Identity Crisis?

[Jaxx]

Ok guys I am starting to get a little worried at this point.... My Ball python may think she is a fish?

This is my first ever reptile pet, but I did do a lot of research prior to getting her. Made sure I had a good home setup for her and everything.)

I got a Yellow Belly Ball Python a couple weeks ago, she is in a 162G enclosure, wood, but all plexiglass on the inside with 2 sliding/locking glass windows. Also has plexiglass top and side venting. Digital thermometer/hygrometer. Hot side temp is 92degess using a heating pad under the plexiglass, cool side is 82-85degrees daytime and 78-80 nighttime, Humidity is 67%. There is a water bowl and hide over the heat pad as well, a large swimming pool in the center and an LED lit water fountain. Plastic plants, a few rocks and a tree branch for her to climb and a hide on the cool side as well. The substrate is Critter Care.



She has been great ever since I got her, comes out and hangs with me all the time, loves the attention. Ate last Saturday ( 1 small mouse). Then she started hanging out in the water bowls a lot but was still very active roaming around her home and climbing stuff. So I started researching about mites and was going to treat her for them, but decided to give it a couple days before I did, just to make sure. I constantly checked on her, in her water bowls and everything, but did not see any mites whatsoever, so opted out of the NIX treatment.
All this week she has been coming out, hanging with me just as always. (Still no sign of mites) But when she goes back in her home she goes right to the water, mainly to the bottom tier of the water fountain and lays there for long periods of time with the water flowing down over her.
Yesterday I went and got her a snack she ate 2 small mice. Let her digest for a bit in the feeding tub, then put her back in her home. Where did she go? hot side hide? Hell no, back to the water fountain again. She has been in there all night. I am starting to get worried that she will develop blisters from spending so much time in the water. I though maybe from what I have read that she may be getting ready to shed, but this has been going on now for 4 days and I was wondering if someone had any insight on this. She is fine with me reaching in and taking her out of the fountain so she can come rom around my arms and hands. Tongue moving furiously whenever she is out on me, nice firm grip seems very happy I have grown very attached to my new friend and would really like to make sure she is ok. If I cannot find a solution by early this week, I will have to the $87.00+tax to take her to the vet for a checkup. If you guys need any more info or have any questions about anything, I will be glad to answer. I really want to make sure my buddy is OK. Thanks in advance for all the help, and sorry for the long post but I wanted to try and get as much info out there for you as possible to hopefully be able to find out what is wrong.

[Kymberli]

It's still possible she could have mites even though you're not seeing them. They can get under the scales and irritate the BP. Do not use NIX though, I'd recommend PAM. You don't treat the snake, just the enclosure while she isn't in it. (Directions are provided with product.) Even if it isn't mites, treating the enclosure is a great preventative. That enclosure is beautiful, but a bit too big for her right now. She'll grow into it, but you may want to clutter it a bit more. (plants, newspaper, etc.) Though, that is up to you because obviously she is eating fine the way she is. I wouldn't take her to the vet just yet, considering she is eating fine, just keep an eye on her for changes in behavior. I can't think of anything but mites that would cause her to soak so frequently. It's obviously not a humidity problem considering the humidity is above normal. (Should be between 50-60% while not in shed, closer to 70% during shed cycle.) I'd lean towards mites. You can order Provent-A-Mite online, I'd strongly recommend it!

[Jaxx]

Thanks for the suggestions, I will order/pick up the Prevent-O-Mite, I think our local pet store has it and treat just in case.
I have the humidity raised by misting every few hours right now because I though it was a shedding issue. I will drop it back down to the normal 52% it runs at. As for the enclosure, thank you for the compliment. I though it was big too, but wanted to make sure I had something that would work as she grew. I do plan on adding some more decorations for her to make it seem smaller, this is all a new experience and setup for me only spanning about 2 weeks. I look forward to learning as much as I can to make her as happy and healthy as possible. Thanks again.

[Kymberli]

I must say, I'm quite jealous if your local pet store sells PAM! I can only find it online, it'd be nice not having to pay $10 just for shipping, lol. Just be sure you follow the direction very carefully to prevent any problems with your snake as it is a pesticide, and do a follow-up treatment to ensure all eggs have been killed.
Slightly higher humidity isn't necessarily bad as long as the subtrate doesn't remain moist at all, which could cause scale rot. 52% is fine though while not in shed. That size enclosure should be able to house her for her entire life. She's obviously not stressed about the amount of space if she's eating regularly. Glad I could help, I hope the PAM solves this soaking problem. If not, hopefully you or people on here can help you figure it out because constant soaking is not normal at all. Good luck!

[Jaxx]

Thanks for the info. I sure hope I can figure out what is wrong with my little girl. Maybe someone else has something to add, if so, please do. I want to learn as much as I can as fast as I can so she can have the best home possible. I am totally addicted now and will be getting more snakes once I feel I know as much as possible about keeping them healthy and happy.

[seeya205]

Usually if they have mites, the won't eat because of the added stress! She may just like the running water! I have used Nix in the past and it worked great! Mix one bottle of Nix with 4 L of water. Spray the snake and the enclosure and leave it! In a week do it again to make sure you got them all! Treating her just in case will not hurt her! If it was me though, I would just keep an eye on her! It's always nice to see another Canadian on here!!!

[Jaxx]

Ya, I have been waiting to treat her, without seeing any mites or signs of them I though it would be less stressful to treat her. But I think I will give her the preventative treatment just to be sure. She definitely doesn't have an issue eating. The first week I fed her I only gave her 1 small mouse, she seemed hungry about 4 days later, so I waited 1 week and fed her again, this time giving her 2 mice, 1 first then 15 mins later another. The second mouse was gone in a matter of minutes, she did not mess around. Let her bask in the heated feeding tub, then moved her back into her home.
(And hey fellow Canadian.)