Bathing your balls

I met someone today who told me he has an exstensive collection of reptiles. Snakes and gators mostly. After learning that he has many years of experience dealing with these animals, I started asking some basic questions concerning snakes. He asked how often I bathed my ball. Since I am a new owner of a ball python, my answer was......I didn't know I had to bath him. He stated that unless you soak your snake in a water/benodine solution and "pop him" bacteria gets under his scales and can lead to a unhealthy, smelly snake. He stated that this process should be done every 3 months or so. I don't have a problem taking care of my snake but "poping" him (as he described- grabbing the snakes head and running your other hand down the length of the snakes body poping his spine which supposed to open the scales) doesn't sound like a healthy practice. I don't think this is necessary and I am not going to play chiropractor on my new beloved pet. Just wondering what you guys think and if anyone has ever heard of this.:O

I haven't bathed any of my ball pythons outside of trying to remedy a stuck shed. 4 years, no smelly snakes, no health complications. I think he is mis-informed.

Mmmm... Yeah... I wouldn't take any candy out of the back of the guys van either if I were you. ;)

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Originally Posted by DM1975

Mmmm... Yeah... I wouldn't take any candy out of the back of the guys van either if I were you. ;)

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Lol that made me laugh. I never really bathe my snakes. I don't really feel the need to. Though, if my snakes takes a dump, and he/she is laying on it.. I will bathe the snake. I don't like it when my snakes smell like their turds.

^^^ Now that's funny right there!!!!

I have never bathed any of my ball pythons, they are the healthiest ball pythons my veterinarian has seen, and none of them are smelly. Methinks this guy is a bit mis-guided.

Good thing I passed him up on that yummy chocolate bar!;) Have yall ever heard of "poping"? This process seems strange to me, of course I am a new snake owner.

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Originally Posted by toemay

(as he described- grabbing the snakes head and running your other hand down the length of the snakes body poping his spine which supposed to open the scales)

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:o

If my balls get poo on them, then I wash them.







Have fun with that. :)

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Originally Posted by jerhart

if my balls get poo on them, then i wash them.







have fun with that. :)

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:8:

Usually I give my larger snakes a bath a few times before they shed and sometimes if I know a snake enjoys soaking in "warm" water I give them a bath once in a while. I don't think its nessicary, but hey, whatever makes you sleep better at night.