Bathing a BP

Hello!
My Lesser seems to be doing great so this is really only a curiosity question.
When I refresh his water, I make it nice and warm... 85F or so. I usually try to place him in the bowl just to see if he'll stay for a while. He always bolts right out, and I've never seen him go in voluntarily. I've tried a little warmer, up to low 90s but I'm not comfy with that temp.
I thought BPs enjoyed a bath and usually needed it, especially close to the shed.
Anyone else have a non-bather?

I really don't recommend bathing BP's, it is completely unnecessary and can stress out your snake.

I also wouldn't give them warm water to drink.

The only time I bath mine is if they drag themselves through poo. I've had to soak one once because of a bad shed. Mine don't seem to care about water other than to drink. I don't think it's a good idea to soak before a shed. Bumping up the humidity should do the trick.

Your BP is telling you something. Why would you keep putting your snake in a situation that clearly causes him stress?

I've never owned a BP that "liked" to "take a bath". Some will stand for it, some seem to enjoy it, some don't; yours clearly does not.

They do not need a bath when close to shed, in fact, it can do harm, not good. It can leech out the benificial oils the snake produces to help it shed.

i really don't see anything wrong with it. they are wild animals, they get rained on, they have to swim through rivers sometimes. just don't exceed the parameters of the snakes requirements for very long.

BP are already prone to stress and I would not recommend putting one through additional unnecessary stress that may lead to issues down the road.

Ok, all good info. Won't worry about the bathing.

I've only had him for one previous shed, and it didn't go well because of poor humidity. I've addressed that and he should be shedding in the next day or so. Hoping for a perfect one!

Typical Internet... Some sites say bathing is great for them, others say the exact opposite. I'll let him decide if he wants the bath.

As for warm drinking water, it only stays warm for an hour or two then cools to ambient.

Great timing... Watching my guy shed as I type this. Cool to see :-)
I appears as if it's coming off nicely too, although he's in his hide so I'll double check in the morning.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

BP are already prone to stress and I would not recommend putting one through additional unnecessary stress that may lead to issues down the road.

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prone to stress r u out of ur mind... they are snakes. THEY HAVE A PRIME DIRECTIVE.... EAT AND ESCAPE THE ENCLOSERS WE PUT THEM IN...

Mine's not crazy about baths. I've never seen her bathe on her own. I'll soak her when necessary (she likes to curl up with her poo inside her hide, and had a bad shed when I first got her, etc.), but not on a regular basis. Although she has calmed a lot now when she gets her soaks (she seems most comfortable in the sink of all places), they still stress her out. My friend's BP on the other hand seems to adore water and will soak herself several times a week. Just depends on the snake. But I wouldn't worry about forcing a soak unless necessary.

Confirmed... One perfect shed. The skin was all balled up but I stretches it out to full length. I'm leaving him alone, but at quick glance his head looks fine too. That was the problem area for my first shed with him

Now he's all shiny and beautiful!
VERY happy :-)

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Originally Posted by robinbanks

prone to stress r u out of ur mind... they are snakes. THEY HAVE A PRIME DIRECTIVE.... EAT AND ESCAPE THE ENCLOSERS WE PUT THEM IN...

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You oviously haven't delt will ball pythons too much as they will stop eating due to stress at the drop of a hat....

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Originally Posted by robinbanks

prone to stress r u out of ur mind... they are snakes. THEY HAVE A PRIME DIRECTIVE.... EAT AND ESCAPE THE ENCLOSERS WE PUT THEM IN...

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TROLL ALERT...and I have a few guesses as to who, LOL

The only time I've ever seen any of my snakes voluntarily soak was when I got a mite infestation with 3 new snakes. I also don't bathe them unless they have blood or poo on them, and even then I usually just run them through a wet paper towel. There is the occasional "freak" that soaks for no good reason, but more often than not, they'd much rather be nice and cozy in their hides rather than in a big wet thing ;)

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Originally Posted by robinbanks

prone to stress r u out of ur mind... they are snakes. THEY HAVE A PRIME DIRECTIVE.... EAT AND ESCAPE THE ENCLOSERS WE PUT THEM IN...

