Cleaning your snake

Other then if your snake decides to move around in their own poop, does anybody clean their snake on a somewhat regular basis? if so how frequently, where do you do it (sink, tub) what do you use (water warmth, cleaning agent) ?? thanks!

Interested to hear the answer to this also. I usually just wipe them off with a damp paper towel but I need to find a better way to clean them.

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Originally Posted by ReptilesK2

Interested to hear the answer to this also. I usually just wipe them off with a damp paper towel but I need to find a better way to clean them.

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Haha, i just got out of the shower and it had me thinking. I understand they soak and all but since we own and care for them, Im sure some assisted bathing wouldn't hurt anything (If done properly at least)

The only time I clean my snakes is when they decide to make art with their poo. Then it's just a quick two minute dip in a luke-warm bath and a slither through a paper towel...

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

The only time I clean my snakes is when they decide to make art with their poo. Then it's just a quick two minute dip in a luke-warm bath and a slither through a paper towel...

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Makes sense, i guess the bigger question is, can anyone think of cleaning products that should NOT be used to clean a snake?

Nope, cleaning my snakes is not part of my husbandry routine, unless they're covered in feces.

Shedding is their way of cleaning themselves. :)

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Originally Posted by BFT12890

Makes sense, i guess the bigger question is, can anyone think of cleaning products that should NOT be used to clean a snake?

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I take my previous answer back - I also clean my females after they've laid a clutch with mild soapy water, like with a few drops of Dawn dish detergent. I wouldn't use anything else.

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Originally Posted by BFT12890

Haha, i just got out of the shower and it had me thinking. I understand they soak and all but since we own and care for them, Im sure some assisted bathing wouldn't hurt anything (If done properly at least)

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You want to be careful with that. An occasional soak probably won't hurt the bp, but you want to be sure you're not soaking or bathing the bp when it's going into shed. During the shed process, bathing the snake could wash away the natural oils that lubricate the old skin to ready it for shed...

Does a snake ever have soap to clean with in the wild? :colbert: No. A rinse with tepid water if they are covered in poop is all they will really need. Giving them a bath is just easing ones own conscience. I have 80+ animals and never give them anything more than a rinse in the shower once in a while.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Nope, cleaning my snakes is not part of my husbandry routine, unless they're covered in feces.

Shedding is their way of cleaning themselves. :)

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thats one way to think about it!

and as far as hatchlings and the mother ill take your word on that I have zero experience with that.

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

You want to be careful with that. An occasional soak probably won't hurt the bp, but you want to be sure you're not soaking or bathing the bp when it's going into shed. During the shed process, bathing the snake could wash away the natural oils that lubricate the old skin to ready it for shed...

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I didnt think about that one, thats a good call though.

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Originally Posted by gofrwrd

Does a snake ever have soap to clean with in the wild? :colbert: No. A rinse with tepid water if they are covered in poop is all they will really need. Giving them a bath is just easing ones own conscience. I have 80+ animals and never give them anything more than a rinse in the shower once in a while.

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I agree with that, and I guess your right with the peace of mind part, i was just not sure because there are other things that dont happen in the wild that we as owners do anyway, so i just wanted to make sure! better safe then sorry, expecially since I'm a new BP owner:D

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I take my previous answer back - I also clean my females after they've laid a clutch with mild soapy water, like with a few drops of Dawn dish detergent. I wouldn't use anything else.

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I was about to post the same, only time I wash mine is after they lay to get the scent off and when they decide to play bob ross in their tub.

As I agree that in the wild they obviously do not take baths, they are not in the wild. In captivity they are forced to sit in the same spot, regardless if they spill their water bowl or take a huge dump. I don't see anything wrong with using a little extremely mild soapy water if they really need it.

That said, I rarely wash my snakes and usually a clean water soak and a run through the paper towels does the trick.

Please do not wash your snake in lieu of human hand washing and other hygienic practices. :gj:

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Originally Posted by aldebono

As I agree that in the wild they obviously do not take baths, they are not in the wild. In captivity they are forced to sit in the same spot, regardless if they spill their water bowl or take a huge dump. I don't see anything wrong with using a little extremely mild soapy water if they really need it.

That said, I rarely wash my snakes and usually a clean water soak and a run through the paper towels does the trick.

Please do not wash your snake in lieu of human hand washing and other hygienic practices. :gj:

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Haha, I agree with the captivity bit, and thats what made me originally ask the question, i understand that they are naturally clean but i was unsure of if the enclosure we keep them in were more susceptible to foreign diseases or anything. and yes i understand the enclosures need cleaning as well lol. but maybe if im feeling extra nice ill do the occasional water and paper towel trick.

Thanks for the input!

Yeah, pretty much only when they've been sitting in poo or actually stink. Or if I've just fed them an f/t rodent and it exploded and they rolled in it while eating. I usually just use water, but I will break out the dove soap for the mouse guts smell. (I do this maybe twice a year. It's not as if ball pythons eat exploding f/t mice in the wild, either, you know?)

And sometimes when I'm about to take one out for handling, I'll wash them off. Especially if there are kids who want to handle the snake. But I still make people wash their hands afterwards.

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Originally Posted by loonunit

Yeah, pretty much only when they've been sitting in poo or actually stink. Or if I've just fed them an f/t rodent and it exploded and they rolled in it while eating. I usually just use water, but I will break out the dove soap for the mouse guts smell. (I do this maybe twice a year. It's not as if ball pythons eat exploding f/t mice in the wild, either, you know?)

And sometimes when I'm about to take one out for handling, I'll wash them off. Especially if there are kids who want to handle the snake. But I still make people wash their hands afterwards.

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I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer around and make everyone sanitize before and after handling. dont want them smelling like dinner, or harming the snake with some germs!

I wouldn't do it unless they're really gross... Most of the time they can take care of small messes on their own, by moving around on their substrate, or rubbing against branches or hides. When they do need it, a quick soak typically does the trick.

What I also use is Chlorhexidine. You can use a 2% solution of chlorhexidine gluconate, diluted with filtered water, in a dilution of 1:128. That is, basically, one ounce of chlorhex to one gallon of water. Spray down a washcloth, and let the snake slither through it. Works great, also disinfects. I use it to wash my hands after handling too. lol

i've only had to "clean" my girl once in the last 10 months of owning her. & that was cuz she'd been sitting in pee all day in the hide box she had peed in. normally the bark would've soaked it up but she had moved all the bark out from under her so...

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Originally Posted by Inknsteel

The only time I clean my snakes is when they decide to make art with their poo.

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:rofl::rofl:

This happened to me with 2 snakes this morning...and I was already running late for work!

When I find mine wallowing in their own pee/poop I rinse them at the sink and wash them off with a tiny dab of baby shampoo - rinse and dry them and back to their freshly cleaned tub they go.

If they peed all over or are in poo I wash them with Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo. Safe and mild for them and smell nice.

Thanks everyone! its kind of funny getting to hear everybodies stories as well as learning cool stuff. this site is awesome. haha