My Stimi has a red belly! :(

[user 30368]

I was holding my stimson tonight and as she was moving over my hands i felt a rough patch on her tummy. I flipped her over and her stomach has a 5cm length of red, dry, scaley like skin. From the side i can see scales picking out. The rest of her is smooth. What could it be? She shed her skin almost a week ago. She does have a heat rock, but its a very low wattage one and it doesn't feel remotely hot in any way. I am always putting my hand on it to test it and its no warmer than an elcetric blanket set on low heat. It wasn't like this before she shed.
I took a photo - its not too clear, but you can make the redness out.

Any advice??

 

[Snowman]

Could be a burn, hard to tell from the pictures. Heat rocks have a bad reputation for burning reptiles. But it sounds like your isn't that hot. See how it looks in the morning. If it's still red take it to a vet. If it is a burn it doesn't look that bad compared to others I've seen.

 

[maddog-1979]

...

 

[XKiller]

No need to shout,
looks like a burn to me if its anything, but hard to tell from those photos, "if its infact retained skin soak the animal in worm water whylst in a pillow case for 15 mins and if skin still remains eigther repete or rub it gently off, I don't know what you do but can't be good if your afraid of getting burnt.

 

[Tassie97]

So where can we get worm water from?

 

[Snowman]

Be careful if you use a wet pillow case. They can't breath through wet material.

 

[user 30368]

She has been laying on that rock for a month and nothing has happened. Are they sensative after a shed? Is it possible that she has shed, gone back to her rock and burnt fresh, new skin??
Also, the soonest i can get her to see anyone is on Wednesday, do i leave her with her rock until then? Its her only source of heat at night time thats all.
How are burns normally treated?

 

[Snowman]

I think they usually treat the burn with the application of some sort of cream. Not sure what it is but I remember someone having to apply it twice a day.
Stimi's don't need heat at night. Give them 12hrs heat 32-35C in the basking spot and that is fine. Have a ceramic tile or something under the heat source so that it retains some heat after the heat switches off, that too will go cold, but thats fine.

 

[Ramsayi]

Could also be the start of scale rot.

 

[user 30368]

hmm. should i turn her rock off in the mean time then??

With scale rot, isn't that caused by high humidity and low temperatures? Her humidity is very low as i use a heat/fan/lamp so the air is very dry in there. I live in Perth, so we tend to not get ultra humid weather either.

I'll take her back to the fella that sold her to me. I think he would know a bit more than our local vet. In the mean time i just hope i havent hert her and i hope she isn't in any pain.

 

[Snowman]

She will be okay. Just get her checked out. If it is a burn it will heal with the right treatment.
Up to you in regards to the rock. I'm personally not in favour of them, and I've never tried a heat/fan/lamp before.
Did you get the stimi from a pet shop or a breeder?

 

[PythonLegs]

So where can we get worm water from?

Derrr, from worms. Newb.

Aanyway- I agree, it does look like a minor burn. Even if it turns out that it's not, please ditch the heat rock when you can and upgrade to a heat cord or bulb..so much more reliable.

 

[Elapidae1]

Your heat lamp/fan is not a good idea and could possibly lead to shedding problems because it dries the air out to much.
It does look like a mild burn. I personally would not worry about it unless it worsens and the skin opens, but you definately need to investigate whats causing it and I don't think the shop will be forthcoming if it's possibly the setup they sold you.
I have never even come across a case of scale rot in Perth though I'm sure it can happen.

The problem with shops is some of them sell you stuff you don't need, using peoples inexperience to make them feel they need it to care properly for their animal.

 

[user 30368]

I bought her from a propper reptile trader/breeder. He has been trading for years and i'm sure some of you (in Perth) would know of him. Reptile Trader Rockingham. He only specialises in reptiles and is a lisenced dealer. I will go and see him on Tuesday and see what he thinks.

 

[Elapidae1]

Like I said, selling you a heat fan was uneccesary and possibly detrimental to your husbandry and Although heat rocks have improved they are an expensive and in the past at least, have been an unreliable and sometimes dangerous heat source.
I would go to a vet before going their, the consultation will probably cost the same as the over the counter creams etc offered by some shops.

 

[user 30368]

my local vet is a moron. They dont care about the animals, they just want the money. I got "yelled" at for not feeding my dog on their $200 bag of Hills Science dog food! And as it turns out, it ones of the worst foods on the market! Maybe thats why the sanke is burnt! She doesn't eat Hills Science food!!!!!

 

[gozz]

Put some Bepanthon cream on the area....

 

[user 30368]

you can use Bepanthon on snakes?
I always worry about usung human medications on animals.
Do you thinkk (if its a minor buern) that she is in much pain?

Put some Bepanthon cream on the area....

 

[Snowman]

I bought her from a propper reptile trader/breeder. He has been trading for years and i'm sure some of you (in Perth) would know of him. Reptile Trader Rockingham. He only specialises in reptiles and is a lisenced dealer. I will go and see him on Tuesday and see what he thinks.

Just like all the other pet stores they are very expensive and I'm dissapointed that they sold you a heat rock and the heater lamp fan.

 

[coastalboy]

This is my opinion. Do not worry, my coastals and other people i know that have coastal go red before they eat. this is due to the getting there blood pressure up so there muscles can help with eating..... My girl goes really red before she eats. i would not say its a burn......?

cheers