Oh hell! I think it was the branch! It was a bit more rough than the other branches and I think the humidity pooled in the cracks of wood. He has only been on that branch for a week, so it shows how fast this illness can develop. Thank goodness I can handle him, as when he is on his "perch" he hides the bumps.

Here are some photos, they are not very good. I will post more tomorrow when I take him out to treat him. I have to find some medication now. Taking him to a vet might not be that easy, as he looses heat and stresses easily. I might have to get someone to do a house-call. Know of any dedicated and good herp vets in the Kent/ Sevenoaks area?

Thanks for the quick response!

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Can I use diluted tcp on my snake?

He does not have blisters yet, but maybe treating the area with a liquid antiseptic might help as the scales are swollen and slightly pink. (The branch has been removed.) I think it is still just an abrasion, but dont want to leave it untreated till the morning and I dont have any betadine in the house.
Help appreciated!

very good post, could prove to be very helpful to many keepers out,

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SAVE THE RAVE



0.1.0: paraguayan rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria striatus)
0.1.0: macklotts python (liasis mackloti)
1.0.0: granite burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus)

I haven't read through the last couple of pages of this thread - but it may be scale rot rather than blister disease? An alike ailment...but as said, get to the vets as soon as you can. Hard to tell from the pictures whether it's the start of blister disease (or blister disease where the blisters have ruptured) or scale rot.

Either way though, not nice and it does need immediate attention - which you already know

Best of luck. Lovely snake by the way - you're lucky to find a handleable one!

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Thanks Pied Python,
I think you are right.

My snake's cage is very clean, humidity perfect for him, etc, but I dropped the ball by putting the wrong bark in for one of his branches. It proves with a reptile you have to double check everything, you can never afford to make a mistake. One week on a rough branch and he has sores. Poor guy, hope to see a vet today asap!
And again thanks for all the advice!!!

I found this info:

* Scale Rot

If you notice any chipped or discolored - pink, red or brown - scales in the abdominal region of your python, it is probably suffering from scale rot. This disease could affect just a few scales or a single area or multiple areas.

Sometimes the cause for scale rot can be an internal infection that works its way to the outside and manifests itself as scale rot.

However the most common cause is improper cage hygiene.
If the cage is not regularly cleaned and disinfected, the python may have to bask in its urine and feces for prolonged times and develop scale rot.

A topical application of over the counter triple-antibiotic should clear up this problem. But you will have to transfer the animal to another cage while you THOROUGHLY clean and disinfect its current cage.
While the animal is being treated, do NOT allow it to soak in water. Give it water in a bowl that is just large enough for it to drink from.
There now ... that wasn't so scary, was it?

The above is an excerpt from the free newsletter on "Python Secrets" published by Geostar Publishing & Services LLC.

as pied_pythons said i think that is scale rot, as piedpythons said vet is crucial!

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Hi everyone.
Good news, I got him to the vet and he has had a slow release antibiotic injection. He was soooo good. Didnt even hiss when he was injected. Which is good, as I was on the sharp end. The vet was on the other end and got slightly covered in poop though.
I am positive it was the roughness of the branch that irritated the skin, or maybe there was fungi, or moss residue on the branch. From now on I will only use fruit tree branches.
Here he is looking happy again in his warm cage. Have to take him out to apply ointment later and will post pics of the skin then.
Thanks for the support!

Thankyou for the update, and good luck!

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Great thread very helpfull if this problem occours with any of my snakes.

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1.0 Python regius (Apollo)
0.1 Amel Cornsnake(Bo)
0.1 Amel Motley Cornsnake(Cleo)
1.0 Corn/Milk Hybrid (Sid)

Scale Rot:
My gtp got it in less than a week from a berried ivy branch I placed in his viv! So a word of warning, only use safe branches (fruit tree) in the viv!

His scales separated slightly, as you can see if you look carefully in the pic attached. You can see a small lift in some scales on his belly. (where his tail crosses his belly in the pic, on either side.)

It was treated immediately by a vet and today I can already see a vast improvement. No redness anymore and only a few scales lifted.
It is good not to over-handle a snake, but in this case it was a life-saver that I held him and noticed his condition, or it would have remained hiden under his coils as he basked on the branch.