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Please help, health issue?

Silvae

Silvae

New member
I've only had my snow corn, Louis, for about 3/4 of a year. I've had no problems with him. He's never had a regurg or escaped his viv. I maintain his tank temps/humidity and make sure he has clean water, as well as clean his tank regularly. Today, while handling, I noticed a yellowy bit of scales about half on inch down his neck. I know snows normally turn a bit yellow after time, but it looks more like scale rot or something much more severe. The skin also seems a bit loose around this part of his neck, though everywhere else is normal. He won't let me touch that part of his neck (though he's always been rather head shy).

I've searched the forums for anything that sounds close to this problem, but I haven't found anything. If anyone has any advice on how to treat it, PLEASE, I'd REALLY appreciate it. I'd get a picture for everyone but I have no digital camera or webcam. I'm so worried, I don't want it to be something serious. T_T
 
i can't answer your question, only give my support. someone will eventually be able to answer you though. good luck.
 
Without a picture, it would be awfully hard to even guess what this is. The best advice I can give is to take it to a vet.
 
Scale rot is caused by a build up of bacteria and is not necessary always caused by poor husbandry. Your snake could have laid in his own feces for too long and set off some issues in that area. IF the scales are turning brown that is most likely what it is. Before spending the money to go to the vet, try applying Neosporin ointment or some other tripleantibiotic ointment onto the scales and keep his cage very dry. I

f you don't see some improvement within 3 to 4 days then the vet could offer some further assistance. I have a rat snake that is sensitive and gets scale rot easily, I never have to do anything other than what I mentioned above.
 
Thanks for the advice. Would hydrochloric acid work? I use that to disinfect. And it's very probable that he may have laid in his feces, as he likes to cuddle under his shavings sometimes. If hydrochloric acid isn't agreeable, where can I find neosporin?

The scales haven't turned brown, but I only just noticed it, and I see him quite frequently (he's out and about more now that summer's here). I can't really describe it, other than it looks yucky. I fed him just now, though, and he had no problem swallowing past that portion of his body. If the disinfectants don't work, I'll take him to a vet and brave the bill.

Thank you soooooo much. I'm glad it doesn't seem too serious.
 
NO! Hydrochloric acid would probably kill him and that is not what effect we are going for. please do not get any type of Cleansing products near or on your snake. You do not want a disinfectant , you want an antibiotic ointment.

Just, Go to your nearest drug store and go to the first aid aisle for humans, and buy some type of antibiotic ointment. Neosporin is a common brand name, but any other antibiotic ointment would work. This is human medicine and you will find it every drug store or grocery store near the bandaids.
 
I'm no chemist, but it occurs to me if you're using hydrochloric acid to disinfect, is it possible this is a chemical burn where the acid wasn't completely rinsed away?
 
Oh, I haven't used it on him! I wouldn't put anything chemical or medical near him unless it had been approved by people with experience first.

I'll go to the drugstore and get some of the neosporin you're talking about asap.
 
Hydrochloric acid is not something the average person picks up at the store. Are you possibly talking about chlorhexidine? The blue disenfectant? It's perfectly safe to use that diluted to clean injuries. Is your snake perhaps due to shed?
 
Sounds exactly like a piece of retained shed still attached to the neck area. As for not letting you touch him/her in that area, most snakes are head shy, and that reaction is 'normal'. When was the last time he/she shed? Did it come off in one complete piece or flaky?

A short bath in room temp water should help loosen it up. Hold him firmly by the body and neck (just behind the head) and gently rub at the area to see if it comes off. I'd place money on it coming off due to your description of the skin seeming looser in that spot.

D80
 
Silvae said:
Thanks for the advice. Would hydrochloric acid work? I use that to disinfect. And it's very probable that he may have laid in his feces, as he likes to cuddle under his shavings sometimes. If hydrochloric acid isn't agreeable, where can I find neosporin?
...
Click to expand...

I am no expert, but wouldn't it be better to use a diluted solution of bleach water to disinfect, and then rinse thoroughly?? HCL is nasty stuff, I used to work with it a lot in the circuit board industry, although chances are what you have is no where near the strength I had to deal with. Still I don't think I would go near my pets stuff with it knowing what I know about the stuff..
 
No, I've never used this on my pets, only myself. It is diluted and it cleans any of the scrapes and cuts I get at work very quickly (not only do I get these scrapes and cuts a LOT at work, but it's so dusty and dirty in the back warehouse that I could easily get an infection from mould or something else equally disgusting). The hydrochloric acid has worked fine for me in the past, but I wouldn't have used it on Louis without approval.

I have the triple antibiotic recommended and I'm going to put it on him tomorrow (he ate after I found the yellowy stuff).

It also IS possible that it's a retained scale. He didn't shed in one piece last time and I had to help him with his tail. Thanks, Drizzt, I'll try bathing him tomorrow as well. I hope it works out for him. He ate just fine so I don't think it bothers him all that much, but then he's always had a healthy appetite.
 
Harhar, I'm a tool. It's not called hydrochloric acid, it's diluted hydrogen peroxide. I'm ADD so please don't stone me lol.
 
Silvae said:
Harhar, I'm a tool. It's not called hydrochloric acid, it's diluted hydrogen peroxide. I'm ADD so please don't stone me lol.
Click to expand...


:crazy02: Actually, that's a huge relief! The thought of HCl as a disinfectant was pretty scary to me! :)
 
Funny thing . In the middle of feeding my snakes yesterday the thought popped into my head" I bet she meant Peroxide! " lol..Glad to know that was the case too. Are you a blond like me? You could use that for an excuse too :rolleyes: lol

So how is your snake doing?
 
I'm naturally a blonde lol. Dyed my hair red and it looks like my natural colour, so most people freak when I tell them I'm blonde >.<

Thanks soooo much for all the advice. I gave Louis a bath today. The yellow scales didn't come off, but they could be stubborn if it is part of a retained shed. It wasn't hurting him when I was trying to rub it off. I put some neosporin on it afterwards, just in case it is scale rot. I probably freaked over nothing, seems most people are having much bigger problems. I'm so glad Louis eats, non-feeders seem tough.

The only unpleasant part of the ordeal was that he pooped in the middle of his bath. How sweet of him.
 
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