Snake loves water?

[amanda_rose07]

I was just wondering if anyone elses snake(s) soak in water bowl ALL the time? Ive did some reading and a lot of people have stated a reason for that is mites, but there are no mites on her or left in the water bowl. Is there something else that could be wrong or is she just weird? lol

[FIEND_FO_LYFE]

the only thing i could think of...

shedding.. or mites....

but...
there are a few snakes that like soaking...
but thats the only reson ive ever heard...

[JLC]

Reasons a snake might soak:

1. Mites
2. Trying to cool off because cage temps are too warm
3. Too little humidity in cage
4. Lack of adequately snug hides...the waterbowl may feel more secure than its hides
5. Just ate a large meal and uses the water to "float" a bit and take some of the pressure off of its insides

If you can rule all of these out...you may just have a snake that likes to soak. But it's not at all common among ball pythons.

[amanda_rose07]

Thanks for the ideas.
Im going to clean everything really good today and give them some new furniture.
I was also wondering if it is ok to use sheets/pillow cases/rugs (clean of course) in the cage instead of bedding?

[JLC]

I think that'd get pretty nasty really fast. If you don't want to use store-bought bedding...you can always use newspaper or paper towels.

The only purpose for the substrate for a ball python is to absorb waste until you get a chance to clean it out. Paper works great for that and it's really cheap and easy to clean up and replace.

For hides...anything non-porous that you can wash will work. What almost all ball pythons prefer is a hide that seems too small for them by our standards. They really like to feel hugged on all sides....a VERY snug little cave. That's why some retreat to their waterbowl if all they have is a half-log or giant box or somesuch. While we may not think the waterbowl looks very secure because we can easily see them....they're not thinking about how clear it is...all they know is that it feels snug and they feel completely surrounded by the water, which is what they're looking for to feel secure.

Sorry I'm so chatty...hope that helps some!

[Samuel]

Make sure you REALLY search for mites. Mine had them for a while, and I didn't even see them .. but what I did notice was he was soaking more and more until one day I saw the little specs in his bowl and I freaked out. I was so upset at my self for not seeing them earlier.

I checked temps, inpected for mites, i increased humidity .. and nothing worked. but .. after seeing them, I felt so bad for not taking care of them sooner.

[amanda_rose07]

I dont mind the chatty Its helping me a lot!
She has never really been a "hider." When i picked her out she was the only one wandering around. When she comes out of her water bowl she runs up and down the log and hangs on the sides of the tanks. She is restless. lol I take her out as often as I am able to. She has bit once and struck once. She bit me as I pulled her out of the cage at the store to buy her, and later that evening she struck at my hubby as he pulled her out of the box to put her in the tank. Other than that she is wonderful except she is sketchy about her head being touched (sometimes) and she does not AT ALL like fast movement or for me to sit down while I am holding her. I dont have any scales but she is not "skinny" and she has never refused a meal. She meets me at the top of the box when I bring her the mouse. lol

[amanda_rose07]

Another question. I am confident that she doesnt have mites. But I am not POSSITIVE, so I will treat her. With the provent-a-mite, do you just clean and spray the cage materials, or do you actually put it on the snake? I dont have any at the moment, and Im sure it will have directions, I am just curious.

[spaceturtle]

Geez my snake doesn't even know he HAS a water bowl. When he gets a bath though, boy does he drink.

[amanda_rose07]

Lol. She used to have a smaller bowl and Ive seen her drink from it before, it was awesome, and then I bought her a bigger one and now she wont stay out of it. lol

I was really excited after I got her too, because I thought she was special. Like a pastel or something. Then someone made sure to tell me she was just a pretty "normal" ball