Concern over "bathroom" location

[shadow reaper]

I've owned dogs all my life and the rule has been a dog won't poop/pee where it sleeps unless there is an emergency or it is sick. Well, this mentality is starting to make me concerned for my noodle.

I've had him for a little over a month now and he will only poop and pee in his hot hide. It isn't like he wallows in his own filth either; he spends the day in his hot hide, does some exploring around the cage and into the cold hide during the night, but we always know when he has gone to the bathroom because we will find him in his cold hide or tucked behind some foliage during the day.

Is this normal? Why does he do his business in his favorite spot if it just drives him out until we clean it?

[Reinz]

They don't have cognitive reasoning. They don't think "if I poo here then I have to find another spot". Snakes just go, and if they get uncomfortable they move.

All of my snakes will mess in their bowls while they are in it. Sometimes they remain in the bowl with the mess. Gross, I know!


Elvira

[Eric Alan]

In addition to the above, here's an article that takes this thinking to the next level as it relates to feeding response. In my own collection, I definitely see a correlation between tub/overall cleanliness and how well feeding day goes. Enjoy!

https://jkrballstreetjournal.com/201...-eating-again/

[Mangiapane85]

Most of my snakes tend to poop their hides as well. And then I'll come home and there will be condensation in the tubs and they will be laying on top of their hide or in the cool end. As soon as I clean it up and put a new paper towel back in, they go right back in to their dark happy place... It makes me no difference where they poop as long as they eat and gain weight.


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[cletus]

Mine goes in her hide a lot too. I think its because she spends a lot of time there. She just goes where ever she is when she has to go.

[Yzmasmom]

Mine go in their hides and then hang around outside of them like, "Ew, clean that!!"

[The Golem]

One of mine often drops her load in the back corner which must take precise timing and some interesting positioning.

[Coluber42]

IMO it's one good argument for having multiple hides, and enough space to put them. If there's a choice of hides in each temperature zone, the snake can pee or poop in one and still have a clean one at whatever temperature it wants. Also a good argument for loose substrate instead of paper towels, since paper towels will make the pee spread out into a giant puddle. If the snake is in a small-ish tub with one or two hides and a paper towel, then OF COURSE it will end up sitting in a puddle of piss when nature calls. If it has more space with a variety of good hides, maybe it will still end up sitting in the puddle occasionally... but probably not nearly as often.

Of course you should still clean it up when you see it, but it could easily be many hours before that happens.

[cletus]

IMO it's one good argument for having multiple hides, and enough space to put them. If there's a choice of hides in each temperature zone, the snake can pee or poop in one and still have a clean one at whatever temperature it wants. Also a good argument for loose substrate instead of paper towels, since paper towels will make the pee spread out into a giant puddle. If the snake is in a small-ish tub with one or two hides and a paper towel, then OF COURSE it will end up sitting in a puddle of piss when nature calls. If it has more space with a variety of good hides, maybe it will still end up sitting in the puddle occasionally... but probably not nearly as often.

Of course you should still clean it up when you see it, but it could easily be many hours before that happens.

Have to agree with you on the paper towels. I do like them because they make things so easy, but when my girl takes a leak it spreads and gets everything wet. It actually puts a ridiculous amount of condensation in the tub. She is a mess..

[Mangiapane85]

Have to agree with you on the paper towels. I do like them because they make things so easy, but when my girl takes a leak it spreads and gets everything wet. It actually puts a ridiculous amount of condensation in the tub. She is a mess..

Condensation, yes. Will the puddling make me switch from paper towels? No. I love the paper towels. There's just nothing easier and cost effective as them.


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