Can a BP drown itself?

[tweets_4611]

Ok, when I feed my girl I leave the hide that she is in and her water bowl in her cage. She seems to feel more secure like that and usually makes a quicker kill.

Last time I fed her she struck and then coiled into her water bowl. There wasn't much water in it and her nose was out of the water so I didn't worry about it. She has also done that before and wiggled her way out of the water while coiled. Anyways, I was watching her and she shifted, and I couldn't tell if her nose was underwater or not. I didn't want to disturb her while she was constricting, so I just left her for a bit. I watched the whole time, and what seemed like long after she would have usually let go, she was still coiled. I got scared that she was drowning herself so I nudged her to see if she would jump....she didn't so I kinda freaked out. I lifted her hide (she was still half in her hide) and she was still breathing, so I nudged her again (good this time) and she finally uncoiled and started eating. Scared the life out of me.

That aside, later I was telling my b/f about it, and he was saying that to him, he thinks that an animal will let go of the food before they kill themselves like that. It just seems to me that if a snake were coiled around food, and was underwater, I don't know that they would let go. I agree with him that if it were a mammal, I can see it giving up the food and living, but I just don't know that I can see a reptile doing that....

What do you guys think? Any other experiences with this kind of thing with reptiles?

[Spaniard]

I've had many snakes take a dive into their water bowl after striking and I don't worry about it. They know what they're doing.

[Somed00d]

I have one that coils in the water and completely submerges itself. I would expect they can stay underwater for a long period of time. I have also had them constrict food in the water bowl without any issues.

[casperca]

I've had a few hatchlings do this. After they hit the mouse I use the tongs to grab the prey by the tail and quickly move them out of the water. I have never seen any ill effects in doing this as they always eat just as normal afterward.

[desertpirate]

They can stay underwater for a long time. When mine has a partial shed and I need to wet him down to help get the rest off I let him swim in the aquarium (supervised, of course). He appears to love it... he swims for a while and then hides in among the plants. He comes up for air when he needs it.

[Ladydragon]

I've had both my corn snakes and two of my ball pythons constrict inside their water bowl. I just reach in and grab the most prominent coil and just lift them out of the bowl and just place them next to it. They are so busy constricting that they really dont notice and business goes on as usual. If it makes you nervous about it, try not to feed over the water bowl or remove it right before feeding. You can always put the bowl back later.

[Ladydragon]

They can stay underwater for a long time. When mine has a partial shed and I need to wet him down to help get the rest off I let him swim in the aquarium (supervised, of course). He appears to love it... he swims for a while and then hides in among the plants. He comes up for air when he needs it.

uhm.. can you get a video or pictures of this next time around? I'd really be interested in seeing that. thanx.

[scales owner]

I agree with all of the above.... Mine will sumurge itself under for I know at least 45 min. I watched and timed him. Nothing to worry about.

[RoyalGuardian]

I take showers with my snake sometimes. I get the water nice and warm and put his hide box on a shelf( so he isnt on the cold floor where I could step on him) and before I even let him in I use hot water to make all the surfaces warm so he can have a ball. I get those bird shower stick things and wrap silky plants on it so he has shelter but instead of staying in his hide he sits on top of it and lets the water massage the lower half of his body. He gets so relaxed! He yawns and sniffs here and there. When I do take showers with him I use Loreal for Kids so its safe and non toxic. I have never gotten suds on him though cause he is on the other side of my shower. Sometimes when I first change his water he coils up in it cause i make sure its warm water. He will submerge in his water for a really long time sometimes. HAHA! Speaking of submerging he is chilling in his water dish as we speak! he's just about to shed.

[rabernet]

They can stay underwater for a long time. When mine has a partial shed and I need to wet him down to help get the rest off I let him swim in the aquarium (supervised, of course). He appears to love it... he swims for a while and then hides in among the plants. He comes up for air when he needs it.

I really would not recommend that - not to mention not knowing what sort of bacteria your guy is picking up in the acquarium. They are not water snakes and I seriously doubt that he loves it.

I'd be looking at your husbandry and why he's having partial sheds rather than giving him field trips to the acquarium. There's a right way to soak a snake and a wrong way - and that's just very wrong.