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crazysnakeman
Snake Mite
42 Posts |
 Posted - 16/06/2010 : 17:09:51
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Heya,
My 4 year old corn has some sort of scale damage on a single one of her belly scales. It's about a foot and a half from her head, and only one scale is affected. the damage is in the middle of the scale, the edges seem fine, and it's appeared since yesterday when she shed her skin.
It's a round "scab" but with no scale underneath it, i.e. the actual scale is damaged, rather then the scale with a scab on top of it. It's round, like you could imagine a cigarette burn would be like. Like I said, the edges of the scale are fine, but this point in the middle really is like a round scab.
Temperatures in the tank are 29 and 22 degrees in each hide, large water bowl, she has moist (possibly even wet) sphagnum moss inside her favourite hide, but that is only moistened the week she sheds for.
I had a vaguely similar injury on a ball python, I provide large climbing logs, and the python fell off the higher end of it, landing on the lowest part of the log. A small branch on the log "bruised" an area of about 4 scales. It looks similar, but is only on one scale.. which is a much larger scale then the pythons 4 scales!
I can't get hold of my usual vet, I'll keep trying, but in the mean time, does this ring any bells with anyone? It doesn't look like scale rot, and if it's a burn I have no idea how it could have happened.. Do mite or tick bites look like this? Can they even bite through scales?? I can't see any mites or other inverts, but have cleaned the tank out anyways..
Shes a very healthy animal, so I'm not too worried yet, but some peace of mind or suggestions I can research would be good till the vet sees her would be good!
Cheers,
Josh |
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HannahB
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
5491 Posts |
Posted - 16/06/2010 : 19:41:10
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if you could get some pictures it would help a lot  |
2.0 Normal Royal Pythons - Q and Little One
1.0 Chihauhaun Mountain Kingsnake - Simba
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mikerichards
don't say the 'M' word!
United Kingdom
2901 Posts |
Posted - 17/06/2010 : 22:24:33
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Pics are the only way forwards, mites don't bite through scales, they go under them, same with ticks, but ticks are only gonna come from outside.
It does sound like the beginning of scale rot tho.
Take all moist stuff out, leave only the water bowl. They don't need a moist hide really only if they have a bad shed.
I have never used a moist hide. |
Location : Worthing, West Sussex
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crazysnakeman
Snake Mite
42 Posts |
Posted - 20/06/2010 : 16:56:10
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I left her over the weekend, and checked, it's progressed a little across the scale, discolouring it a little yellow, with this as an extra symptom I'm pretty sure it's scale rot. I read the causes of it, and dampness and a drop in temperature can cause it, coincidently exactly whats happened! I dropped the temp from 31 down to 29 just cause I know they like it a little cooler then what I have kept her at, but I have read that increasing the temperature again will stop the spread, along with reducing any moisture except the bowl, and using an iodine based treatment and mixing it into a bath twice daily.
So, all the moistures gone, and I've increased the thermostat back up to 31, I'll drop it a bit more gradually once alls healed and better! but I have iodine, but it's pure. Can I mix this with a large amount of water and clean the scale twice daily? that way I can start treatment sooner then waiting on the vet.
Cheers,
Josh |
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crazysnakeman
Snake Mite
42 Posts |
Posted - 20/06/2010 : 16:57:22
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just to clarify, I dropped the temp to 29 about 3 weeks ago, the scale rot developed about a week ago, so ive increased it back to 31 now.
cheers,
Josh |
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hillzi
The Lost boy.
United Kingdom
3984 Posts |
Posted - 20/06/2010 : 18:12:27
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Can we have some pics please Josh?
Thanks buddy, keep the viv dry as possible. |
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mikerichards
don't say the 'M' word!
United Kingdom
2901 Posts |
Posted - 20/06/2010 : 18:17:45
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| Dropping to 29 wont affect the scale rot, its prob more along the lines of if you drop from high 20's to lows. The corn should be at about 28 degrees anyway, 31 is slightly too high, even for scale rot. The best thing is to dry the whole thing out, use kitchen roll and take everything else out. |
Location : Worthing, West Sussex
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crazysnakeman
Snake Mite
42 Posts |
Posted - 20/06/2010 : 19:24:43
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I have pure iodine, let me know if you think diluting it and bathing the scale in it will cure it? il disinfect the tank tomorro and completely clean it out. the tanks dried out now etc. I can get hold of medicines if they are over the counter, still trying to contact my rep vet, i think he must be on holiday, but what ever this is, i caught it on the day or two after it first occured, i health check all my animals regulaly, and i happened to health check the corn each side of her shedding, about 2 days before, and the day after, so i'm sure i have leway before the vet is necessary, hopefully a home cure will work, but the vet is brilliant, but semi retired, so hes not necessarily working at usual times!
Heres a link: http://s990.photobucket.com/albums/af30/crazysnakeman/corn%20problem/?action=view¤t=DSCF1527.jpg#!oZZ1QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs990.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf30%2Fcrazysnakeman%2Fcorn%2520problem%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DDSCF1529.jpg%26
the tip of the scale in the middle has turned to a yellow "scab", on the opposite end of the scale, as in the end closest to the head, overlapped by the belly scale next to it, the scab has a white "crust" around the yellow scab. It's the only scale affected, the flanks of the scale appear fine, but over the weekend the affected area has gotten larger.
Let me know what you think, she's nearing 5ft, her skin shed's are just over 5ft, shes a good weight, strong, alert and active, loves her food (except for the current mice, they dont seem palatable for her.. she takes rats, but is refusing the latest batch of mice.. hmm.. but will happily tank the hognoses smaller mice - they came from a different breeder of mice!). But yeh, a happy and healthy snake, just this one scale..
Cheers for your help!
Josh |
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crazysnakeman
Snake Mite
42 Posts |
Posted - 21/06/2010 : 00:02:09
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Oh, by the way, the orange / pink on her scales is her natural colouration, it has always been like it, I guess it could look a bit like advanced scale rot, but the only affected area is that square on the single scale with the yellow/white scab..
Cheers,
Josh |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 21/06/2010 : 05:40:23
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I cant help you about dealing with the scale rot Josh, but if you cant get hold of your normal reptile vet then maybe you could see if you can find another one near you - http://www.reptilevets.co.uk. Even if there is not one close enough for you to get to, they may be able to give you some sound advice as to how to treat it....especially regarding diluting the iodine.
xxx
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Scale damage
