Soaking Ball Python...

Hey I'm new to the forum, I came across it while doing some Googling. Anyway, I currently have a juvenile Ball Python named Irwin. I bought him last spring/summer. I have owned a handful of reptiles and other animals over the years...Burmese python, other Balls, corn snakes, savannah moniter, iguana, tarantula, turtles...so on.

My question...
About 10-12 days ago he ate 1 mouse. The next day I notice he is soaking in his water hide...No biggie. So yea that was about 10 days ago...he hasn't come out since. Temps are fine, Humidity is a little low but it always is, I mist with water bottle whenever needed. 3 days ago I took him out and put fresh water in the bowl, checked him out for mites but didn't see any. I did notice his blue eyes. Figured he will be shedding soon. So soaking in his water didn't seem out of the ordinary...but for this long?...Really?
I dumped in some fresh clean water , and placed him and the container back in the tank and I found him back in there within minutes.

Should I be worried of anything, or just let him be. The middle of this coming week will be around the 2 week mark. :confuse:

What are your hot side temps?

They are consistently 86-88.

That is low. Hot side should be 90 - 92 ... But that doesn't solve your soaking problem, unless for some reason the snake thinks it is warmer in the water.

Could be soaking due to the coming shed as well. OP stated the humidity was a bit low.

Yeah but soaking for almost 2 weeks straight?

Edit..after some adjustments...Hot side temps are actually 97-98. Too warm I guess. Still doesn't explain the 2 week bath though. Cold side temps are 81-82. Water hide is on the cold side.

Oh, well then my only guess is that your snake was hot.

I keep all my snakes at 88-89F and 78-80 Cool side. Thoses saying they must be 90-92 is off. IMO ive noticed my snakes will NOT go near a hot side over 90.


Excessive soaking is Mites or something is off in the setup. Need to fix it asap otherwise you can end up with scale rot

Sounds like he was too warm. Double check your warm side and cool side surface temps (the surface temps are all that matter to BP's. Best way to measure them is with a IR thermometer, such as: tempgun.com)

Basically double check all husbandry and find a way to keep the humidity at least at 50% and then see if the behavior continues.