Scale Rot/Ulcerative Dermatitis?

[Vamp]

For anyone who doesn't know, I'm an avid snake fan and have two of my own. Over the last week, my male ball python has been showing signs of a shed coming up (he always has difficult sheds, regardless of my bathing/sponging/upping humidity etc.), but he also has a strange area on his stomach that looks like very mild scale rot.


I know it's not a clear picture, I'm working on getting better ones.

I've heard of balls with difficult shedding tendencies showing something that looks like scale rot before molting, but I want to be absolutely sure.

The thing is, I don't know how he could've developed an infection- I'm a bit anal about tank conditions with my snakes. They're checked daily for anything needing to be cleaned up, the bedding is changed twice monthly, etc. His humidity stays right around 55% until he starts to shed and then I bump it up to about 65%. His temperatures are closely monitored as well.

So basically what I want to know is this- Does anyone have experience with that kind of spotting, and if it IS scale rot, how the hell did he develop it? And furthermore, in my experience the most promoted way to clear up the affliction in it's early stages is triple antibiotic and 10% Betadine solution baths once a day. Anyone have different methods?

Selection bolded for TL;DR types.

[ShutMeUp]

I know a bit about snakes and their common ailments, but I've never treated scale rot. Anyway, I can't see from the picture but is there any softening or swelling of the skin surface, and / or painful-looking splits in the scales?

The most common cause is, of course, improper hygiene, but as you said you keep a close eye on that. I THINK the deficiency of vitamin A and C can be a contributing factor, though you may want to double-check that.

As far as treatment goes, a 10% solution betadine or F10 in a bath twice a day is good.

It might also be worth moving him onto a dry substrate such as paper, newspaper, or paper towels, to prevent bacteria and substrate getting into the wound until he heals.

[Vamp]

Originally Posted by ShutMeUp

I know a bit about snakes and their common ailments, but I've never treated scale rot. Anyway, I can't see from the picture but is there any softening or swelling of the skin surface, and / or painful-looking splits in the scales?

No, nothing like that yet, and he's not tender on it at all. I really dug into the scales today (gently, of course) and he was completely calm about it, didn't flinch or pull away at all. It just basically looks dirty and pulled in.

Originally Posted by ShutMeUp

The most common cause is, of course, improper hygiene, but as you said you keep a close eye on that. I THINK the deficiency of vitamin A and C can be a contributing factor, though you may want to double-check that.

Humm, I've never heard of vitamin deficiencies in snakes, but thanks for the heads up, I'll look into it straight away.

Originally Posted by ShutMeUp

As far as treatment goes, a 10% solution betadine or F10 in a bath twice a day is good.

It might also be worth moving him onto a dry substrate such as paper, newspaper, or paper towels, to prevent bacteria and substrate getting into the wound until he heals.

I've started the Betadine baths and antibiotic ointment already, just to be safe. I'll put paper down in the tank tonight. Thanks much for the help.

[ShutMeUp]

You're welcome

The reason I mentioned the vitamin deficiency thing is because a lot of malnourished snakes develop scale rot, so scale rot and vitamin deficiency may be linked. Let me know if you find any studies or something, I'm interested

[SHARP]

Can't say I've ever seen something like what you describe on the snakes I've had or still have, but as ShutMeUp said, keep the info flowing - we can all learn something new.

Good luck with you snake Vamp, and let us know how it goes.

EDIT: emag might be able to bring in something that haven't already been said.

[Vamp]

Originally Posted by ShutMeUp

You're welcome

The reason I mentioned the vitamin deficiency thing is because a lot of malnourished snakes develop scale rot, so scale rot and vitamin deficiency may be linked. Let me know if you find any studies or something, I'm interested

I haven't found any in depth studies, but I did find this-

What you are describing in your ball python is spontaneous rupture of the skin. This has been reported in boas and pythons, and I have also personally consulted in a case of this occurring in a king snake. In boas, it was thought to be associated with vitamin C deficiency. It was also seen in severely malnourished pythons. Because your snake suffered from feeding problems, as well as mite infestations, there is a possibility that it, too, could be suffering from scurvy (hypovitaminosis C, or vitamin C deficiency). Usually, vitamin C is synthesized in the kidneys and/or intestines, so it has been hypothesized that renal (kidney) and/or intestinal disease could diminish ascorbic acid (vitamin C) synthesis in snakes in captivity. Scurvy can cause reduced collagen synthesis (collagen is a type of connective tissue) or decreased strength of certain tissues, including skin and blood vessels. Sudden skin rupturing or spontaneous bleeding from the gums are two common signs of vitamin C deficiency.

This wasn't in reference to my snake obviously, I found it on www.reptilechannel.com, and it was written by a Margaret A. Wissman, DVM, DABVP.

Originally Posted by SHARP

Can't say I've ever seen something like what you describe on the snakes I've had or still have, but as ShutMeUp said, keep the info flowing - we can all learn something new.

Good luck with you snake Vamp, and let us know how it goes.

EDIT: emag might be able to bring in something that haven't already been said.

Thanks, I'll keep you guys updated. And I'll send emag a PM right now.

[Vamp]

**UPDATE**

Leviathan's been on twice daily Betadine baths and I've been putting Triple Antibiotic Ointment on the area in question once he's dry. He's also been switched from Reptile Bark bedding to paper towels. He's just about to start his shed and has already lost a few small patches along his crest, so it should only be a day or two now. The 'infection' (That's what I'm calling it for now, I guess) is looking a bit better, though I'm not convinced it's actually doing better, I think it may just look better due to the molting process and his old skin separating. He's still not tender or sore which I'm taking as a good sign, and nothing's gotten any worse, so my hopes are high that it's no big deal.

[SHARP]

I'll keep my dirty fingers crossed and send your snake a boatload of happy-thoughts.

[Vamp]

Hehe, thanks SHARP!

Edit- Another Update!

Leviathan just shed, I'd say about 85% in one go, which is astounding for him. The skin over the area in question came off and, well, here's the interesting part- All the debris that looked like infected tissue was just that; debris. I'm not sure how or why (my best guess is there was a slight tear in the old skin that allowed it in), but dust from the bedding had gotten under the old skin. Most of it came away when the skin came off, and what didn't was easily removed with a little water and some Q-Tips. The scales themselves still look a little tucked in, but I'm guessing it's from the moisture buildup under the old tissue. I'll be keeping a close eye and continuing to keep him on paper bedding until it's all cleared up, but for now, it looks like I freaked out over nothing, and case closed.