Possible Dermatitis?

I always feel bad for registering for new forums for possible health issues of new animals... I hate to be one of those guys. I used to be on AlbinoBurmese, but I figured a Boa specific forum would be better, the animal is pretty different to me compared to Pythons in many ways.

I received a roughly two foot Boa from an experienced breeder almost two months ago now. My snake experience is with Pythons only, this is my first Boa. He's a good eater (one medium rat at the moment every five to seven days), alert, growing well. Salmontine I'm pretty sure if it matters (still learning boa morphs). Been through one shed under my care, which went well except for approx. a half inch of retained shed on the tail, which I removed gently with a towel after letting him swim around.

Cage temp on hot side is around 95-100 provided by a red lamp. Cool side is around 80. Humidity is ranging from 50 to 60, more often low 50s. Enclosure is plastic. I mist it 2x a day, water on both sides, and a hide in middle, as well as a enclosure-spanning stick, this dude loves to climb.

Roughly a week or so ago I noticed one big dry/shrunken patch of scales on the last third of his body as well as a few other places but much smaller. At this point, I had used bark substrate (Zoo Meds Repti-Bark, which is Fir) for about three weeks to a month prior, spot cleaning as necessary (I had read somewhere about a month you fully change substrate and bleach everything). Discovering the scales on one of our daily play sessions, I got out all of the bark, disinfected the tank & waterbowls, rinsed, put in newspaper, and left the wood crap outside. I found no evidence of mites.
I've changed the newspaper so far one time (middle of the week, been about a week). All of this I did off of a recommendation from The Boa Constrictor Manual, recommended by the breeder I got this guy from. I also have been applying Neosporin daily over the entire snake (minus yesterday, feeding).

He still appears completely healthy (alert, toungue flicking, taking food, same temperment, feces/urates normal) save the skin areas, which do look better, however, some of the scales now seem to bend or bow inward, which I'm thinking is because of the Neosporin, but not sure at all. The last few days I will say I found two or three small (scale or two size) flakes of what look like old shed (but aren't, I make sure my pals shed fully). Forum searches didn't do much for me, other than tell me I need some pictures, which I can get as soon as I find the wife's camera.

Thoughts would be awesome, especially concerning differences between fungal and bacterial or if anyone has experience with the Neosporin deal.

[kgb346]

My first thought was, your temps are too high. It shouldn't and there is no need for it to be over 92 on the hot side, same with ball pythons. To me it sounds like you are roasting the skin off your boa. The air is probably dryer than the hygrometer is telling you. At 100 degrees things are going to dry out fast. You said he climbs a lot, so he is probably climbing up closer to the heat and getting baked.

He is 2 feet long and eating med rats? Something is wrong there.

[Beefheart]

Originally Posted by kgb346

My first thought was, your temps are too high. It shouldn't and there is no need for it to be over 92 on the hot side, same with ball pythons. To me it sounds like you are roasting the skin off your boa. The air is probably dryer than the hygrometer is telling you. At 100 degrees things are going to dry out fast. You said he climbs a lot, so he is probably climbing up closer to the heat and getting baked.

He is 2 feet long and eating med rats? Something is wrong there.

Well, he's about 3' now. He usually basks on the bottom of the hot side and climbs in the middle, spending most of the time in the hide. The Boa Constrictor Manual recommended 95 +/- 5 on the hot side, and he seems to utilize the gradient I set up well, so I wasn't too worried about temps. I can definitely consider lowering this and throw in a lower wattage/ceramic lamp, however there were no problem signs until roughly a week or week and a half ago when I noticed the scales. The humidity does worry me, I mist 2x a day, and with the bark substrate dermatitis of some sort made some sense to me as I originally started using it over paper to retain humidity. I keep wet towels over the open enclosure top areas and mist sides with the newspaper now.

[jhsulliv]

It actually sounds like the humidity may be too low even though your gauge is showing an OK value. Generally when the scales bend like that it is from too low of a humidity and you mention the flakes, which are retained shed on certain scales. What type of gauge do you have? If it's one of those analog, pretty, round reptile gauges I wouldn't trust it and would invest in something better.

[Boa Amarali]

I personally think the hot end is a little high but no big deal it ain't gonna hurt the Boa .
The Boa has a cool end to go to ,so it can't be roasting,
The Boa would just go to the cool end.
The humidity might be the problem , but I would think
the issue would be more wide spread.
I'm thinking more along the lines of a skin issue poissible fungal
that could be treated with Lotrimin.
I believe the worst that could happen would be the Lotrimin wouldn't help.
If none of the other options like raising humidity do not help
try this Lotrimin on a little spot
See if it helps

[davenkelly]

For themp and humidity are you using a digital temp/humidity meter? Or the stick to the side dial kind?

The only thing the dial kind are good for is to level the legs on a wobbly table!!.......

[tech24]

If you are misting twice a day in a plastic cage the humidity should be fine. I have a different kinds of hygrometeres and they all are fairly accurate (measuring moisture is not quantum physics), even the $2 ones. I would have to agree with Lar, maybe some kind of skin issue. Good Luck!

[Beefheart]

They are the cheesy round PetCo type thermometers and hygrometers.

In all honesty, I really should get a better enclosure soon anyway, this one I have is an acrylic aquarium with two rectangles cut in the top I put a screen lid on. 48" x 18" x about 24" or so high.

Checking him today, his scales are not returning to normal size, just not as dry. Pretty sure that's because of the Neosporin keeping it moist. It's been about six or seven days of the Neosporin deal now.

I keep thinking it's fungal more and more, I keep getting more of those little scale sized flakes. Still alert and healthy other than that. Going to get a smaller lamp tomorrow, and change out the newspaper and disinfect again to be safe.

Can I get the Lotrimin antifungal at the petstore or over the counter somewhere?

[Linda]

Originally Posted by Beefheart

They are the cheesy round PetCo type thermometers and hygrometers.

In all honesty, I really should get a better enclosure soon anyway, this one I have is an acrylic aquarium with two rectangles cut in the top I put a screen lid on. 48" x 18" x about 24" or so high.

Checking him today, his scales are not returning to normal size, just not as dry. Pretty sure that's because of the Neosporin keeping it moist. It's been about six or seven days of the Neosporin deal now.

I keep thinking it's fungal more and more, I keep getting more of those little scale sized flakes. Still alert and healthy other than that. Going to get a smaller lamp tomorrow, and change out the newspaper and disinfect again to be safe.

Can I get the Lotrimin antifungal at the petstore or over the counter somewhere?

Neosporin is oil based. Any type of oil on a snake will cause "flakes" of skin to come off. Once a snake has had "oil" put on them they need to have a regular shed for it to stop. At least, that's been my experience with oils or oil based products. Since you put it over his entire body.... You're going to have a lot of flakes for a while.

Not sure what's up with the other problems with his skin, if it's fungal or bacterial. A trip to the vet might be beneficial.

BTW could you possibly post pictures of what his skin looks like? It's hard to tell from a description, but a picture might help. Maybe someone will have seen it or a similar problem before and be able to suggest what could help. Going to the vet is still your best bet.

[Boa Amarali]

Lotrimin antifungal is a " human product " (for lack of better description)which can be
found at any pharmacy and I find it at Walmart ,Meijer type stores as well.

What Linda stated about oil/petroleum based products causing little flakes to
come off has been my exact experience with those products as well