soaking

[Subzero]

Ok new big female i got is still soaking, bout 3 days straight now.. I see no mites/ticks what so ever. I dont really wanna take the water out if shes doing it for a reason. Never refused a meal and eats very aggressively. Other than mites/parasites is there another reason why she may be doing this? Temps are good humidity is about 45-50% only one hide in the quaranteen cage but she doesnt use it anyway (soaking).

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Healthy BP do not really soak and excessive soaking can be bad for them specially for that long, you should provide her with a smaller dish where she cannot soak in.

If you are certain there is no might she could very well feel insecure in her hide and use the water dish as an hide.

Try to offer two tight identical hides (all side touching your BP's body) and avoid log hide as they don't provide enough security.

It can also be due to temps and or humidity make sure to double check that the enclosure is not to hot and has proper humidity, if you are using a stick or dial thermometer know that they are not accurate and you should use a digital one to get proper reading.

[bearhart]

Mine soaks solid from the beginning of the shed cycle to right before he actually sheds. Its fairly nerve wracking because this means at least a week. I can raise the humidity and it doesn't matter.

[rabernet]

Are you seeing any "poppy seeds" or "pepper flakes" in the water dish when you remove her?


You say your temps are good - what are they, and what are you using to measure them (ie, digital or dial)?

If dial, where are they mounted? Ground level or higher?

[Subzero]

Im using accurites for temps/himidity hides are tight flower pots with holes in the top, they love em with the holes on top,makes it seem they are going under ground. no pepper flakes (mites) what so ever, Ive checked numerous times. Today she is in her hide so she was soaking for about 4days total. If it keeps up ill just use a small water bowl for drinking only.

[frankykeno]

I'd just change the big water bowl for a smaller, not easily tipped one. That way she can have a good drink of water but not soak in it which isn't particularily good for her skin as well as she'll could be drinking water she might have made foul by laying/peeing/defecating in.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

hides are tight flower pots with holes in the top, they love em with the holes on top

If you are using actual flower pots and not flower pot dishes this migh be your problem, if the pots are too high and the top does not touch your BP's body this could make your BP feel insecure.

[bearhart]

Mine has done 10 days straight in the water before so don't freak out. If there's any chance its shedding then that may be it.

If I feel like my BP is soaking too much I make the water dish less hospitable by cooling the water and removing the partial cover.

[bearhart]

With my snake, a super-tight hide is not the best. They adjust while they are in there like people do when they sleep. My opinion is that it needs to be tight and secure from a tactical standpoint, but it should not actually be so tight that it presses on them when they are coiled up inside.

I used to have an upside down coaster holder that fit him like a glove when he was in there. He used it but only for bare essential sleep time. Now I make him little caves assembled out of cork bark, rocks, and a little peet moss. He likes them much better.