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Think of it this way, your a ball python, your brain is only really capable of instinctual behaviors, most, if not all of which have to do with self preservation. Hunger and/ or thirst, mating, and fight or flight all come from that.

Now imagine, your comfortably balled up and sleeping in a nice, tight, warm space. All of a sudden, a giant thing 100 times your size, rips apart the nice hole that you found, pulls you out, and throws you in water, which is surrounded on all sides by walls, and you cannot possibly get out. How would you feel?

Remember, this is all against your will.

To the OP's question - I never bathe my snakes. I will on occasion soak an animal who's had a bad shed, but bathing is not part of my husbandry repertoire.

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Originally Posted by robinbanks

prone to stress r u out of ur mind... they are snakes. THEY HAVE A PRIME DIRECTIVE.... EAT AND ESCAPE THE ENCLOSERS WE PUT THEM IN...

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Not sure how long or how many Ball Pythons you are currently of have been keeping in the past but this is a well know FACT, you might want to do some research on Ball Pythons and stress in Ball Pythons in particular as well as the issues that can result from said stress.

Who knows you might learn something new ;)

Lots of good responses to the OP on bathing.

One thing I did not see - never use water that has gone through the hot water heater for drinking. This goes for animals, reptiles, humans, everything.

Drinking water should only come from the COLD water side and let it run for a bit before using it. If you're worried about the cold temperature for a reptile, fill up a gallon jug and let it sit until it warms up before using it.

I will only soak mine if they happen to have a bad shed, and on the one occasion that I had a mite outbreak. To clean them up after the occasional poo-fest, I will just wipe them down with unscented baby wipes, or let them crawl through a wet towel.

Sent from my Motorola ATRIX using Tapatalk.

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Originally Posted by JohnNJ

Lots of good responses to the OP on bathing.

One thing I did not see - never use water that has gone through the hot water heater for drinking. This goes for animals, reptiles, humans, everything.

Drinking water should only come from the COLD water side and let it run for a bit before using it. If you're worried about the cold temperature for a reptile, fill up a gallon jug and let it sit until it warms up before using it.

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What? Doesnt all the water in your house pass through the hot water heater? Like sink faucets and showers etc...

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

What? Doesnt all the water in your house pass through the hot water heater? Like sink faucets and showers etc...

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Mike, I'm not a plumber, but I'm pretty sure the cold water lines run straight from the supply to the faucets. The hot water lines run from supply to the heater, then to the faucets.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Mike, I'm not a plumber, but I'm pretty sure the cold water lines run straight from the supply to the faucets. The hot water lines run from supply to the heater, then to the faucets.

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Yes that was my bad. I meant all the HOT water in your house. But why is it bad for you?

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Yes that was my bad. I meant all the HOT water in your house. But why is it bad for you?

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Just a guess, but probably because hot water heater tanks develop HUGE piles of silt/rust/particulate over time that wouldn't normally collect in just a straight pipe. Anyone who has had to drain their tank (it's a pain) has seen the nasty brown sludge that comes out after years of use. That said, I tend to microwave or boil water that I need to have hot for consumption, but more because it's more efficient than draining gallons of water to get to the hot stuff in the faucet.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Yes that was my bad. I meant all the HOT water in your house. But why is it bad for you?

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Hot water is much more likely to leach heavy metal from the soldered joints in the pipes.

I did a little experiment. I put warm water in my snake rack water bowls, then the next water change, water straight from the cold tap. After using the cold water, the snakes frequently went right up and took a drink right after I closed their tub. If it was warm, they just ignored it. Not sure if it means anything or not, but when I change out the water bowls in my collection it is now with cold. Anyone else notice this?

lol i feel like someone maybe should have told me this before... I never give my bps water much hotter than room temp to 85ish degrees so i should be ok though.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

lol i feel like someone maybe should have told me this before... I never give my bps water much hotter than room temp to 85ish degrees so i should be ok though.

