Sitting in a Water Bowl after Eating

Hi.
For information --- this is my set up:
36" x 18" glass tank with three hides, various plants (not real), three water bowls. The back is completely covered for privacy. The tank is located in my craft room so I can keep the temperature level and correct.
UTH under one hide: temp ~98 degrees monitored by a thermostat. Also, I have a heat lamp (not a bulb) on the warm side and the temp is ~85 degrees.
The cool side is ~77 degrees and the cool hide is ~78. I check with a temp gun every day. The middle of the tank is ~84 degrees.
Humidity runs between 52 percent and 65 percent (after a light mist).

I weighed Lilia on 11/30 and she was 114 g. (I weighed her on 11/23 and she was only 88g.) I've had her for one month and the breeder said, at the time, she was about 5-6 weeks and she'd just come out of shed -- all in one piece except a little on her head, which I was able to remove after she had a little soak last week.

She's been eating consistently f/t (weekly), without issue, since 11/12.

So this is my question: Last night she ate, no problem. But when I went to check on her before bedtime (about an hour+ later) she was all curled up in her water bowl...just hanging out. She'd eaten fine, but instead of going into her hide to digest --- she went for a soak. This morning she was in her cool hide as normal. That's where I usually find her in the morning.

What do you make of her sitting in her dish? Does that indicate something I'm not aware of --- or am I reading WAY TOO MUCH into just a weird little snake thing?:snake:

Thanks for reading!!!

Usually BP that will go in their water bowl after a meal (if there is no other issues) do so to get some relief from a meal that is a bit to big for them.

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Originally Posted by Stewart_Reptiles

Usually BP that will go in their water bowl after a meal (if there is no other issues) do so to get some relief from a meal that is a bit to big for them.

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She is eating an 8g mouse hopper. I thought that was appropriate for her size.

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Originally Posted by LeeAnnT99

She is eating an 8g mouse hopper. I thought that was appropriate for her size.

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Than it's not that there is another reason why she is using the water dish.

Could be lack of security, hides too big not touching all side of he body (basically a hide has to be like a turtle shell fitting a turtle)

Over heating

Mites

On the feeding side you are underfeeding and that snake can take a small adult mouse with no issue.

Thanks. I'll check for mites, but not today -- since she just ate. (If it is, I'd be surprised, because I just had her out two days ago and checked her face, throat, and underbody. I didn't see anything.)

The cool hide (the one she likes the best) is a nice tight one, it's a plastic to-go food container. :)
I'll swap out the other two -- they are the ones that look like half logs (Zoo Med habba hut). They definitely do not fit her like a turtle shell.

And, I'll get her the larger mice for food.

I don't think it is heat, though, do you? I monitor the temps carefully and keep everything within range and double-check with the temperature gun to be sure.

Thank you for taking the time to help!! I appreciate it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LeeAnnT99

Thanks. I'll check for mites, but not today -- since she just ate. (If it is, I'd be surprised, because I just had her out two days ago and checked her face, throat, and underbody. I didn't see anything.)

The cool hide (the one she likes the best) is a nice tight one, it's a plastic to-go food container. :)
I'll swap out the other two -- they are the ones that look like half logs (Zoo Med habba hut). They definitely do not fit her like a turtle shell.

And, I'll get her the larger mice for food.

I don't think it is heat, though, do you? I monitor the temps carefully and keep everything within range and double-check with the temperature gun to be sure.

Thank you for taking the time to help!! I appreciate it.

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Usually the most likely culprit in order are mites, lack of security, food (which we already ruled out) and overheating in the event of t-stat failure or lack of t-stat.

98 degrees on the hot side is really way too hot....you can drop that down to 90 max.

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Originally Posted by Andiamo

you can drop that down to 90 max.

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Thanks! I made that adjustment!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Andiamo

98 degrees on the hot side is really way too hot....you can drop that down to 90 max.

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Good catch! You beat me to it.

I find even 90 is too warm. I shoot for 87-88 for a hot spot

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LeeAnnT99

Thanks! I made that adjustment!!

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That's likely why she's been in the water bowl then...but it never hurts to check (w/ magnifier) for mites too. 98* is way too hot! :O