Soaking Kaa (help?)

[KayleighBrown]

I chose to soak him, but for how long? He's almost 3 months, but he's so wrinkly, and doesn't appear to be shedding anytime soon. How long can I soak him to try and hydrate him a bit?

[coldbloodaddict]

I chose to soak him, but for how long? He's almost 3 months, but he's so wrinkly, and doesn't appear to be shedding anytime soon. How long can I soak him to try and hydrate him a bit?

I don't suggest soaking a Ball, especially unattended...They can drown in a very small amount of water.

If I have a snake that has a bad shed I put it in a wet snake bag or pillow case for a few hours...The shed will come off as the snake tries to get out of the bag.

[KayleighBrown]

Okay, I'll consider trying that method.

[Physician&Snakes]

Okay, I'll consider trying that method.

Soaking in shallow water is fine, despite what many believe Python regius is capable of swimming. I have cared for several specimens of various ages in the past that soaked avidly...I particularly remember a breeder female that preferred to submerge her head completely. If you do not wish to soak then some heavy misting and the application of some Zilla Shed Ease should do the trick.

[coldbloodaddict]

Soaking in shallow water is fine, despite what many believe Python regius is capable of swimming. I have cared for several specimens of various ages in the past that soaked avidly...I particularly remember a breeder female that preferred to submerge her head completely. If you do not wish to soak then some heavy misting and the application of some Zilla Shed Ease should do the trick.

I have seen/heard of a lot of snakes dying in water, even shallow water.

I have never heard of a snake dying because it was tied up in a pillowcase for a few hours though.

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[KayleighBrown]

Okay so here is the deal. I'm very paranoid. Yes paranoid. I don't know if that is a bad thing, but I'm trying to keep cool and not lose my head. I had already soaked Kaa and let him swim around a bit, he was very dry feeling, and after the soak he felt more soft and smooth, yet he didn't poop like I had hoped he would.

I'm very scared of soaking my snakes, especially Kaa being he's already going through a bad start. I fear URI's happening, granted to my luck it hasn't happened yet. Kaa is in a 10gal tank which was used for mice at one time and his top doesn't lock, then again he isn't strong enough to get out. My other two tanks that I use for Sampson and Anastasia have screen tops that do lock. But I hate them! I absalutely 100% HATE them. They don't keep humidity in, even after I put foil on top with spaces cut out for the heat lamps and for ventilation, it just doesn't keep humidity, and I don't want a whole lot of it, I just want it to last a bit longer.

We recently had plastic put up over our windows in our living area, and kitchen, which has done well to keep heat locked in a bit better, but the thing is, my snakes being in our bedroom, it either gets too hot for them, or too cold. I bought a zilla thermostat which has done its job at keeping Kaa's zoo med heat pad from getting too hot, but the fact that it shuts on and off, really irritates the crap out of me. Kaa doesn't use his hot spot, he's always on the cold side, or ontop of his hide where the heat lamp shines down on it.

I just don't know what to do any further about it. I intend at some point to get Anastasia a bigger tank, so I can move Sampson into hers, and then Kaa into sampsons and get rid of my 10gal. Looking at all these terrarium tanks, and all glass tanks, they're too expensive and I can't afford any, and it's really frustrating to see them at petco and go "Oh that would be perfect for them! Awww but we're too poor to buy one right now" so we're stuck with the tanks we've got.

We love our snakes and have been working as best as we could budget wise to get what is best for them, and lately, I've been thinking bad about myself lately, like I'm not good enough to own any reptiles because of things like this. But I don't want to give up and risk hurting myself by giving up on my dream of becoming a breeder some day.

I really wish there were some helpful tips on what I can do to make my snakes more comfortable and happy.

[Naom9Anne]

I have soaked my BP's, I do supervise during this though. I have also used the wet pillowcase method over night.

I use tubs for most of mine which have secure lock lids and I find they keep humidity in really well and they're relatively cheap too but require UTH rather than a heat lamp. They're not as aesthetically pleasing but my BP's eat well and humidity is kept very well.

[KayleighBrown]

I have soaked my BP's, I do supervise during this though. I have also used the wet pillowcase method over night.

I use tubs for most of mine which have secure lock lids and I find they keep humidity in really well and they're relatively cheap too but require UTH rather than a heat lamp. They're not as aesthetically pleasing but my BP's eat well and humidity is kept very well.

Do you have issues with temperatures slipping up and down? How is your set up for tubs? And what brand of tubs do you use Naomi? I've though about getting them, but with only an UTH I've always feared them getting too cold. Or the UTH being hot enough to burn them still.

[bcr229]

My other two tanks that I use for Sampson and Anastasia have screen tops that do lock. But I hate them! I absalutely 100% HATE them. They don't keep humidity in, even after I put foil on top with spaces cut out for the heat lamps and for ventilation, it just doesn't keep humidity, and I don't want a whole lot of it, I just want it to last a bit longer.

I have found that Glad Press n Seal works better than foil for keeping humidity in as it is more airtight. Also, a clean damp washcloth placed between the screen top and Press n Seal will also help maintain humidity, just don't let it get too close to the heat lamp.

[Physician&Snakes]

Do you have issues with temperatures slipping up and down? How is your set up for tubs? And what brand of tubs do you use Naomi? I've though about getting them, but with only an UTH I've always feared them getting too cold. Or the UTH being hot enough to burn them still.

32 qt tub used for young balls, heated with cable or heat pad, I do not use a thermostat for these because of the low watt pads...


106qt tub, used for young retics and balls is thermostat regulated due to higher wattage heat pad.



My 32qts : http://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-32-Q...learview+boxes . Make sure you have a bungee cord across the top for extra security.