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Chances are that you are ok. I personally only give my snakes water from my Brita filter, but that's mainly because Orlando city water has high levels of chlorine.

I always use water straight from the tap. Sometimes I let it sit on the counter in a jug and get to room temperature. I've never given my snakes warm water so I don't know how they'd react to it.

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Originally Posted by Don

I did a little experiment. I put warm water in my snake rack water bowls, then the next water change, water straight from the cold tap. After using the cold water, the snakes frequently went right up and took a drink right after I closed their tub. If it was warm, they just ignored it. Not sure if it means anything or not, but when I change out the water bowls in my collection it is now with cold. Anyone else notice this?

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When I said warm, it was between 80 and 85 degrees, not really that warm.

I've always used room temp bottled water from Kroger. I would like to get a Britta filter at some point.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Chances are that you are ok. I personally only give my snakes water from my Brita filter, but that's mainly because Orlando city water has high levels of chlorine.

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I have well water thats tested regularly so Im fairly confident its ok for the snakes.

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Originally Posted by Don

I did a little experiment. I put warm water in my snake rack water bowls, then the next water change, water straight from the cold tap. After using the cold water, the snakes frequently went right up and took a drink right after I closed their tub. If it was warm, they just ignored it. Not sure if it means anything or not, but when I change out the water bowls in my collection it is now with cold. Anyone else notice this?

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I actually noticed the complete opposite of this, not even kidding. If i give them cold water then put them back in the tub they just move their way over to the hides. If i put in warmish water, around 85ish degrees id say, they go right up to the bowl and take a long drink. really weird huh?

Bps don't need or like baths. The only time you will see them soaking, is if they are too bot, or have mites.

If mine gets poop or whatever on it I use a Jurrassi Wipe or a paper towel with very weak Chorhexadine solution to clean them.

I only soak after a bad shed just long enough to let them rub it off with a rag in the water, or if a new animal is obviously dehydrated.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

Bps don't need or like baths. The only time you will see them soaking, is if they are too bot, or have mites.

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That's not true, some just like to soak now and then. My snake has always liked to sit in her water bowl for a bit every now and then.

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Originally Posted by Don

I did a little experiment. I put warm water in my snake rack water bowls, then the next water change, water straight from the cold tap. After using the cold water, the snakes frequently went right up and took a drink right after I closed their tub. If it was warm, they just ignored it. Not sure if it means anything or not, but when I change out the water bowls in my collection it is now with cold. Anyone else notice this?

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absolutely. not only have I found that all of my collection will avoid even tepid water for drinking, but my older females will treat it like catnip and leave their hides to coil around their bowls. I think Rich had a 'breeder tip' post recently involving adding ice cubes in his female breeder bowls to stimulate copulation. either way, I think cold water is better than warm for general purposes.

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Originally Posted by Emily Hubbard

That's not true, some just like to soak now and then. My snake has always liked to sit in her water bowl for a bit every now and then.

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as a general rule, balls are not given to soaking themselves. if I found one of mine doing so, I'd take it as a sign to check my temperatures and husbandry.

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Originally Posted by wwmjkd

as a general rule, balls are not given to soaking themselves. if I found one of mine doing so, I'd take it as a sign to check my temperatures and husbandry.

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My temps are perfect. I check them every day. I had a recent mite problem, but she has soaked since the day I got her, long before the mites, and continues to when she feels like it now that the mites are gone. I just think a broad generalization that if someone has a snake that enjoys soaking, then they have bad husbandry is pretty narrow minded. My snake likes to soak because she does, and many other people have snakes with the same quirk. Yes, it CAN be a sign of temps too high or mites. But if both of those are ruled out and the snake still soaks, that is fine.

To the OP, all of this to say that if your snake wants to soak, it will do so voluntarily. You do not need to force a bath on it unless it crawls through poo or has a bad shed. You don't need to soak before a shed, only once it has already gone wrong.

