Strange Dark Patch of Skin

[chris-uk]

If it is fungal, the question is what is the underlying cause? They should be fighting off that sort of infection themselves, so has something weakened her immune system or is there another problem which allowed the fungi to get a hold?
Obviously if it's not a fungal infection the question is still, what is it?

I lost a rainbow fish yesterday to a fungal infection, all the others look fine, so I'm assuming she had some condition which allowed the fungi to take hold on her quickly. Sounds bad, but all I thought with her was "I'm glad it's not one of the snakes".

I hope you track down the cause soon. If you do decide to treat the area with an antifungal a lot of them are antibacterial too, I'm wondering if you could use some of the aquatic treatments on a snake's skin (off the top of my head, gentian violet has antifungal and antibacterial properties).

[guidofatherof5]

Here are those macro photos I promised.
I am treating with betadine at this time but will stop that. I'm going to back off and allow her to shed to see what happens.
In these macros you can see that something has happened to the scales almost like a heat or chemical burn.
I rule these out as she can't contact the heat source and has no contact with any chemicals.
I've checked my lights and rule them out(not hot) Also the location of this patch rules out a heat injury since I use belly heat. She would have had to turn on her side to create this injury.
This makes me lean towards a granular cell tumor. I will not have a biopsy done as I don't want to make things worse.
I had a biopsy done on Nova and those area have become much worse(in size) even thought they are benign. If it is a cancer there is no treatment. If it is a tumor I hope it is benign.
Once again, I welcome all questions and input.

[Invisible Snake]

Was this snake wild caught? And have you had her for a long time?

I ask this because maybe it happened in the wild before she was in your care and the symptoms just started appearing?

[guidofatherof5]

Was this snake wild caught? And have you had her for a long time?

I ask this because maybe it happened in the wild before she was in your care and the symptoms just started appearing?

Good question but she(W/C) has been with me for over 2 years. This is something new.

[snake man]

I hope she is ok.

[katach]

This is very interesting. Is there a way to test her shed skin for any type of infection or to take it to your vet for a look under the microscope?

[ProXimuS]

Random thought: Can/do snakes have allergies? Food related or environmental?

[guidofatherof5]

This is very interesting. Is there a way to test her shed skin for any type of infection or to take it to your vet for a look under the microscope?

Good thought Kat. Steve Schmidt suggested having a scraping done for a look under the microscope.

[ProXimuS]

Reptile Skin Basics
Came across this link. You can scroll down a little to where it says "Infections." Seems like the only thing that fits is bacterial/fungal infection where it says "Discoloration."(Not that this site has the only possible options.) Also if you scroll down a little more there are some links to other health conditions and one says "Black Spots" and "Blackening Skin/Blackening Skin Syndrome/Vesicular Dermatitis." It seems like those two are the same thing(?) and possibly only affect Iguanas. At least they were only mentioning Iguanas.

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks for the link. Very interesting.