Scale Rot? Please help.

[AnotherNewGuy]

I'm really worried and in need of advice. My corn, Silly, is about 2 years old and has been acting strangely recently. First of all, this little black hole of a snake actually stopped eating, and hasn't eaten for about 5 weeks. She isn't losing weight, at least a noticable amount, so there isn't too much worry there, but I still had to ask. Anyway, in the last few days I noticed some off brown spots on her belly, along with some flaking scales. Its fairly minor, but they span her entire belly as well as, as to today, her neck area. A friend said it looked like the beginning of scale rot, which was what I wanted some advice on. Does this sound like scale rot? The spots feel rough, so they are either missing scales or scabs. She is also very pre-shed right now, but is going slowly due to her lack of eating. And advice on any of these issues would be highly appreciated.

 

[BigByrd47119]

I'm really worried and in need of advice. My corn, Silly, is about 2 years old and has been acting strangely recently. First of all, this little black hole of a snake actually stopped eating, and hasn't eaten for about 5 weeks. She isn't losing weight, at least a noticable amount, so there isn't too much worry there, but I still had to ask. Anyway, in the last few days I noticed some off brown spots on her belly, along with some flaking scales. Its fairly minor, but they span her entire belly as well as, as to today, her neck area. A friend said it looked like the beginning of scale rot, which was what I wanted some advice on. Does this sound like scale rot? The spots feel rough, so they are either missing scales or scabs. She is also very pre-shed right now, but is going slowly due to her lack of eating. And advice on any of these issues would be highly appreciated.

I'll go ahead and ask now because I am sure everyone else will want to know too, do you have any pics?

Whats your humidity like? How often do you clean the cage? What are your temperatures like on the bottom on the enclosure below the substraight?

Once we have these questions answered its likely that we can be of more assistance.

Scale rot will usually initially show up as ulcerations on a snakes belly, reddish brown in color. It will begin to compromise and erode the scales on the snakes underside with large blisters not being uncommon.

Common home treatment includes:

1.) Get the temperature right
2.) Get the humidity right
3.) Get the tank cleaned up
4.) Use triple anti-biotic ointment (WITHOUT painkiller)
5.) A bath in a betadine solution (10% betadine)

Once blisters begin to form I would seriously consider taking him/her to a vet, assuming that it is in fact scale rot.

 

[AnotherNewGuy]

I'll be the first to admit that my poop-revomal isn't always as speedy as it should be, but the main culprit would definately be the humidity. When she was young, I was constantly spraying her because she was always shedding (she eats like a beast). It didn't really occour to me that it might be bad. That description sounds correct, but I will get pics as soon as I can. Is there anything in particular I should do to clean out the tank? Obviously removal of substrate, but do I need to soak the tank in anything? Thanks a lot, I really appreciate this.

 

[BigByrd47119]

There are a ton of ways to clean a tank/tub.

You could use a vinegar solution which is safer for the snake in the event that you miss a bit. But bleach is probably more effective. The trade off being that bleach can be very dangerous to your snakes health if you leave even small amounts in the tank. Typically with bleach you would use something to wipe it out as best as possible and then give it time to air dry, even if it looks and feels dry. Its a "better safe that sorry," scenario.

Use either newspaper or paper towles until it clears up. It will make the application of topical antibiotics more comfortable for the snake by preventing aspen or other substraight sticking to her. Newspaper should be black print and not the glossy or colored ink. You may consider checking with your newspaper company to see if they use non-toxic inks. Most do, but some don't, and you would want to avoid using toxic inks if it all possible :duck: .

You say that, "When she was young, I was constantly spraying her because she was always shedding (she eats like a beast). It didn't really occur to me that it might be bad."

How long ago was this? If we are talking a year or more ago, and you have throughly cleaned the tank since then, I don't see why that would be the culprit. However this is why I use humid hides. It confines the above average humidity and gives the snake the ability to seek it as needed without making it inescapable.

Hopw this helps and feel free to ask any other questions:eatpointe

 

[Naagas]

Put your snake in a sanitized viv with only paper towel for substrate. Clean and sanitize everything every day.

Use a water bowl too small for your snake to fit in.

Use an antibiotic ointment with no painkillers.

Soak the snake in an antibiotic solution every day for approx. 30 min.
Use Novalsan or Betadine. Dilute the Betadine to a tea-colored bath.

I would take the snake to a vet. I had a snake, never missed a meal.... started refusing meals, went kinda wrinkly, got dark spots on the belly...
Sadly, my baby didn't make it. The infection was too widespread. He was about 2 years old. I regret not taking him to the vet sooner.

