substrate dry and misting the walls a couple times a day.

[Tsubaki]

Put her on a clean dry substrate like paper towels, also stop misting for a while.. She doesn't need moisture right now, thats only irritating. treat her belly with diluted betadine, add water until it is around the same color as strong tea.

[gts4749]

alright thank you, if she starts to shed just increase the humidity?

[BIGT FROM F.B.]

Dealt with the pink belly thing. First sings of a lung infection. Do you hear popping sounds when breathing, opening mouth to breathe or bubbles?

Haven't read every post on this thread, but make sure to check the temps, humidity etc. for this species. I was the cause of my BRB's lung issues, because I wasn't aware of the conditions at first to keep him in.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[gts4749]

Her breathing seems to be healthy no strange noises, bubbling, popping etc. i puchased Amazon.com : Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats : Plant Germination Heating Mats : Patio, Lawn & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S) for the heat mat, is it possible to run 2 heat mats off of one thermostat? also i purchased Buy Indoor Interlocking Mats and Flooring by DuraGrid (http://www.duragrid.com/inorder.html) in the crossrib variant to use as the substrate.

[gts4749]

tonight i let her soak in a 1 parts povidone-iodine solution and 10 parts water solution. i then dried her off and applied triple anti biotic (without pain relief) to all noticeably affected areas. then placed her on fresh, print free paper towel. im really hoping to see some improvments, are they noticeable before her next shed? also i noticed shes becoming dehydrated (dented eye). is there a way i can provide her with water aside from a dish as she continuously tips it over.

[sharthun]

Her breathing seems to be healthy no strange noises, bubbling, popping etc. i puchased Amazon.com : Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats : Plant Germination Heating Mats : Patio, Lawn & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S) for the heat mat, is it possible to run 2 heat mats off of one thermostat? also i purchased Buy Indoor Interlocking Mats and Flooring by DuraGrid (http://www.duragrid.com/inorder.html) in the crossrib variant to use as the substrate.

The hydrofarm tstat will handle up to 1000 watts so you could run 2 heat sources from that thermostat. I wouldn't recommend that for safety concerns, it's better to have one heat source per thermostat.

[Tsubaki]

Use a heavy dish so she cant tip it over ;) , tipping water bowls can cause problems like this.

[gts4749]

ok the thermostat arrived today, seems to be working great. im using repti bark with 2 layers of plain paper towel on top of it as substrate until the duragrid gets here. the temp probe is laying on top of the reptibark under the paper towel and ive set it to 90. im going to go ahead and order another thermostat to be safe. Also switched her to a dinner plate for her water so she cant tip it.

[sharthun]

ok the thermostat arrived today, seems to be working great. im using repti bark with 2 layers of plain paper towel on top of it as substrate until the duragrid gets here. the temp probe is laying on top of the reptibark under the paper towel and ive set it to 90. im going to go ahead and order another thermostat to be safe. Also switched her to a dinner plate for her water so she cant tip it.

I use the jumbo size for water dishes. Very heavy for plastic.

Van Ness Van Ness Crock Heavyweight Feeding Dish Dog Bowls & Dishes (http://www.petmountain.com/product/dog-bowls-dishes/11442-105320/van-ness-van-ness-crock-heavyweight-feeding-dish.html?utm_source=googleproductads&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=CKDc77bq-70CFWdk7AodjA8ALQ)

walmart sells similar ones as well.

[pythons9991]

one thermostat is more than capable of controlling 2 heat sources as long as the maximum allowed wattage isin't overloaded. Thermostats with multiple temp probes are great like the herpstat 2 or 4.

[Tsubaki]

how is her belly looking now? :D

[gts4749]

The iodine and antibiotic seems to be working. It's not spreading anymore I'm just waiting for a shed to see for sure. Also the dri dek material is perfect for their substrate. My boa had a flawless shed I'm hoping my ball will too.

[gts4749]

Just wanted to leave an update. she shed last night and everything is healed up and like new again. Shes very active and seems to be perfectly healthy now, needless to say im thrilled.