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Potential Scale Rot in Gopher Snake--Coloration or Rot?

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femmeraptor

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I recently got a Baja Gopher Snake and noticed he has some weird coloration below his vent. It doesn't appear blistered or raised, just reddish whereas most of his other belly scales are black/white-ish. He's been like this since I got him at the Orlando Reptile Expo. I can't tell if it has spread because I've been leaving him alone for a week to get settled in.

If it is scale rot, I will clearly take him to the vet. But I honestly can't tell because I don't know what the underside of a Baja Gopher Snake looks like (Google is no help), and I've never dealt with it before. I've given him one soak in a betadine/water mix already just in case.

Can anyone tell me if this is normal coloration or if he needs medical attention? Thanks a lot.
 

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Just keep him on clean, dry substrate & reevaluate after the next shed.
(Obviously, check periodically before that to make sure it isn't worsening.

From that picture, and this device, I can't give you a definitive reply...other than to say that, if it is "scale rot", it is very early stage and should be easily remedied with proper husbandry. (The exception would be if it is a manifestation of an infection, in which case it won't improve.)
 
Thank you for your reply. Based on Google images, if it is scale rot, it's definitely not as bad as it can get. Since he's a new snake anyway, I do have him on paper towels in a clean environment. I wish someone could get me a photo of the area below the vent/on the tail of a healthy Baja Gopher Snake. I may ask in the Pituophis forums.
 
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