soaking

[Salty]

Well, my Bp has been soaking in his water bowl for a few days now. At first I didn't pay much attention because last time before he shed he did this too and seemed okay after and all but this time his head seems really dry and brittle even his eyes. I have been misting the cage a couple times a day and it hasn't seemed to get him out of his water so last night when I went to feed him I noticed he's wheezing. God $@* it! Anyways, he struck at the food a few times(we had some difficulties cuz the mouse fell in the water) and I'm sure he will eat 2nite that's never been a problem.....but getting him out of his water bowl is! I took him out of his 40 gal. aquarium which has glass on half of the top by the way, and set him up in a tub to increase humidity and warm it up a little more.

The temps are 91.9 ont the warm side in his hide, and about 84-89 degrees throughout the rest of it. The humidity is way up there like 79% and I'm trying to drop it by letting fresh air in, but he's still soaking in his water bowl! I swear I can't do anything for him if he won't cooperate.......I'm pretty sure he doesn't have mites I gave him a thorough check and didn't see anything moving or anything. What's going on? Should I remove his water bowl and only let him have it periodically or what?

[Danielle(THM)]

With the wheezing, take him to the vet, it's a good sign of an RI, and bump the humidity down, but only until he recovers, then like 60% should be fine, Bauhamat has a full shed while being kept at about 60% humidity. I couldn't tell you why he's chilling in the water bowl, do you have enough hides? Maybe he's using it as a hide, just a guess.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Ball pythons will soak in their water bowls if their hides are inadequate or too big ... they are trying to "hide" in the water and don't realize that it's clear.

Another reason for soaking is to "cool off" from temps that are too high.

I have a pretty big collection of snakes and not a single one of them ever soaks on their own.

I would check out that husbandry again and definitely get the wheeze looked at. An upper respiratory infection that goes untreated for too long can migrate to the lower lung and become a serious problem.

-adam

[Salty]

well, I put my ball in the tub like I said and he stopped sittin in his water bowl as much but once in a while he still is when I check on him. I was told that the brittle white looking head was a sign of mites and that I should inspect the bottom of his lip(that little indentation that seperates the two sides of the jaw) and run hot water down his head and try to move his eye a little and sometimers mites crawl right out of there. I got a florescent bulb right over the tub and did this and inspected him yet again very closely, no sign of mites on him or his water bowl. The wheezing is gone too, I caught it quick and at least the water bowl stays warmer in the tub.


As far as the hides, maybe your right. His hide is pretty weak, one of those hollowed out logs that does let light in but in his tub I put bedding on top and surrounded it so it would be dark.

I will let someone w/ a little more experience inspect him and see what they think. I will probaly put him back in his aquarium after some slight modifications ( better hides and a humid lay box type hide) because I can tell he misses his log and basking area....it's like going from a mansion to a motel 6 or something. Thx for the replies.