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Originally Posted by Emily Hubbard

My temps are perfect. I check them every day. I had a recent mite problem, but she has soaked since the day I got her, long before the mites, and continues to when she feels like it now that the mites are gone. I just think a broad generalization that if someone has a snake that enjoys soaking, then they have bad husbandry is pretty narrow minded. My snake likes to soak because she does, and many other people have snakes with the same quirk. Yes, it CAN be a sign of temps too high or mites. But if both of those are ruled out and the snake still soaks, that is fine.

To the OP, all of this to say that if your snake wants to soak, it will do so voluntarily. You do not need to force a bath on it unless it crawls through poo or has a bad shed. You don't need to soak before a shed, only once it has already gone wrong.

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Emily:

Speaking of broad generalizations, you're basing the above on your experience with your one snake. :rolleyes:

I always say, I knew everything there was to know about raising kids until I had some. :D

John

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Originally Posted by wwmjkd

absolutely. not only have I found that all of my collection will avoid even tepid water for drinking, but my older females will treat it like catnip and leave their hides to coil around their bowls. I think Rich had a 'breeder tip' post recently involving adding ice cubes in his female breeder bowls to stimulate copulation. either way, I think cold water is better than warm for general purposes.



as a general rule, balls are not given to soaking themselves. if I found one of mine doing so, I'd take it as a sign to check my temperatures and husbandry.

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This. Unless it's a female I'm breeding, who may be cool seeking, I immediately check things when any of mine start spending time in their water dishes.

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Originally Posted by Emily Hubbard

My temps are perfect. I check them every day. I had a recent mite problem, but she has soaked since the day I got her, long before the mites, and continues to when she feels like it now that the mites are gone. I just think a broad generalization that if someone has a snake that enjoys soaking, then they have bad husbandry is pretty narrow minded. My snake likes to soak because she does, and many other people have snakes with the same quirk. Yes, it CAN be a sign of temps too high or mites. But if both of those are ruled out and the snake still soaks, that is fine.

To the OP, all of this to say that if your snake wants to soak, it will do so voluntarily. You do not need to force a bath on it unless it crawls through poo or has a bad shed. You don't need to soak before a shed, only once it has already gone wrong.

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In your case this would be an exception to the rule but it is based on a single animal that you have own I would guess less than a few years.

Many people have multiple animals and as a generality BP rarely soak.

I can tell you that in the years I have been keeping BP I have rarely have seen them soak, some females will when breeding but even than not many of them do in my case, I also have seen BP in my collection soak when too large of a meal is being offered.

While many caresheets mention having a bowl large enough to soak in the truth is that they rarely do and more often than not they do because of husbandry issues whether is it low humidity, high temps or lack of security.

You can’t based your opinion on your one exception ;)

Wow, so much feedback. Thanks everyone! Learning a lot here.

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Originally Posted by Slim

TROLL ALERT...and I have a few guesses as to who, LOL

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And you would be absolutely wrong.

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Originally Posted by Kyle7676

And you would be absolutely wrong.

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Ego much? LOL. Wasn't refering to you.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Ego much? LOL. Wasn't refering to you.

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Lie much ? LOL really. Then who were you referring too ?

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Originally Posted by Kyle7676

And you would be absolutely wrong.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Ego much? LOL. Wasn't refering to you.

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Originally Posted by Kyle7676

Lie much ? LOL really. Then who were you referring too ?

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Given this has nothing to do with this thread, I would appreciate if the two of you would take your personal issues to PM, thank you.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Given this has nothing to do with this thread, I would appreciate if the two of you would take your personal issues to PM, thank you.

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sorry

Not really relevant to the original question, but: no joke, immediately after reading this thread, the water out of my hot tap came out orange. My husband said it was rust and we may need to seek a plumber soon. Just thought it was interesting given that I had just read this- almost like I needed proof! (I did use the hot water to drink from and to give my snakes- not anymore!)