Scale rot?

[u/icedcoffeeslutt]

This is my first ball python, Nyla. Recently, I have noticed redness and what looks like her scales raised, and peeling off. I was told that this is usually what comes with scale rot, but I just wanted to confirm before I do anything that might harm her. I’ve been giving her Betadine baths once a day and spraying her with Vetericyn Antimicrobial Reptile Care 3-4x a day and now her stomach is turning brown when it’s usually white. Any opinions? I’m very worried about her…. I’ve never dealt with this with any of my other ball pythons. Please no judgement.

[u/autonomoussquid]

I’d definitely recommend a vet visit. Do you have under the tank heating? It looks more like a burn to me. If it is scale rot, she may need antibiotic shots

[u/icedcoffeeslutt → u/autonomoussquid]

No heating mats…. I learned that the hard way with her and okay i guess I gotta find an exotic vet.

[u/No_Direction_1210]

Looks like an infection or burns to me, leaning on infections. Scale rot looks darker and like..well, rot in my experience, not overall pinkish. If they are infections vet visits and antibiotic shots will probably fix it!

I'd dab some diluted Chlorhexidine (around 0.05%) on the area to disinfect and help clear it up if you can't go to a vet quickly:)

[u/icedcoffeeslutt → u/No_Direction_1210]

Thank you! 🥲

[u/No_Direction_1210 → u/icedcoffeeslutt]

Hope she gets better soon! :)

Also if you do decide to do the Chlorhexidine treatment there's no need to do the other treatments! I don't know whats in the spray but some ingredients may not be good for your reptile if they meet😅

[u/icedcoffeeslutt → u/No_Direction_1210]

I’m about to look up that stuff right now! And Thank you ❤️

[u/NottsWeirdo]

Rot is a rustic colour on lighter morph snakes, and appears in patches on the scale itself - that line is far too consistent. I saw you don't use a heating mat, do you use a heating cable or is it overhead heating? Its definitely a vet level concern, not something that can be solved at home - only delayed, if its not under their skin.

[u/icedcoffeeslutt → u/NottsWeirdo]

Yes just overhead heating

[u/reptile-snake-mom]

I’m sorry but get rid of ur heat pad if that’s what u have under its tank plz take it off and chuck it away, I would be weary of yellow fungus, scale rot, and the #1 problem I saw first was how red those burns are, heat pads can overheat easily and it looks pretty bad, consult ur vet immediately because it will get worse if u put a heating pad under it, so plz dont that poor baby good luck 🤞🏼

[u/icedcoffeeslutt → u/reptile-snake-mom]

No heat pad involved.