To sanitize the tank, I would use a diluted bleach OR Ammonia solution (not both. badness.) Rinse the tank REALLY well. Let it sit in the sun for a few hours, or air out inside. Sun is better.

To sanitize daily, I would just use white vinegar.

Keep us updated. Take pics if you can.

 

[Naagas]

Oh.... and I never found out what caused the infection. Burn or scale rot according to the vet.
I have a fairly large collection. I've never had anything like this happen before or since.

 

[BigByrd47119]

Oh.... and I never found out what caused the infection. Burn or scale rot according to the vet.
I have a fairly large collection. I've never had anything like this happen before or since.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but seeing as scale rot is a bacterial issue, its pretty much directly linked to sub-par husbandry unless you feed live and the snake took a bite, correct?

A new snake could in theory already have it and you just haven't seen the signs yet too I suppose.

I'm not saying this to be mean, I just really wanted to know. You have enough experience from what I have seen of this forum that I highly doubt it would be a husbandry issue, and as you said its never happened since/before.

 

[AnotherNewGuy]

Ok, her tank is completely redone. All of the old substrate was taken out, the tank was very thoroughly washed out with near-boiling water, completely dried, and I put a couple layers of paper towels on the bottom. I also took her normal and humid hides out, and instead made her a new one out of a plastic container (she was due for an upgrade anyway). The container is duct-taped to keep it dark, and completely sticky-side free, so she doesn't get stuck. She also has a new, small dish for water about 2-3 inches in diameter. As for something to give her, would normal neosporin be ok? Also, how do I apply it? And should I give her a humid hide, or just bathe her when she starts shedding?

 

[BigByrd47119]

Ok, her tank is completely redone. All of the old substrate was taken out, the tank was very thoroughly washed out with near-boiling water, completely dried, and I put a couple layers of paper towels on the bottom. I also took her normal and humid hides out, and instead made her a new one out of a plastic container (she was due for an upgrade anyway). The container is duct-taped to keep it dark, and completely sticky-side free, so she doesn't get stuck. She also has a new, small dish for water about 2-3 inches in diameter. As for something to give her, would normal neosporin be ok? Also, how do I apply it? And should I give her a humid hide, or just bathe her when she starts shedding?

Neosporin is fine but only the kind that DOES NOT have painkillers in it! They say to keep the environment dry when dealing with scale rot, but seeing as she is going into shed I don't honestly know what to tell you. My guess is that you may consider a humid "box" and not a hide. The difference being that a humid box is not something they can get into, rather its made to raise the general humidity of the entire tank.

Use a Tupperware container filled with heavily moistened paper towns (or moss) and put the lid on it. Try to avoid standing water in the container. Next make a few dozen holes in the top of the container for air to exchange but too small for the snake to enter, try a soldering iron if possible. Place this on the warm side against the bottom of the tank (assuming your using a UTH) and pat yourself on the back for taking care of your snake!

Duct tape, although capable of fixing everything, is something you really don't want in a cage. I have never experienced it before my self but many people will attest to that fact that snakes can and do find ways to get themselves stuck to tape. Usually this results badly.

What are you using to monitor the humidity level of the cage? Oh, and we are still waiting on pics, even if she is feeling a little under the weather !!!

 

[bitsy]

When mine got scale rot, she went through several rapid shed cycles clearing it off. I had her in a dry, minimal hospital setup and had no problems at all with bad or stuck sheds. I live in the UK where it isn't humid, so the ambient humidity wasn't a factor. I wonder if there's a healing process with this type of shed that makes it more "efficient" than normal?

It might be worth holding off on upping the humidity or providing a damp hide until you find out whether she's actually going to have a problem shedding. Humidity is your enemy with scale rot and I think it's kind of a last resort.

 

[Naagas]

Keep the humidity as low as possible.
No humid hide.
Apply the Neosporin as you would normally to a person.
Make sure you wash it off completely every day and reapply. You don't want it trapping bacteria.

Scale rot is a bacteria.
I got a bag of coconut husk substrate a few weeks before he got the infection, and I'm wondering if it was contaminated?!? That is the only thing I could think of, unless it was indeed a burn.
The vet said she suspected burn.
So, I went out and bought new thermometers and new heat tape and a new thermostat out of paranoia.

I had him for 2 years, since he was a hatchling, with 4 of his clutch mates. None of the other snakes showed any signs of anything wrong. I was mystified. Especially since the antibiotics didn't help.

The vet said another possibility is it was just a failure to thrive issue- of which the infection was the fatal symptom.

Usually, yes, scale rot and RIs are bad husbandry issues. It was embarrassing to see that in my collection. Not to mention tragic.