How many times do you guys check your snakes?

[j94712]

Just wondering. Because i know that checking them too often will stress them out, but I don't want them to be sitting on their poop if I don't check very often. This is just for ball pythons that are not breeding, meaning that you don't need to check daily for eggs.

[sho220]

Depends on a lot of things...my work schedule, what's going on at home, how old they are, if they're going through a shed cycle, etc. On average, probably every couple of days they all get checked on...

[bcr229]

Before I go to work, when I get home from work, and before I go to bed. Yes, I have found myself cleaning tubs between midnight and 3:00 a.m.

[CptJack]

I answered daily, but in truth it's more like twice daily - when I wake up and before I go to bed. I only have 2, and I don't want them sitting in dirty cages, wet cages because their water's been tipped over, or without water. It also gives me a chance to check temperatures in the room, but that's more like walking in and glancing at the T-stat than a serious check.

[blk02ssmonte]

I check couple times a day. Morning and night usually. Just make sure they are clean and don't need water. Other than that they get a good cleaning once a week when I feed.

[whatsherface]

I do a quick check after work daily. If I did it before work I would constantly be late because I just had to clean up a mess before I left.

[sho220]

Using the right water bowl will keep them from getting tipped over...

[CptJack]

Using the right water bowl will keep them from getting tipped over...

I'm using supposedly no tip bowls (well one is, the other is just flat and shallow). However I've literally seen the bigger snake shove hard enough against that one to make a mess, they drag substrate through the water or poop in it. So it's still worth my peace of mind to peek in for the thirty seconds it takes to check on them and make sure they're clean, dry, and have drinkable water. I could make it even easier by removing the substrate to straight paper towels, but eh. 2 snakes, a whole 2 minutes a day? Not a hardship for me. I'm sure I'd streamline more if I had more.

[sho220]

I'm using supposedly no tip bowls (well one is, the other is just flat and shallow). However I've literally seen the bigger snake shove hard enough against that one to make a mess, they drag substrate through the water or poop in it. So it's still worth my peace of mind to peek in for the thirty seconds it takes to check on them and make sure they're clean, dry, and have drinkable water. I could make it even easier by removing the substrate to straight paper towels, but eh. 2 snakes, a whole 2 minutes a day? Not a hardship for me. I'm sure I'd streamline more if I had more.

I use big 'ol monster ceramic bowls...haven't had one of those tipped unless it was due to breeding. I'm in the snakeroom several times a day so I can see if any tubs are wet just by looking at the front of the tubs, but I guess I don't consider that as checking on them.

[CptJack]

Oh, now there's an idea. I used to have one of those bowls for my dogs. I didn't like it for that because of the weight, but it'd be perfect for the snakes. Thanks!