soaking worries

Ok I'm starting to get pretty worried about loki soaking so much. I've had him around 6 weeks now. Everything was perfectly normal until This week. 5 days ago loki stared soaking religiously. I mean every time I looked in the cage, no matter what time of day he was in his bowl. I did the mite check as when I got him he had mites, but I couldn't see even one on him or in his water dish (reptile relief + new enclosure and everything in it treatment worked very well lol) and I don't see any dehydration wrinkles aside from minor wrinkles where he bends his neck at certain angles and I thought this was normal, but I dropped temp a couple degrees and am keeping humidity around 55 to 60 just in case. Cool side currently at 77 and hot at 82 with basking 88 at the moment. It's been 5 days straight of soaking and minimal time going to his hide. Its not mites, I don't THINK he's dehydrated, he recently pooped, and I know some bp soak I've had one personally that loved to, but this guy seems to think he's a fish this week. anyone got any ideas? I'm getting pretty worried.

The wrinkles may indicate he is going to potentially shed soon. It probably won't be dehydration because of the humidity levels that he is provided. He may be chilling in there because of the impending shed, although the humidity is good enough. Only keep this as a minor thought, I'm sure there are some experts that will swing by and be of more help.

He could still think he has mites. I'd assume they leave like, bug bites, that could itch.

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Originally Posted by MontyAndMelissa

He could still think he has mites. I'd assume they leave like, bug bites, that could itch.

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I considered that, but he's been acting perfectly normal the last month, just stared soaking the 5 days ago.

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Originally Posted by magicmed

I considered that, but he's been acting perfectly normal the last month, just stared soaking the 5 days ago.

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He might have mites and you may not see them? I'm not really sure. I know that with dogs, the effects of being bitten by fleas can last for months, and sometimes don't start itching for weeks after being treated.

Maybe the hide isn't secure enough. I know some snakes that will use the bowl as a "hide"

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Originally Posted by Jhill001

Maybe the hide isn't secure enough. I know some snakes that will use the bowl as a "hide"

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I had not considered that, but he has a hide on cool side and a hide on warm side, they're both non transparent plastic with a single hole cut, appropriately sized . I'd really like to get it figured out. I'm very concerned about health problems

Are the hides small enough to barely fit him?

I'll bet the mites are back, right about now is when any eggs you missed during the last round of treatment would be hatching. The larvae are almost impossible to see.

FWIW mite treatment lasts 8 weeks because mite eggs can take 30 days to hatch out, and it will be another 30 days that you see a "re-infestation".

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Originally Posted by MontyAndMelissa

Are the hides small enough to barely fit him?

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Yes, one may even be slightly too small. Today he hasn't been in his water at all, he's chilling in his cool hide and he is very dull in color today. I'm guessing maybe he just thought he needed a super soak for this shed. But I keep humidity always above 40, lately I've had it increased to 55 or so for the upcoming shed. Funny snake.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I'll bet the mites are back, right about now is when any eggs you missed during the last round of treatment would be hatching. The larvae are almost impossible to see.

FWIW mite treatment lasts 8 weeks because mite eggs can take 30 days to hatch out, and it will be another 30 days that you see a "re-infestation".

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Thank you I'll keep an eye on that. Should I reptile relief everything just to be sure?

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Originally Posted by magicmed

Thank you I'll keep an eye on that. Should I reptile relief everything just to be sure?

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If that's all you're using then you probably missed some eggs last time. If that's the case get some Provent-A-Mite, or you can get the NIX/RID lice treatment (the 2 oz cream rinse with permethrin) and mix that with a gallon of water to make mite spray. Use it on the enclosure, hides, and paper substrate. Don't use it directly on the snake or water bowl, ingested permethrin can kill a snake. Once the permethrin solution has dried you can put the enclosure back together and put your snake back in it. Also keep permethrin-treated paper on hand so when your snake makes a mess you have some ready to go.