Soaking: controversy?

I agree with others here, stay away from facebook animal groups. Not only are they toxic and bottomless holes, but they will only fuel your rage against humanity. haha my 2 cents.

I hate Facebook .... it’s far too clustered for my ordered, logic mind and it’s resulted in so many great forums dying :(


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The warm, damp pillowcase method has always helped me with stuck sheds of rescues. Soak a pillowcase in warm water and wring it out, then let the BP in the pillowcase for about 15 minutes. It may take a few tries if you have a really bad stuck shed, but it usually works like a charm with minimal stress to the snake.

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Originally Posted by O'Mathghamhna

The warm, damp pillowcase method has always helped me with stuck sheds of rescues. Soak a pillowcase in warm water and wring it out, then let the BP in the pillowcase for about 15 minutes. It may take a few tries if you have a really bad stuck shed, but it usually works like a charm with minimal stress to the snake.

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Then let it wriggle around in the middle of a wrapped up , very damp rough textured towel ..


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Originally Posted by Fasfer

So, I recently got a new BP. I soaked said BO to rehydrate him and to help with the shed (but my main priority was the hydration).

I posted about it in a Facebook group and now I’m being called a terrible keeper. I didn’t even know this was controversial or a no-no to so many people?!

Does this actually make me a bad keeper? And why is this a controversy I had no idea about?

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I’m not gonna bother getting too involved in this but I will say that ‘soaking’ does SEEM to be more acceptable in the uk than in the States ..


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Hydration through soaking the reptile via its cloaca is not proven science. That is a common practice among bearded dragon keepers. A reptile vet tested that idea and the result was it made no difference, but additional testing and large sample is needed for further confirmation. A turtle does breathe through its cloaca in water, but keep in mind that turtles, lizards and snakes have been evolving separately from a common ancestor for thousands of years...

I have seen snakes drink more than lizards though, and it is already pretty uncommon to see a snake drink (If they were, because ball pythons are nocturnal, it would be at night while you slept). And soaking can be stressful for any snake not meant for water. Most snakes get their hydration from their prey anyway. Provide a water bowl, keep the water clean and make sure your snake eats. Soak only because of stuck shed.

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Originally Posted by Cheesenugget

Hydration through soaking the reptile via its cloaca is not proven science. That is a common practice among bearded dragon keepers. A reptile vet tested that idea and the result was it made no difference, but additional testing and large sample is needed for further confirmation. A turtle does breathe through its cloaca in water, but keep in mind that turtles, lizards and snakes have been evolving separately from a common ancestor for thousands of years...

I have seen snakes drink more than lizards though, and it is already pretty uncommon to see a snake drink (If they were, because ball pythons are nocturnal, it would be at night while you slept). And soaking can be stressful for any snake not meant for water. Most snakes get their hydration from their prey anyway. Provide a water bowl, keep the water clean and make sure your snake eats. Soak only because of stuck shed.

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In the uk they advise soaking for any dehydrated snakes .. I can confirm that it can make a tremendous difference from first hand experience.




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