BP Keeps Soaking in His Water Bowl

Well if it's only the bedding & not mites, he seems to have a "solution" for the aspen- it's possible he finds it's irritating to his skin too? Snakes can probably be allergic to
things, though it's not common (or else goes undiagnosed), so watch for signs of skin irritation (rash?) while you're searching for mites...;) There are also some keepers
that swear their snakes caught mites FROM a bag of aspen (or from other products) brought home from a pet store where snakes were kept that had mites.

No, he's not in blue. In fact he shed like 2 days before I fed him. Now that I think about it that shed wasn't the best. It just kind of exploded off him.

I am thinking that 1) it's dehydration or 2) it's mites. Looks like I am going to have to take a trip to the pet store. I'll get some mite off or something and spray the cage down just in case it is mites.

How are you heating the enclosure?
How are you measuring your temps?
Are your heat sources regulated by a thermostat???

Mites and improper temps are common reasons for BPs to soak.

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Originally Posted by Reptile$ 4 Life

No, he's not in blue. In fact he shed like 2 days before I fed him. Now that I think about it that shed wasn't the best. It just kind of exploded off him.

I am thinking that 1) it's dehydration or 2) it's mites. Looks like I am going to have to take a trip to the pet store. I'll get some mite off or something and spray the cage down just in case it is mites.

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Treating for mites is very serious, and if not done correctly can be fatal for the snake. Don't treat for mites unless you know it's mites!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Well if it's only the bedding & not mites, he seems to have a "solution" for the aspen- it's possible he finds it's irritating to his skin too? Snakes can probably be allergic to
things, though it's not common (or else goes undiagnosed), so watch for signs of skin irritation (rash?) while you're searching for mites...;)

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A BP "that loves to play in water" usually is soaking due to discomfort from mites, dehydration, or something irritating their skin.

I've never heard of aspen irritating a BPs scales?

Also exactly, unless you know its mites don't treat anything!!

I am heating with a heat lamp and heat pad, and I take temps with a temp gun. Temps haven't changed in like 4 years as I have been running the same set up. I don't have it hooked up to a thermostat, but I take the temps several times a week just to make sure they are staying in the correct range.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reptile$ 4 Life

No, he's not in blue. In fact he shed like 2 days before I fed him. Now that I think about it that shed wasn't the best. It just kind of exploded off him.

I am thinking that 1) it's dehydration or 2) it's mites. Looks like I am going to have to take a trip to the pet store. I'll get some mite off or something and spray the cage down just in case it is mites.

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Try the wipe down trick before you treat for mites tbh


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Alright. Get a thermostat ASAP!! I cannot stress this enough! Getting a thermostat (even if your temps have been fine for 4 years) will prevent any overheating and burns. It is entirely possible your BP was burned and is soaking out of discomfort.

Alright then I will hold off on the mite treatment. I was just kinda freaking out because I've had a snake that got mites before and he went off food for like 8 months and spraying the bedding and the infected area was what I was told to do. I will definitely switch him over to a different bedding ASAP. Thank you all for the help. I really do appreciate it.

I would NOT treat with anything for mites UNLESS you SEE mites. No matter how safe the chemicals (& the most effective ones can be deadly if mis-used or if a pet is
unusually sensitive to it) all snakes (& other living things) are better off not exposed to things they don't absolutely need. So use a magnifier, check around his eyes, his
chin, his nostrils, his vent for mites. Wipe him with a damp white paper towel & see if any specks (mites), & check IN the water bowl. Mites are tiny but you can see them
if you look closely. They can be black, brown or red. (red-brown is from the blood they've been sucking from your snake)

The one thing you CAN do safely is bathe him in lukewarm water with just a drop or 2 of mild soap (to break the surface tension so that mites drown-without a bit of soap, they can swim & survive.) Such a bath will immediately reduce the # of mites if a snake has them & improve his comfort, but it still may allow one or just a few to survive because they hide on the face & you never submerge the snake's head/face (also don't let him drink water w/ soap either...it causes digestive upset). I hope there are no mites, but if there are, get rid of most first with a bath (least harmful way) & then do what else you need to do.