Woma bad scales and missed feed

[mun1984]

Hey all, getting a little worried for my male woma. Noticed some missing scales from him a few weeks ago, but he was active and feeding well, so thought nothing of it. Today, he missed his feed. This is the first time ever that he has refused food in the 2 years i've been keeping him. Took a few photos of the missing scales, hope to know what you think may be wrong and what I should do. He has got lots of single small missing or damaged scales (last 2 photos) along the length of the dorsal part of his body.

For your info, ever since I noticed bad scales a few weeks ago i've been basking him under the sun at least once a week for 15min. He was also sharing the same enclosure with a female woma for about 6 months, but as of yesterday he seperated in a new enclosure.

I don't think its a bacterial or fungal infection, as the female is unaffected and in perfect condition. Also the lesions are dry and has no smell to them. I also don't think its bites from the female, as the female is slightly smaller than him and i've never seen any aggression shown towards each other. His last shed was a full continuous shed.

Any opinions and advice are most appreciated. Thanks for your time!

 

[Zoltag]

That second pic looks like a bump from a fall. The others just look like bits of dry skin that have either been left behind from a previous shed, or that he's scraped in a hide or something.

 

[CML88]

That second pic looks like a bump from a fall. The others just look like bits of dry skin that have either been left behind from a previous shed, or that he's scraped in a hide or something.

If they are injuries from a fall or scratch? would they heal after a shed?

 

[Zoltag]

It might take a few sheds to heal up completely. If its just a bit of dry skin, it should disappear in the next shed.

 

[mun1984]

It might take a few sheds to heal up completely. If its just a bit of dry skin, it should disappear in the next shed.

Thanks a lot Zoltag, hope its just as you said. Will start worrying big time if it misses its next feed

 

[andyscott]

Dont worry if it dosnt feed for the next 3 to 4 months.
Its not uncommon for male Womas to go off their food this time of year.
Even if you havnt started cooling him, he may still sence the change of season and start cooling himself.
As for the missing scales, they look very minor, check your enclosure furniture.
To me it looks like he has just snagged a few scales on something.
A few sheds and it will clear up.
Cheers Andy.

 

[norwich]

i had a similar thing with my female darwin and found it to be mites after treating with top of desent cage only they cleared up hopr this helps

 

[mun1984]

Thanks guys, don't think (cross fingers) its mites, simply because the other snake is don't show any bad scales.

Andy, would he 'cool itself' even if I keep the heat constant? I'm now wondering whether its stress in his new enclosure. Anyway, i'll be trying to feed them in a week's time.

Cheers!

 

[andyscott]

[QUOTE
Andy, would he 'cool itself' even if I keep the heat constant? I'm now wondering whether its stress in his new enclosure. Anyway, i'll be trying to feed them in a week's time.

Cheers![/QUOTE]


Yes he will.
Ive mainly seen this in Aspidites, once they start becomming sexualy mature and sense the change in the season.
Most of my BHPs tend to go off their food around this time of year (even if im not cooling them). My females tend to only refuse 2 or 3 feeds, but if I keep the heat up they get back into it quickly.
One of my males on the other hand does this every year, even though I keep the heat up to him. He will go off his food for 4 to 6 months, he tucks himself up behind his water bowl to get as cool as possible and will not eat.

My g/f also has a SA male Woma that does the same thing every year as well.

As for the scale damage, that type of damage can be caused by random things in the enclosure.
When a snake has freshly shed its skin and the new skin is still soft. It can rub against things in the enclosure and damage the soft scales.
What do you have in the enclosure? Branches? Ect?
Just smooth the sharp edges of any branches and wood you may have in with it.
Once again its not a health issue.

Cheers Andy.

 

[mun1984]

Thanks Andy, I've repositioned his furniture so there's nothing underneath the branches. I realize Womas are really bad climbers and do know he falls from his branch regularly. Its not a tall branch, so did not think anything of it. Well, i'll just monitor him for now/

Thanks a lot everyone, I'm not going to worry about it since I now know its not a question of illness.

Thanks heaps!