Aussie Pythons and Snakes

Salzar_Slytherin · Original Poster #1 22-Nov-06, 07:22 AM

I have a Diamond python here, shes 3, and her scales on her skin are lifting up, all down her middle part of her body. I found a little amount of what looks like fish scales in her cage. Dont think shes shedding yet, doesnt that start at the head and eyes go weird??
I think it might be a rough surface in her cage that she goes past all the time that makes her scales lift??

Salzar_Slytherin · Original Poster #2 22-Nov-06, 10:10 AM

34 views, and no replies? Someones got to know!!

slim6y · #3 22-Nov-06, 10:12 AM

All I can say is - My spotted had a very small section of 'rough scales' but they cleared up... I would be the least likely to give you advice - other than if you're worried see a vet.

Salzar_Slytherin · Original Poster #4 22-Nov-06, 10:14 AM

Thanks, yea i saw your thread just before i started this reply! Just goes to show I gotta look at other threads first before i go getting impatient lol!

Salzar_Slytherin · Original Poster #5 22-Nov-06, 10:19 AM

She usually stays in her dark box, but lately now, shes usually out in the back corner, and doesnt care if we look at her anymore. A little worried, but Ill keep my eye on her. She doesnt seem too unhappy. When I handle her she likes to sniff and looks around happily still.

Pythons_Reptiles · #6 22-Nov-06, 10:19 AM

Hi
Could just be damage from cage surface or
Check for mites they hide under the scales.
first sign is tiny white dust on the snake, check under the damaged scales mites are small black things.
If is just damaged scales will fix next shed, if its mites then must be treated.

OuZo · #7 22-Nov-06, 10:25 AM

It could be malnutrition...we had a very sick Carpet Python for a while there and the top layer of a lot of his scales were all coming off - as if he was shedding but every single scale individually. On the bottom of the cage they did look a bit like fish scales or even little pieces of plastic. I can't tell you exactly why it happened but we were told that malnutrition can cause it which seemed to make sense under the circumstances.

Is your snake sick at all? Or is it eating well?

Salzar_Slytherin · Original Poster #8 22-Nov-06, 10:54 AM

the only problem was she wasnt pooing. She hadnt pooed for 6 weeks, and i thought it was i may have not fed her enough ( one mouse a fortnight). But last week I fed her 2 mice at once and she pooed today! (although she was constipated).
Makes alot of sense now that it has something to do with her nutrition, I just didnt think her scales had anything to do with it.
She'll eat fine, she has always taken food we have offered her.

OuZo · #9 22-Nov-06, 10:58 AM

If she's eating well and regularly I don't know if it would be nutrition...but maybe if she's constipated that could be part of it as well

. How large is she? One mouse a fortnight doesn't sound like much for a 3 year old unless she's fairly small...

Salzar_Slytherin · Original Poster #10 22-Nov-06, 10:58 AM

ps - doesnt seem she has mites, theres no sign of moving dots that I know of

Salzar_Slytherin · Original Poster #11 22-Nov-06, 11:02 AM

your reply does make a bit of sense though, i dont think she had enough nutrition with one mouse a fortnight, from now on im giving her 2 a fortnight.
Also, her scales started about when she hadnt pooed for a while. Anyways, hope she'll recover now she has pooed and uping her food intake.

Thanks again, I'll keep you updated.

NicG · #12 22-Nov-06, 11:20 AM

Hi Salzar,

I suspect that even two mice may not be enough, particular when it is generally considered that mice lack the nutrients of rats. How long is your Diamond Python? And any idea as to her weight?

I have a female 3yo DP and she eats one medium rat every fortnight and would eat more if I let her. She's 6 foot long and weighs approx 1kg.

Cheers,
Nic

Salzar_Slytherin · Original Poster #13 22-Nov-06, 11:28 AM

The mice i give her are large adult mice. 2 of them may be equivilent to a medium rat i think?? She is about 150cm long and she is nearly 3, in December. I know i have the right size mouse, I can see a large bulge in her tummy after she has eaten it.

dellywatts · #14 22-Nov-06, 11:40 AM

I don't have much experience with this kind of thing. I was thinking that it may be mites though. I would take her to the vet no matter what.

OuZo · #15 22-Nov-06, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicG

Hi Salzar,

I suspect that even two mice may not be enough, particular when it is generally considered that mice lack the nutrients of rats.

I agree, and that's actually the next thing I was going to say lol. Try switching to rats and see how she likes them. Even if it's the same size as the 2 mice she should get more nutrition from a rat. I'm one who likes to grow my Diamonds slow though (just as a DPS precaution - don't laugh lol) so I wouldn't be jumping up to a massive sized feed if it were my snake. At least not for every feed. Again, how long is she roughly?

Another thing I was thinking, and please don't try this until you talk to a vet about it but perhaps if it is a malnutrition issue this could be a situation where a snake could benefit from supplements. Again, please don't go ahead and do anything until either you speak to a vet or until someone with some experience with supplementing comments, but perhaps she could benefit from something like Electrodize or even a Herp-vite or something similar? It's just a thought anyway.....I would never normally even entertain the idea but perhaps it could help. But I suppose if you switch to rats you should hopefully get her back in good nick soon enough anyway!

Good Luck and let us know how she goes