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.

I have never heard the method popping, nor has some of the other people I talk to. I do let my snakes rummage around in a bathtub of water to soak and play around, more so my anaconda. What I do after shes ran around in the water for a bit is I take a towel and I put it under her neck and once her head is past my hands i'll close my hands and let her wiggle through, completely drying herself, and sometimes getting some dirt or color from the cypress mulch off.

I really don't think I'll be trying that method of "popping" anytime soon although my bp does like an occassional soaking!

I prefer a bidet.

Only time I give her a bath is when she rolls in her poop.

There have only been two situations that made me bathe my snake... stuck sheds, and once when Mona rolled through her own poop & pee (which came out at the same time). Now that was a smelly snake! :P

I really appreciate everyone clearing this up for me. I believe this dude may have some domination issues that he manifests upon his reptile collection. But if anyone has a snake with back problems, just let me know and I'll give you his number and you can discuss this very intense technique.:D

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Originally Posted by toemay

... "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)....

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Sounds like a really good way to encourage your snake to poop on you! :weirdface And no...it doesn't sound healthy or beneficial to the snake at all.

Or even bite you perhaps.