Help there's a snake in my sink!!

I would also like to add to the record that I do not keep 'aquiring reptiles' I have one, she has one, and her daughter has one. The roommate has 3. I take care of theirs and he takes care of his. I only added them to the list because they are part of the household.

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1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

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Originally Posted by maudie

It's really weird to see all the stuff you're saying about how soaking a ball python is pointless. I soak both my girls very often and not only do they seem to enjoy it, but it helps their shed a ton. it also helps hydration, I've heard. I think that any ball python owner that actually takes the time to personally soak their snake (wether the snake likes it or not) is a fantastic, responsible and caring owner. if what she's doing is working for her, let her be.

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If you are going to encourage people to soak their snakes on a regular basis, perhaps you would like to help them with the consequences when they occur? You do know what those consequences are.....right?

Your snake does not enjoy it.

The effects on hydration are minimal. Ball pythons are not tortoises.

...and the effects on shedding are very often detrimental.

I think that misinformed - not fantastic, responsible or caring - owners soak their ball pythons.

Prove me wrong.

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

If you are going to encourage people to soak their snakes on a regular basis, perhaps you would like to help them with the consequences when they occur? You do know what those consequences are.....right?

Your snake does not enjoy it.

The effects on hydration are minimal. Ball pythons are not tortoises.

...and the effects on shedding are very often detrimental.

I think that misinformed - not fantastic, responsible or caring - owners soak their ball pythons.

Prove me wrong.

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I feel that, yes, I was misinformed in this case. It's so odd that whenever I ask people what to do to help my snake in an upcoming shed, the first thing I hear is 'soak him'. I understand what you are saying. Please don't think I'm disregarding it. If you could tell me how to provide proper humidity without use of misting, it would be greatly appreciated.

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A humid hide is a pretty good place to start. A hunk of sphagnum moss in one of the hides that you moisten frequently will work wonders for your humidity. You can also provide a large bowl of water in your setup if you honestly believe your snake enjoys the soaking. I have an oddball who loves to soak in his water bowl (even if he is quickly outgrowing it). His setup is identical to the other 3 snakes in the same sized tub as him, and a scaled-down version of my bigger tubs, no mites or other bugs, and it's only him that soaks. It's possible I'm missing something with him, but the best reason I can tell is that he just likes it. I still wouldn't take him out to soak him, but if he wants to do it himself I don't mind.

All I'll say on the soaking issue is that with over 40 snakes, most of which are bps, none of them ever get soaked and I nearly always have perfect sheds. Sometimes I have issues in the winter due to the house being so dry that keeping cage humidity can be a pain.
So to the OP, are you saying this person won even let you have proper gauges in your own cage?

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Originally Posted by SCWood

I feel that, yes, I was misinformed in this case. It's so odd that whenever I ask people what to do to help my snake in an upcoming shed, the first thing I hear is 'soak him'. I understand what you are saying. Please don't think I'm disregarding it. If you could tell me how to provide proper humidity without use of misting, it would be greatly appreciated.

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

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Yeah, a lot of people recommend things when they shouldn't.

I really do not envy people coming into this hobby these days. There are so many forums out there, and a lot of people offer advice when they shouldn't.

As Daigga stated, a humid hide is an excellent way to provide a humid microclimate without resorting to misting the entire cage. It provide all of the benefits of humidity, without requiring the owner to turn the enclosure into a giant petri dish.

The idea is to take a hide and fill it with dampened and wrung sphagnum moss. Alternately, people are now producing humid hides which are essentially a pottery hide with a small fluid reservoir on top. The pottery absorbs and releases the water over a period of time creating a humid hide without the moss.

http://www.reptile-mania.com/759_472...pg?u=154342280

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Originally Posted by Darkbird

All I'll say on the soaking issue is that with over 40 snakes, most of which are bps, none of them ever get soaked and I nearly always have perfect sheds. Sometimes I have issues in the winter due to the house being so dry that keeping cage humidity can be a pain.
So to the OP, are you saying this person won even let you have proper gauges in your own cage?

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Thank you :) I will try this!

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Originally Posted by Daigga

A humid hide is a pretty good place to start. A hunk of sphagnum moss in one of the hides that you moisten frequently will work wonders for your humidity. You can also provide a large bowl of water in your setup if you honestly believe your snake enjoys the soaking. I have an oddball who loves to soak in his water bowl (even if he is quickly outgrowing it). His setup is identical to the other 3 snakes in the same sized tub as him, and a scaled-down version of my bigger tubs, no mites or other bugs, and it's only him that soaks. It's possible I'm missing something with him, but the best reason I can tell is that he just likes it. I still wouldn't take him out to soak him, but if he wants to do it himself I don't mind.

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Absolutely. The only reason one snake has gauges now is because he came with them in his tank. She will be furious if I buy more for mine. I use an in fared temp gun when I can and I measure humidity with a gauge that has no backing and she hasn't noticed yet 😧

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

Yeah, a lot of people recommend things when they shouldn't.

I really do not envy people coming into this hobby these days. There are so many forums out there, and a lot of people offer advice when they shouldn't.

As Daigga stated, a humid hide is an excellent way to provide a humid microclimate without resorting to misting the entire cage. It provide all of the benefits of humidity, without requiring the owner to turn the enclosure into a giant petri dish.

The idea is to take a hide and fill it with dampened and wrung sphagnum moss. Alternately, people are now producing humid hides which are essentially a pottery hide with a small fluid reservoir on top. The pottery absorbs and releases the water over a period of time creating a humid hide without the moss.

http://www.reptile-mania.com/759_472...pg?u=154342280

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I will look into those! I was also debating a mist system but it seems like a lot of work. That and half the time I have great ambient temps and humidity and other days I don't. Florida weather is bipolar

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Is the moss expensive?

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1.1 Red-tail
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Originally Posted by SCWood

Thank you :) I will try this!

Absolutely. The only reason one snake has gauges now is because he came with them in his tank. She will be furious if I buy more for mine. I use an in fared temp gun when I can and I measure humidity with a gauge that has no backing and she hasn't noticed yet ��

I will look into those! I was also debating a mist system but it seems like a lot of work. That and half the time I have great ambient temps and humidity and other days I don't. Florida weather is bipolar

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0.1 Albino corn

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Moss is cheap.

Your humidity is probably better than you think.....

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Originally Posted by SCWood

Florida weather is bipolar

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If you're in Florida, humidity should be relatively easy for you.

I don't soak, don't mist, and have small water bowls. Granted they are in tubs, so it's easier to keep humidity levels where they should be, but with very little effort on the humidity front all but one of my snakes produce perfect sheds each time.

Try the humid hide. That'll probably be all you need.