Who doesn't use a water bowl?

[MrLang]

My snakes drink all the time. Ceramic bowls don't get tipped though if they drag the paper towel into them the water wicks out or if they dive around in them it gets displaced and spills.

I see that nobody advocated not using water bowls which is good. Food, access to drinkable water, protection from the elements... as far as I'm concerned these things are not negotiable when you hold any animal captive.

[Mike41793]

In your opinion they aren't negotiable. I think it is. I KNOW i've seen someone post that balls get most of their fluids from the prey they eat, which would make water bowls in their enclosures all the time unnecessary. They just haven't seen this thread i guess. We think we know everything about keeping them, but there's still plenty to learn

[norwegn113]

just snapped this pic a few minutes ago! Feeding night was last night and for the next day or two all my snakes will be using their water dishes. It happens everytime like clock work!

[Mike41793]

Well i see those new bowls worked well..... For about 5minutes.....

[norwegn113]

Well i see those new bowls worked well..... For about 5minutes.....

im no expert but im gonna go out on a limb and maybe theres something to this or maybe its nothing BUT watching this thread I have noticed that most of the bowl flippers are in bins with a bowl and a hide or two nothing else. while those who have their snakes in enclosures with clutter and branches and other objects dont have as big of a problem! I have 13 snakes and not one flipped water dish ever! I wonder if its a security thing or maybe boredom ( if thats possible?) Or maybe its just an evil plan to take over the world? lol

[bcr229]

I have 15 BP's in various rack/tub systems and none of them flip their bowls. The worst they do is go #1 or #2 in them, and a couple climb in for a soak when they're entering a shed cycle.

[Pyrate81]

Mike- Maybe try leaving a water bowl out of an enclosure for a week or two? Place the water bowl in the enclosure once a week when you are cleaning or after feeding? Do this with 1-2 snakes and see how it works? Find out if they pound water when you only offer water like this? Might be something to experiement with as it seems no one who doesn't use bowls has responded.

Another thought- perhaps a shorter, longer water dish of some kind which would go along the length of the tub could work? We all use round, what about a rectangular or trianglular bowl for a corner or lengthwise in the tub. Someone did suggest those big triangle/corner bowls you can get at petsmart but I'm thinking more of a rectangular crock.

ex: say you have a 41qt tub, use a 3-6qt tub as a water dish going along the length(even the front width) of the tub.

I hope you get what I'm trying to explain here. Let me know if this sounds foggy to you.

[Mike41793]

Im getting a huge order of rats on thursday so they'll be here by next week and then i'm just gunna start offering every 4-5days instead of every 7-10.

I seriously think its out of hunger or boredom because my hypo is a pretty friendly snake. I'm not even sure if she flipped the bowl or just tipped it to spill some water or what. I only filled it like 1/4 of the way full.

[norwegn113]

Ha! Just caught another one while I was walking by! .... Like I said, for the next two days, like clock work! lol

[Poseidon]

Im getting a huge order of rats on thursday so they'll be here by next week and then i'm just gunna start offering every 4-5days instead of every 7-10.

I seriously think its out of hunger or boredom because my hypo is a pretty friendly snake. I'm not even sure if she flipped the bowl or just tipped it to spill some water or what. I only filled it like 1/4 of the way full.

How often do you handle your snakes?