BP Keeps Soaking in His Water Bowl

Recently I purchased a larger new water bowl for my Ball Python, Flicker, so if he wanted he could soak. For the last couple days he has been consistently coming out of his hide, in the morning, and submerging himself in his water bowl. At first I thought maybe it was mites but he hasn't displayed any other symptoms and I cleaned his cage completely the week before. Has anyone ever had this happen with their bp before? Maybe he enjoys the water, or just wants to pretend to be an anaconda.:confuzd: I wouldn't be to concerned, except for the fact that he is soaking in the morning while it is still cold out. I also just switched him over to Zoo Med Aspen Bedding. Do you guys think that might have something to do with it?

Humidity? Temps?

I am pretty sure his temp is good. Around 90F hot spot and 75-80F cool side. These are the same temps he's been with his entire life and he's never had a problem with them before. I don't have a humidity reader in his cage but I mist it once or twice a day, depending on how hot it is outside, and get perfect sheds almost every time.

Now that I think about it, there have been tree cutters on my street for the past week taking down huge trees that shake the earth. He started soaking right around then. Maybe that has something to do with it?

Kinda sounds like mites to be honest

I’d give it a thorough wipe down with some WHITE paper towel and then check very carefully for those tell-tale black spots / specks.

If you find any crush them on the white paper and look for traces of blood ..


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Aspen bedding is dehydrating for snakes...so it's good for some kinds of snakes, but not preferred by BPs. Or maybe he's just bored & soaking is a new experience? I'd still be checking for mites: how long have you had him? do you have any other snakes? new ones? held snakes in a pet store or at a
friend's house & then held your snake without showering & changing clothes? Mites sometimes hitch a ride on humans, & then proliferate exponentially
on your snake...it only takes one mite to start a colony & kill an unprotected pet, so check thoroughly...up close & personal...they're hard to see.

Temps are fine, and humidity sounds fine since he's had full sheds, (although I'd get a hygrometer ASAP just in case) so i'm sorry to say it's entirely possible he has mites. When was the last time he ate?

Ditto to Boger, aspen doesn't hold humidity well so there's the chance he's dehydrated. Get a hygrometer.

I will continue checking for mites. It might be dehydration. He started soaking right after I started trying the aspen bedding. Should I switch him back to his other bedding or is there other ways to combat this? I'd hate to waste the rest of the bedding but if it will make my snake happier then I am more than willing.

That sounds like the issue. I'd change out the bedding to something that retains humidity better and if the soaking continues, the next possibility is mites.

Is he in blue?

I will definitely get a hydrometer today. He ate last week, several days after he started soaking.

Alright. I asked when he ate last to see if it was safe to handle him. Give him a visual inspection.