my bp i got yesterday is soaking now!!!!???

[newbe]

ok well yesterday everyone said that it wasent that unusual for my bp 2 start coming out of his hide in the first few hours i got him but now i woke up this morning and i couldent find him and then i looked in the water dish and there he was now dose everyone think this is vary unusual bp cuz i have read that ervy one elses bp never soaks for a few months and mine is alrady soaking and i just got him yesterday!!!!!

is this normal??? :?

[gozetec02]

Perhaps yours is going into a shed cycle or simply you got one that likes to be in the water all snakes are great swimmers. All snakes soak from time to time for many reasons to lower their body temp or to get rehydrated. I dont think its anything to worry about. As far as you bp coming out of his hide. I have noticed that BP's are very inquisitive they want to investigate everything and if you bp is soaking and feeling comfortable so early on consider yourself lucky. I got one a month ago and she dont come out unless its to get a drink or to go to the other hide. Ball Pythons have different personalities. I have had Jojo for a year and dont hardly use his hides he feel comfortable just stretched out on top of them the only time he uses the hides is when he is sleeping.

[steelsack]

LOL, I spend most of the time looking at a seemingly empty tank. When I picked Xaero up at the store he didn't have a hide at all and seems to REALLY APPRECIATE his new home! Got him in December and he remains like the Gideons (that church that leaves a bible in every hotel room, and do exist, but are somehow NEVER seen).
I catch him drinking every now and then around midnight, but never just chillin.
In response to your new snake soaking, how were the conditions where you purchased your bp? If the humidity wasn't well monitored, he may have been running a little dry and is thrilled to have good air and a pool of water to soak in without many strange people walking by all the time, staring and tapping on the glass of the display tank.
Or you got him from good people and he's just a soaker 8)

[JLC]

Just as Damien said, it's probably nothing to worry about. There's lots of reasons they like to soak. But you should probably check a few things to make sure it's just a "personal choice" to soak, and not driven by an environmental problem:

---Check the temps in your cage and make sure he has a proper gradient and hides in at least two different temperature areas. He might be soaking to try and cool off if he doesn't have a proper cool spot to hide in.

---Make sure he has proper hides that are nice and cozy. They like to feel really snug in their hides. If they're too big, the snake might not feel secure enough and the water bowl is a tighter fit so he feels like he's "hiding" there. (If you think a hide is too small...it's probably just right!)

---And then check for mites. If he's soaking because he has mites, you should find some tiny little dots floating in the water. If you find those, post a new question because dealing with mites is a whole 'nuther issue.

---Watch for signs of an impending shed. His belly might turn pinkish and his eyes will cloud over. Make sure your humidity levels are kept up during this time if he's going into shed.

Most likely though, you've just got a "soaker" who enjoys the water. From what you've described, it sounds like he's fairly secure in his environment already.