Hi, I have recently noticed these changes to one of my ball pythons’ scales and am getting concerned as to what is going on. Hot spot is 86, cool side 75.
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Something sharp in their environment, looks like. Check the edges of everything in the cage.
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The last pic looks like it may be a bite. Do you feed live?
No, I only feed frozen/thawed. This just popped up over the past couple weeks, both corners of his mouth scales are swollen as well. I worried about mouth rot, but his mouth in the interior is completely normal and there is nothing sharp in his enclosure other than him being on coconut husk.
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How long have you had this BP? Are they still eating well or acting strange in other ways? Have you changed anything in or around the enclosure? Moved to a new enclosure?
Have you double checked the temperature manually again? Not just relying on thermostat numbers?
I agree with @gabonica1 it does look like something sharp in the enclosure and possibly coming up on a shed soon. That one area does worry me a bit because of how red the scales are in that area.
The scales around the mouth look like old shed stuck on the lip
From what I’m seeing with all the signs here, I feel like this noodle may be trying to burrow or has been pushing against the walls, along with some rough items they’re trying to push against.
It’s a little hard to tell from the flash reflecting on the scales, but it looks like some delamination going on too. I would at the moment move this snake to paper towel bedding. Keep it clean and do a soak with Iodine. I like to put the snake in clean water first in case they want to drink, then add the Iodine in after.
They may start shedding very soon, sometimes that clears up the stomach up from the little frayed edges and light discolor.
But I still recommend you look into taking them to a vet. It’s difficult to say from photos, but the more intense color around the area that looked like a puncture and any kind of swelling at the mouth are things I would be concerned with personally. They may need antibiotics to keep from worsening
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This would be my recommendation as well, especially since his mouth is swollen as well as him having what appears to be a puncture wound on his body. It’s way better to act on the safe side in addition to the at home treatment mentioned above.
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I have had him for about a month now, he is currently about to shed, I just moved him to this enclosure from a rack system, and I use a thermostat gun to check exact temperatures. I just ordered some iodine to soak him in, that will be here on Tuesday. I don’t believe it is stuck shed because this just appeared not that long ago.
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Ive no clue how he could possibly get a puncture wound, there is nothing sharp in his tank which i will supply you a picture with in one moment.
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I’d highly reccomend seeing a vet as soon as possible.
Swelling alone is concerning enough of a symptom to warrant it…
And the last pic of your initial post worries me, that red discoloration that appears to be spreading from the initial site could be the beginnings of an infection. The wound alone does not look good and is suspicious because it absolutely looks like a puncture of some kind.
Get your BP on paper towel as the others have already said and be prepared to keep them on that until a vet can be seen and their guidance can be given.
Until then double check everything in your BPs enclosure… even if you think everything is harmless, I had a very similar experience a few years ago with a Kingsnake where I was absolutely confident her enclosure was safe and nothing inside could cause injury- lo and behold I find her one day with a really nasty spot on her belly with blood pooling under her skin (she was in shed) and the culprit was one of her hides that had a jagged spot I completely missed. Took a week of antibiotics to clear it up but she had a good shed and it only left a faint scar. Got the jagged spot 9n her hide sanded down smooth and she never had another incident.
Now whenever I buy new hides I always thoroughly inspect them and if I 3D print my own the edges and sharp bits from processing are sanded down 
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Pretty much agree with everything CMS has said.
Also- is that a wound on the top of the head as well?
@cmsreptiles maybe an eye on those top downs too?
Edit- also is that tape at the bottom left holding the plant up? If so that needs to come out
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Hard to tell 
@destiny04566 could you get a closer pic of the BP’s head from top down?
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Since this is the case he may have already had these issues when you first got him but since then they have manifested. I believe you are doing right by him to seek advice here. I don’t believe what he has got going on is your fault. I’m just glad you have him now.
Btw the setup you have created for him is awesome! When he’s all healed and healthy he will be one happy camper!
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It is not an injury, simply glare from the light.
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