Swimming?

[Andrew00]

From what I understand, Ball Pyhtons normally live in African grassland. But how are they as swimmers? It would really be fun to let one swim around in my bathtub!

[Brandon.O]

Ohh they are great swimmers !!

I put roxy in a nice big rubbermaid she she goes under the water and cruises around, but most of the time she swims with her head above the surface.

Just dont make the water too deep

I only make it about 2 times her hieght (like from her belly to her back) When i let her swim.Put somthing in there (like a rock or branch) so they can rest.

[Cody]

lol..When I first read this thread title, I imagined a bunch of little kids swimming happily in their backyard pool, then some innocent herper throwing in their ball python for a swim, and clearing the pool of children in the process.

Hmm...that just got me thinking. I don't wanna hijack this topic though, so I'll make a seperate one.

[Adam_Wysocki]

:ohno: d:

-adam

[padiente]

Adam, why the hair pulling and freaked out face?

[Adam_Wysocki]

Because swimming is not a "fun" thing for a ball python. Ball pythons are shy reclusive animals that are very easily stressed. Throwing them in a large cold porcelin bathtub filled with water (not matter how "FUN" you think it would be) would scare the cr@p out of me if I were a ball python.

In the wild a ball python would be very vulnerable to predators in a large body of deep water and would avoid it as much as it could. Those instincts are still there in your CB/CH animal. Reasonable people could easily conclude that they don't "enjoy" swimming.

I posted those smileys because when I initially read the post my thoughts weren't exactly "politically correct". 8)

-adam

[DrEwTiMe]

Im not sure thats its as bad as you say it is adam. My BP actually likes to be in the tub. Its nice warm water and she has her little island that i made for her to rest on whenever she is sick of swimming. From what i read they are definitly part water snakes and enjoy somewhat being in the water. I know that if your snake is constipated putting them in the tub will make them go to the bathroom a hell of a lot easier. but my BP gets at least 2 hours of water time a week. ANd she has never seemed happier.

[Brandon.O]

Exactly,if the water is not to cold or not to hot, and its not for too long, i dont see why its not ok to let your snakes go for a swim.

It does help alot with constipation too.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Im not sure thats its as bad as you say it is adam. My BP actually likes to be in the tub. Its nice warm water and she has her little island that i made for her to rest on whenever she is sick of swimming. From what i read they are definitly part water snakes and enjoy somewhat being in the water. I know that if your snake is constipated putting them in the tub will make them go to the bathroom a hell of a lot easier. but my BP gets at least 2 hours of water time a week. ANd she has never seemed happier.

Part water snake? Where exactly did you read that? Nothing could be farther from the truth.

How exactly do you know that she "likes" it?

If cared for properly, ball pythons should never get "constipated".

I'm certainly not against the occasional soak for a stuck shed, but "swimming" is totally out of character for ball pythons and likely stressful.

-adam

[Shaun J]

I agree with Adam,if by "likeing it",you mean moving alot and the like,she might be scared and trying to get away.It would be nice if they were "part" water snakes,but they arent.