Thing on Head

abcat1993 · 12-04-2006, 08:23 PM

I found this:

on my snakes head, if you can see it. The picture makes it look like pus or something but when I look it looks like dirt or something. Maybe the new substrate? I did get one tiny splinter when I was unpacking it, but that is a lot harder than just going around on the surface. And if it was burrowing it would be on the tip of it's nose. The snake, however, is acting like normal though. You can look at what it's head looked like a month or two ago in the photo contest for reference.

Cazador · 12-04-2006, 10:05 PM

Are you talking about the scale on the very top (dorsal side) of its head directly between its eyes?

Thamnophis · 12-04-2006, 11:55 PM

I can't see anything on its head. I put on my readingglasses but that didn't help.

Cazador · 12-05-2006, 12:11 AM

I didn't see anything either, so I was completely guessing that the "frontal" scale may be coming off. I've see it before, and it just takes daily antibiotic (neosporin) treatments to heal the damage. If this is the case, it will expose muscle tissue when the scale is removed, but it will look as good as new with daily neosporin treatment. I could be way off base, though.

abcat1993 · 12-05-2006, 06:58 AM

On the top of it's head in between the eyes it has two whiteish cracks.

Thamnophis · 12-05-2006, 05:36 PM

Look closely if there is a scale that did not shed.

abcat1993 · 12-05-2006, 05:40 PM

My garter has never shed - not while in my care.

Cazador · 12-05-2006, 05:55 PM

First, rub the scale with your finger nail, and look closely to make sure there isn't an extra scale on there from a previous shed (before you owned it), like Thamnophis. If you don't find an extra dried up scale, you can be on the safe side by providing a bit of harmless, preventative medicine. Put a little bit of neosporin on a Q-tip and rub the neosporin on that scale (the fontal scale). If the scale eventually comes off, you'll have to put neosporin on the raw spot every day for a week or two.

abcat1993 · 12-05-2006, 09:00 PM

Sounds nasty. I really don't think I could get her/him to stay still long enough for a Q-tip to go on it's head without getting everywhere on the face. I'll try the fingernail thing first though, and maybe the bathtub method.

Thamnophis · 12-06-2006, 12:00 AM

Maybe you can make a close up picture.

12-04-2006, 08:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
abcat1993 Old and wise snake Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North of Chicago IL, US Posts: 867 Country:	Thing on Head I found this: on my snakes head, if you can see it. The picture makes it look like pus or something but when I look it looks like dirt or something. Maybe the new substrate? I did get one tiny splinter when I was unpacking it, but that is a lot harder than just going around on the surface. And if it was burrowing it would be on the tip of it's nose. The snake, however, is acting like normal though. You can look at what it's head looked like a month or two ago in the photo contest for reference. __________________ 0.1 Jack Russell Terrier 1.0 rough skinned newt 1.0.0 eastern garter http://www.winnetka36.org/ci/ci_name.htm

12-04-2006, 10:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cazador Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alaska, USA Posts: 1,608 Country:	Re: Thing on Head Are you talking about the scale on the very top (dorsal side) of its head directly between its eyes?

12-04-2006, 11:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Thamnophis Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,284 Country:	Re: Thing on Head I can't see anything on its head. I put on my readingglasses but that didn't help. __________________ Kousebandslangen.nl - Member of the EGSA It is always advisable to be a loser if you cannot become a winner. Frank Zappa

12-05-2006, 12:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Cazador Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alaska, USA Posts: 1,608 Country:	Re: Thing on Head I didn't see anything either, so I was completely guessing that the "frontal" scale may be coming off. I've see it before, and it just takes daily antibiotic (neosporin) treatments to heal the damage. If this is the case, it will expose muscle tissue when the scale is removed, but it will look as good as new with daily neosporin treatment. I could be way off base, though.

12-05-2006, 06:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
abcat1993 Old and wise snake Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North of Chicago IL, US Posts: 867 Country:	Re: Thing on Head On the top of it's head in between the eyes it has two whiteish cracks. __________________ 0.1 Jack Russell Terrier 1.0 rough skinned newt 1.0.0 eastern garter http://www.winnetka36.org/ci/ci_name.htm

12-05-2006, 05:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
Thamnophis Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,284 Country:	Re: Thing on Head Look closely if there is a scale that did not shed. __________________ Kousebandslangen.nl - Member of the EGSA It is always advisable to be a loser if you cannot become a winner. Frank Zappa

12-05-2006, 05:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
abcat1993 Old and wise snake Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North of Chicago IL, US Posts: 867 Country:	Re: Thing on Head My garter has never shed - not while in my care. __________________ 0.1 Jack Russell Terrier 1.0 rough skinned newt 1.0.0 eastern garter http://www.winnetka36.org/ci/ci_name.htm

12-05-2006, 05:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cazador Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alaska, USA Posts: 1,608 Country:	Re: Thing on Head First, rub the scale with your finger nail, and look closely to make sure there isn't an extra scale on there from a previous shed (before you owned it), like Thamnophis. If you don't find an extra dried up scale, you can be on the safe side by providing a bit of harmless, preventative medicine. Put a little bit of neosporin on a Q-tip and rub the neosporin on that scale (the fontal scale). If the scale eventually comes off, you'll have to put neosporin on the raw spot every day for a week or two.

12-05-2006, 09:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
abcat1993 Old and wise snake Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North of Chicago IL, US Posts: 867 Country:	Re: Thing on Head Sounds nasty. I really don't think I could get her/him to stay still long enough for a Q-tip to go on it's head without getting everywhere on the face. I'll try the fingernail thing first though, and maybe the bathtub method. __________________ 0.1 Jack Russell Terrier 1.0 rough skinned newt 1.0.0 eastern garter http://www.winnetka36.org/ci/ci_name.htm

12-06-2006, 12:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
Thamnophis Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,284 Country:	Re: Thing on Head Maybe you can make a close up picture. __________________ Kousebandslangen.nl - Member of the EGSA It is always advisable to be a loser if you cannot become a winner. Frank Zappa

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