First time owner - is this scale rot?

[noodlehaus]

To me it looks like substrate particulate and staining, not scale rot. That said, humidity is quite high and the moisture level in the substrate will contribute to that discoloration. This post is from a thread about humidity in regards to shedding, but it’s one I like to reference for anyone worried about humidity related health issues:

Humidity levels?

45-50% its going to be the sweet spot for you to be able to keep a clean, mold free enclosure, but still get good sheds. 60% would be the higher end of what’s necessary. Anything beyond that and you’re looking at a reduction in air quality, which can lead to respiratory infections. It’s worth pointing out that consistent sheds are as much a factor of internal hydration as external hydration with Ball Pythons. They will drink more readily of fresh water so if you’re doing a couple of water chang…