Hey folks! Im a lurker here and read much more than I post but I have an issue with my black rat snake. Male, aprox. 50" long. He is an agressive eater and has no issues there. He is docile and doesnt mind being handled. But he has developed this skin condidtion of some kind.
First I will descibe it and then you can look at the pics. He has patches of dull and dry scales on his back. His undersides are clear and show no pinkish areas at all. His viv is meticulously cleaned and disinfected. The humidity stays at whatever my apartment is and thats about 30-40% in the summer, a little less during the winter. When I hold him I am able to flake his scales right off, The dried ones as well as the healthy looking ones. His whole body feels like the edges of his scales are sticking out all over. He hasnt shed in five months and he usually sheds every three months.
Is he too dry and not able to shed? Does he have scale rot? he is active and healthy otherwise, Im confounded.
First I will descibe it and then you can look at the pics. He has patches of dull and dry scales on his back. His undersides are clear and show no pinkish areas at all. His viv is meticulously cleaned and disinfected. The humidity stays at whatever my apartment is and thats about 30-40% in the summer, a little less during the winter. When I hold him I am able to flake his scales right off, The dried ones as well as the healthy looking ones. His whole body feels like the edges of his scales are sticking out all over. He hasnt shed in five months and he usually sheds every three months.
Is he too dry and not able to shed? Does he have scale rot? he is active and healthy otherwise, Im confounded.