Should I soak?

[8_Ball]

My super black pastel never drinks I feel like. Only after he eats. I know i won't seem him do it much but he gets very wrinkly (even after shed) and has all vertical lines going down where his "rolls" are when he's curled up that don't really go away when stretched out. So weekly Ive been soaking him and he drinks A LOT while soaking and these wrinkles get better the next day. Its like he's almost dehydrated but his humidity is always above 60%. Ive had past snakes that hate soaking and squirm around but he seems to actually like it and his skin looks more hydrated after. Do you guys recommend occasional soaks for hydration? I know soaking takes essential oils out of the skin as well. I don't soak before shed and he has no problem shedding. I feel like he just lets himself get dehydrated.

[bondo]

Does he always have access to water? Is his water bowl big enough for him to soak in if he wants or needs to? What temps are you running?

[Mr. Misha]

If you have a water bowl for your BP in his terrarium, he should be just fine. If he's dehydrated he'll drink. Don't forget that BPs do get some of their water consumption from their meals. No need to soak.

I feel like soaking him so much could possibly be an accidental RI waiting to happen but that's just my two cents.

[8_Ball]

Does he always have access to water? Is his water bowl big enough for him to soak in if he wants or needs to? What temps are you running?

He always has a bowl. Its the Reptile Basics crock dish. 92-93 hot spot with heat pad, 83-84 ambient temp from red bulb in center of cage. The light dries out the tank quick but I mist heavy daily to 90% and it dissipates to 50% the next day. And the top is mostly covered.

[8_Ball]

If you have a water bowl for your BP in his terrarium, he should be just fine. If he's dehydrated he'll drink. Don't forget that BPs do get some of their water consumption from their meals. No need to soak.

I feel like soaking him so much could possibly be an accidental RI waiting to happen but that's just my two cents.

I use warm water and soak for 5-10 minutes I don't let it get cool. The most I soak is once or twice a month. He just seems to drink a lot and they all his wrinkly skin goes away within a half hour. Its weird.

[8_Ball]

Before soak:



The wrinkles are very pronounced.

After soak:





The wrinkles dissipate into lines then those will fade after drinking during soak.

[bondo]

IMO those temps are too hot. 75 ambient and 90 on the hot spot are max temps. If you can run without the bulb also would help with humidity. You should never have to soak your snake. However your snake does sound dehydrated. Make sure the bowl is big enough for the snake to soak and lower your temps. Eliminate the bulb if you can and that should correct things.

[8_Ball]

IMO those temps are too hot. 75 ambient and 90 on the hot spot are max temps. If you can run without the bulb also would help with humidity. You should never have to soak your snake. However your snake does sound dehydrated. Make sure the bowl is big enough for the snake to soak and lower your temps. Eliminate the bulb if you can and that should correct things.

75 is way to cold for a ambient IMO. 75 is close to room temp I am not risking a RI. When it goes down to 80 degrees he goes on the warm side only. the cool side is 80-81. The middle (ambient) ranges 82-84 under the bulb. Warm side on the glass measures 92-93 which makes above the substrate ~90-91 degrees. I have a thermostat for both the heat pad and bulb. He is usually on the warm side now but goes to the cool side here and there. I won't drop the temp lower then 80 on cool side/ambient.

[bondo]

75 is way to cold for a ambient IMO. 75 is close to room temp I am not risking a RI. When it goes down to 80 degrees he goes on the warm side only. the cool side is 80-81. The middle (ambient) ranges 82-84 under the bulb. Warm side on the glass measures 92-93 which makes above the substrate ~90-91 degrees. I have a thermostat for both the heat pad and bulb. He is usually on the warm side now but goes to the cool side here and there. I won't drop the temp lower then 80 on cool side/ambient.

Then continue soaking I guess. Until the husbandry changes the snake will suffer.

[Mr. Misha]

Usually, if the BP is dehydrated, his/her eyes will dent. Is that something that you notice happening when you don't soak?

Personally, I dont think he's dehydrated. My BPs always drink when I change their water or after their meals but they're not dehydrated. Just being snakes.