Scale Rot?

[shaberry]

Hey guys, so I've been looking around trying to figure out if Arshess has scale rot, or if it's just my paranoia. But lately, I've been looking at her belly and it's been looking a bit wrinkly and oranger than I remember. Also, a few of her scales on her belly and side are torn. Another thing is that when I'm holding her, and I brush up against her belly opposite to the way the scales are, it seems a bit rougher than before. And her scales make a crackling sound when she moves against my clothes in any other direction than the way her scales are arranged. Interestingly enough, the crackling only happens when I'm holding her or she's on my clothes. When she's moving around on her driftwood or her water bowl, there is no crackling sound.

She seems alright, since she's moving all over the place in her tank, but I really don't know since she can't talk and I can't tell if she's hurting. Also, she's been putting her body into her water bowl. Which is rare, but she's been doing it from time to time.

I'm not quite sure about the humidity in the tank, because I haven't had the funds to buy a hygrometer. ( Yes, I know, shame on me. -.-;;; ) All I can say is that the temp. in her tank bounces around from 82-88. (I have a rheostat, I think the reason why the range is so large is because I got the UTH used.) The only source that's probably affecting the humidity is the water bowl. But I really don't know. After this, I think I'll just buy the hygrometer on my card just to make sure everything will be fine in her habitat.

As for the cleanliness of her habitat, I try to clean up her feces and excretions as soon as they're out, or as soon as I seem them.

So what do you think guys? Am I just being paranoid, or is there something wrong with Arshess? Here's some pictures of her belly for reference.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/shaberry/IMG_0148.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/shaberry/IMG_0149.jpg
^The seventh scale from the bottom is torn in half in the middle. Is that a problem?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/shaberry/IMG_0150.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/shaberry/IMG_0151.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/shaberry/IMG_0152.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/shaberry/IMG_0153.jpg
^Fifth scale from the right also seems to have a tear on the side. =(
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/shaberry/IMG_0154.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/shaberry/IMG_0155.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/shaberry/IMG_0156.jpg

[shaberry]

Sorry for the double post, but could it possibly be that the orange tinge to her belly could be from the UTH making the substrate on top of it too hot? So, could the orange tinge be a burn rather than scale rot?

[Susan]

How long have you had Arshess? When was her last shed? What is the substrate in her viv and what is the rest of the "stuff" in her viv made of? I keep looking at the nice photos you supplied, but can't see a darn thing wrong.

[shaberry]

I've had Arshess for a month now. Her last shed, I don't know. The pet store that I bought her from wasn't able to supply me with that information. As for the substrate, I'm currently using desert snow made by T-Rex. And the rest of the "stuff" in her viv is just a piece of driftwood, and a water bowl made of plastic, but it has a rock-ish texture.

Took another look at her belly today and some of the scales look like they're chipped. Meh, I don't know what to make out of it. My bf and my best friend tell me that I'm just being paranoid. But, I'd rather be safe than sorry. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to Arshess. I guess I'm one of those "overly protective" mothers. ^_^;;;

I've tried holding her and dangling her lower body to see if she curls up. (I think I've heard this suggestion somewhere around the forum) The first time I tried it, she kind of did. She contracted her muscles a bit, but didn't curl all the way up. The second time I tried it, her lower body just hung there. God, I really don't know what to make out of this. I'm just getting so worried and paranoid.

[Nanci]

Many corns have an orange wash over their bellies, especially the nearer to the tail you get. Some snakes have ventral scales with a line down the center, especially in the area the umbilical cord was attatched at. It just looks like superficial damage to scales that are older and perhaps due to be shed soon, to me.

[Nanci]

I've tried holding her and dangling her lower body to see if she curls up. (I think I've heard this suggestion somewhere around the forum) The first time I tried it, she kind of did. She contracted her muscles a bit, but didn't curl all the way up. The second time I tried it, her lower body just hung there. God, I really don't know what to make out of this. I'm just getting so worried and paranoid.

What was the purpose of that supposed to be? I've got snakes that dangle, and snakes that hold on for dear life. The more _relaxed_ snakes dangle. some won't even hold onto a tree branch even if they are going to fall- they just expect me to catch them, I guess.

If you are worried, for some reason, about does she move properly, put her on the ground and watch her go. Try touching her tail or lower third to see how she reacts.

[shaberry]

Ok. So, nothing seems wrong with her then? It's just an indication of her going to shed soon?

[Nanci]

I wouldn't say that, I would just say her scales are getting worn. An indication of going into shed would be a possible refusal of food, and definitely going into hiding. If you usually see her in the evening, and then don't for a couple days, you might check her hide and will probably find her in blue.

[shaberry]

Ok, I can't find where I saw that thing about dangling the snake. So, maybe I must have confused it with something else.

When I put her on the ground, she moves around normally and curiously explores her environment. When I touch her lower third, she doesn't mind it most of the time. She'll just sit there and let me touch her. But, from time to time, she'll squirm away a bit.

[RobbiesCornField]

To me, it looks like she might be getting ready to shed. It looks like the outer "shell" on her ventral scales are starting to loosen themselves in preparation to make the whole shed process easier. But that's just my opinion. And like Nanci said, that orange "tinge" is very normal, especially on normal/classic corns.

[shaberry]

Ahhh...alright. So, over time, the ventral scales have a tendency to get rough and chipped? And it's normal for the lower 2/3rds of the belly to be orangish in color? Or turn orangish in color over time?

Thanks so much for the help Nanci. I really appreciate your advise on my paranoid questions. I'm just so new to all this, and I'd like to get a seasoned owners opinion.

[RobbiesCornField]

Ahhh...alright. So, over time, the ventral scales have a tendency to get rough and chipped? And it's normal for the lower 2/3rds of the belly to be orangish in color? Or turn orangish in color over time?

Thanks so much for the help Nanci. I really appreciate your advise on my paranoid questions. I'm just so new to all this, and I'd like to get a seasoned owners opinion.

Your belly would get rather chipped/chaffed if you had to spend all your time on it, too. ;) Just think about how your feet feel after running around barefoot. Now imagine that all day long on your belly.
And yes, some snakes do get that orange wash towards the lower 2/3rds.

[shaberry]

Thanks for the advise too Robbie. =) Sorry, I didn't see your post until after I posted my last response.

Thanks everyone for all your help. =)

[RobbiesCornField]

Thanks for the advise too Robbie. =) Sorry, I didn't see your post until after I posted my last response.

Thanks everyone for all your help. =)

It's all good. Nanci's advice is always worth it's weight in platinum, so it's always well worth it to listen to her.