Just an update for anyone who helped or is going through something similar. I did eventually take him to the vet. Initial treatment at home helped but plateaued. This was a parasite that had migrated into his skin layers and caused an inflammatory response. He received antibiotics and is going on a deworming treatment.
Hi guys,
Has anyone seen this? Snake is new to us, had him a little over a month. Spent his first few weeks with us in quarantine in a tote and on paper towels. I moved him into his big enclosure roughly a week ago. Totally scrubbed, brand new bedding. I fed him on 10/9, left him alone for a bit, checked on him today 10/11, saw he had pooped in his hide. It could not have been there before 10/9. I pulled him out to clean it up and noticed these swollen red patches on his belly. Our internet research has me panicking about septicemia, and my husband is in the dermatitis camp, but I extreme worry and he under worries in my opinion. I soaked his body in a betadine bath, put the curad with silver on it, and he’s back in a sterile environment. If anyone has seen this or knows what it is I would be so appreciative! If others think this is septicemia let me know and we will rush to the vet. Snake is otherwise himself and everything else is normal. Poop looked normal, no vomiting or lethargy. We keep several ball pythons and all are healthy, whatever this is is new to us.
A few basic questions, what are your temps and humidity, how are they measured, and what are you using for heat? I’d say infection or possibly an injury/burn. Either way it’s quite swollen and angry looking. I’d say if you can manage, a vet visit for antibiotics may be a good idea.
Definitely move them back to paper towels for now. Poor baby.
I had something like that but less serious happen with one of my snakes who decided to pee her hide and sat it in while I was on vacation for the weekend… But this definitely looks more extensive.
Seconding Noodlehaus’ suggested vet visit.
Depending on the temps, yeah a burn could be likely and that will usually look worse before it starts to look better.
The info asked for and If possible maybe a photo of the setup as well can help us pinpoint an issue.
Hey, so temps are low to high 80s, low 90s basking. Humidity is 60-70s because that chip is pretty new. We’re in Colorado so that will go down to 50s-60s in a couple of days and then will require maintenance. My husband thinks it’s bacterial because he had that poop in his hide. Oh and he had thermostats regulating everything
Temps don’t really need to be above mid-80s except for in the basking spot, so I’d maybe consider taking those down a bit. In mammals you can get urine scalding from prolonged contact, I’m sure there’s probably something similar possible in snakes.
Even if it is just bacterial, with as inflamed as that looks (and with a possible open wound as there seems to be blood present) I’d be getting a professional opinion on whether injectable antibiotics are warranted. If you want you can monitor & keep soaking for a day or two first, but if it progresses to blistering/open wounds, absolutely see a vet.
If he was fed on 10/9, it seems unlikely to me that he would have had enough time to digest the meal, pass waste, and sit there in it long enough to develop dermatitis to such a degree. Nothing wrong with watchful waiting sometimes while doing home care as appropriate, but given that there isn’t an obvious external cause for yours, I would be contacting my vet.
Ok just curious! Definitely a reptile vet visit would be in order. I have Atopic Dermatitis as well as some other skin issues so I am uncomfortable or hurting most of the time so I feel for the poor guy.
It is absolutely still possible for some snakes to wrap around a CHE basket or area near one and get burned. It’s rare but has happened. If there’s a lip they can pull themselves up on at night that could potentially be an issue.
A basking spot of 90 is more than adequate. I actually keep my basking/hot spot at 88 to avoid temps getting too high.
Ambient temps should be closer to 85 on the hot side.
If you do wait and see how they do, keep a good eye on them while shedding. Exposing raw skin under the peeling scales will definitely need a vet. Typically when they get something that affects them like this they start a shed cycle pretty quickly to try and heal.
I believe what @armiyana meant is that the snake may have climbed up and squeezed along the lip/edge of the tank between the wall and the lid and maybe gotten too close to the CHE. Sometimes they will do the darned things to injure themselves.
I see, I guess that one is possible, he could have maybe gotten up near the background. I put him in a sterile tote on paper towels and did a betadine soak with the curad silver wound shield. Luckily it looks significantly better today. I called the vet and discussed with them. I’m going to keep doing the home treatment as long as he’s getting better. If it changes I’ll run him in to see them
Glad to hear he’s already improving, sounds like you’ve got a solid plan in place. Hopefully he doesn’t end up needing the vet, continues to heal well, and can get back to a regular enclosure soon!
