scale rot

[dragonqueen4]

anyone have any suggestions on what to do with a ball python with scale rot?

 

[alewis0890]

How bad is it? is their visible ulsars right now? if its not bad right now you need to put neosporin on it or another antibiotic ointment... any idea what caused the scale rot? how often do you clean the tank and whats your husbandry like? if the ulsars are started and bad then a trip to the vet so he can get you some got meds...

 

[dragonqueen4]

I dont know the answer to any of your questions unfortunately.. its not my snake.. it belongs to someone i know.. im just looking for some info to give her.. thanks though.. im going to tell her to get some antibiotics for now and clean his tank..

 

[alewis0890]

well I ask because those are some of the ways to get scale rot, poor living conditions and poor husbandry and they are the most common causes. either way it goes the snakes tank HAS to be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized its bacterial so even baking the wood/rocks ect.. is needed. If she doesn't know alot about it she needs a vet or someone with experience actually look at the snake.

 

[MMRR - jif]

The snake needs to be kept in a clean environment while being treated for the scale rot. Paper substrate, cleaned frequently, and just a small water dish, only large enough to get a drink. The animal needs to be kept dry and in a low humidity environment until the rot is healed. Antibiotics will be necessary so a trip to the vet is in order. Daily swabbing with a Nolvasan solution is also helpful.

 

[ashesc212]

There was an article in the recent issue of Reptile that has a lot of info. on it too if you want to look at it.

 

[dragonqueen4]

Thanks guys!
I went over and had a look at the snake today. She had the tank cleaned, but she said it was the first time it was cleaned in a very long time. There was also a water dish and a waterfall. She took out the dish, but wanted to keep the waterfall in there. I made her take out the bark and put paper towels in there.
I helped her put some triple action polysporn on the snake and got bitten in the process lol
The poor thing looked pretty bad, there were a lot of cuts and actual chunks of flesh missing underneath him.

 

[alewis0890]

definatley get her to see a vet...

 

[RehabRalphy]

Uh, see a vet :nono

 

[dragonqueen4]

I told her that.. but I dont think she plans on going to the vet because of money.. its not my snake so theres nothing I can do. I dont really even know the girl, I met her once or twice before.. she shops at the pet store i work in. She told me her snake was sick, so I went over to take a look at him and try to help.. besides.. theres not even a herp vet where I live.