Can I use soap to give my ball python a bath?

OK so when I gave my Ball Python a f/t rat today, he caught the rat and its guts went everywhere in the feeding bin and on himself (sorry to be graphic there). He still smells like the rat and I was wondering if I can give him a bath using baby shampoo, dish soap, or will plain water will work. Thank you

No.. No and no....
Wipe down with a damp towl.

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Originally Posted by Weiting

OK so when I gave my Ball Python a f/t rat today, he caught the rat and its guts went everywhere in the feeding bin and on himself (sorry to be graphic there). He still smells like the rat and I was wondering if I can give him a bath using baby shampoo, dish soap, or will plain water will work. Thank you

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I'm with Pit, wipe him down with warm water and paper towels. Too many chemicals in all of these commercial soaps. Unnecessary. Peace. :gj:

Not just the chemicals but they will also break down the oils in its skin and could lead to other problems including sheds.

Not a good idea at all, even a bath without soap is not, it's stressful and unnecessary.

Just wide it down with water and chlorhexidine.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Not just the chemicals but they will also break down the oils in its skin and could lead to other problems including sheds.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Not a good idea at all, even a bath without soap is not, it's stressful and unnecessary.


Just wide it down with water and chlorhexidine.

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^^^
True!

But not just for the commercial soaps. (I'm a soap maker)
The alkalinity of the soaps broke the natural protection barrier of the skin, so you can face up more serious problems after the "bubble bath".
About the commercial ones.. Yup. Fragrances, petrol, detergents, aaand so on.

I use hydrogen peroxide on everything in the snake room, including snakes when needed.

Exploding rats are usually a sign they've been overheated.

Or, you can wipe him down with a diluted betadine solution (light tea color). Helps disinfects and gets rid of the smell too.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Not a good idea at all, even a bath without soap is not, it's stressful and unnecessary.

Just wide it down with water and chlorhexidine.

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I second this advice. I have used chlorhexidine to clean up one of my girls after a rat basically exploded on my snake. Worked great for me.