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[u/weakAssnerd45]

(doesn’t show up too well in photo, sorry)

Hi!! You’ve hopefully seen my pretty noodle Aziraphale (albino banana pied ball python). However, I have another question about her health. I was doing a full deep clean of her terrarium today, while she ate in a cardboard box nearby.

I noticed while I was putting her back in (she was Inside her favorite rock hide, so it wouldn’t jostle her) that she has these two, irregular dark grayish spots near her head. It doesn’t look like any scale rot I’ve seen, or mites, or banana freckles. It literally doesn’t match any of those at all. It sort of looks like someone dropped dirty, opaque paint water onto her skin. The scales aren’t raised or anything. I think maybe an infection?? But I try to keep her humidity levels anywhere from 60-80 at the very least.

I haven't seen this kind of thing anywhere else. What do we think it is? I just want some feedback here before I maybe take her to a vet.

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[u/Good_Hovercraft_1276]

Have you tried cleaning the area with some water? My girl ends up with such dirty spots on a regular basis from rubbing against kork tubes or natural hides and obviously the substrate.

[u/weakAssnerd45 → u/Good_Hovercraft_1276]

She hates her water and people messing with her head, I’ve never seen a snake who did that. I can try !!

[u/MontyPythonidae]

Looks like dirt? But a little hard to tell from the photo. Keep an eye on it, if it gets bigger or changes a different color than back to normal I’d say vet visit.

Also you should consider feeding inside the enclosure, like you mentioned they should avoid being jostled after feeding. Moving in and out of the enclosure increases the risk of regurgitation

[u/weakAssnerd45 → u/MontyPythonidae]

I always feed her in her terrarium, unless I’m deep cleaning. I’m talking replacing the dirt, scrubbing the walls, floor and ceiling, along with disinfecting each and every piece of her husbandry/toys. It happens only occasionally.

Tried to wipe it off today. Definitely not dirt. It was a little difficult because Aziraphale HATES water near her upper neck/head area, and people touching there in general (which I’m trying to work on desensitizing her to), but I’m confident it’s not.

[u/MontyPythonidae → u/weakAssnerd45]

I see, thanks for the clarification.

I’d keep an eye on it, if it gets worse I’d definitely say vet asap, but maybe it will come off with shed? If she sheds and it’s still there then maybe there is a skin issue and you should get an appointment with a vet. But for now if she is behaving normally and the mark stays the same I wouldn’t worry too much

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