Wanna be water snakes

[corgigirl9]

I got two normal ball python females off of someone who could no longer care for them. One 1300 and the other is 2000 grams. I've used pam for the enclosure and temps and husbandry is on spot, but since i got them a couple days ago these girls have just been laying in their water bowl all day and curled up in it with just the head sticking out. Is there something going on here?... Were they just really dehydrated? Maybe they don't like the pam in the enclosure I don't know? Any help would be wonderful. Thanks

[LeviBP]

My Pastel female has being doing this all the time for the past week too. I'm not sure why, but she is soon to shed, so that could be a reason.

[JLC]

What kinds of hides are you providing for them? Sometimes the water bowl may seem like a more attractive place to hide if they don't have something more adequate. Half-logs are a common hide that they just don't care for, for instance. They like to feel as if they are in a tight little cave being hugged on all sides. A snug bowl and being covered in water may give them this sensation.

[corgigirl9]

I am currently not using hides, they are in my quarantine rack. I gave them a rock hide the one with just a lil opening that I use for my other pickier snakes but they didnt use it so I took it out.

[corgigirl9]

Also I am not housing them in the same tub.

[JLC]

Well, that would be my guess then....that they're using the water bowls as a substitute for a hide. Sometimes it can take them several days to convince themselves that the perfect little cave hasn't already been claimed by some other critter. (That's my personal interpretation of snakey perceptions... )

If you're concerned about the soaking, I'd try putting the hide back in and give it a week or so...see if they use it. As an interesting experiment, if nothing else. Anyhow...that's my assessment of the situation. Someone else may think something different.

[corgigirl9]

Thanks I put hides back in and they are the same hides the previous owner used so well give it a shot. Ive had to change their aspen bedding daily since theyve been slopping it all up. I was just concerned as we all are when our snakes are acting weird.

[David802]

I'd always heard that long term soaking could be a symptom of mites.

Just a suggestion. At least they're in quarantine if it is mites.

David

[rabernet]

Just to be sure - because some folks have thought in the past that we meant the cooking spray when we say PAM. You're referring to Provent-A-Mite, correct?

[David802]

I'd always heard that long term soaking could be a symptom of mites.

Just a suggestion. At least they're in quarantine if it is mites.

David

Oops... Some how after reading the thread I forgot that you'd already used PAM.... My bad