First Bath

[Ballpythonguy92]

Lol oops my mistake I miss read it I was partly asleep

retro gaming pokemon for gbc/gba p.s. I've never played go nor shall i !!!!!

[CALM Pythons]

You do know a Burm's natural habitat is tropical right? Completely different from Ball Pythons.

Yup I do... Just saying to try and see what works.. My buddys Burm wont stay in the tub at all.. So im just saying we all got to see what works. (Unless ofcourse its already proven dangerous for the animal already)

[Reinz]

Yup I do... Just saying to try and see what works.. My buddys Burm wont stay in the tub at all.. So im just saying we all got to see what works. (Unless ofcourse its already proven dangerous for the animal already)

Your buddy may be using water that is warm to the touch which can be too uncomfortable for a snake. It's best to take the snake's temp with a temp gun and use water only a few degrees warmer.

[CALM Pythons]

Your buddy may be using water that is warm to the touch which can be too uncomfortable for a snake. It's best to take the snake's temp with a temp gun and use water only a few degrees warmer.

Intersting you sugest that... I know the Temp gun wont go threw glass so i wonder how Water works with it... (Thinking of you could get false temps from the Porcelain?

[Reinz]

My temp guns work on the water coming out of the faucet. I never tried it on a bowl of water.

[Lady mkrj58]

I use my temp gun in the Kitchen on liquid and solids all the time.

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[SnakeCharm]

That article is feferring to oils secreted to the outside of the skin as a lube for the snake to travel with less friction. It has nothing to do with oils for shedding or to make the skin pliable.

"Although I did not look far into the nitty-gritty of ecdysis, perhaps this article can shed some light on how ball pythons (and certain lizards) locomote, and how the supposed snake oil does not apply to certain reptiles, especially those originating from drier environments"

Hi Reinz. Yes, you are right, the article indeed refers to oils being secreted outside of the skin and how oil does not play any role in a snake's ability to locomote. I did specify that I was not talking about ecdysis, which is the technical term for shedding. I made sure to disclose this on my last post, seeing that I did not look into the specific fluid that snakes secrete whilst shedding.

My goal was to point out that snake oils--snakes secreting oils outside of their shed whilst shedding--holds no scientific validity, particularly with royal pythons and certain lizards. Now, for the fluid within the shed whilst shedding, I truly do not know the answer to this as I have not looked further into it, nor will I make an anecdotal claim on what it may be simply because just-so-stories are just that, just-so-stories. Perhaps that's just how I think or have been taught to think, but that shouldn't discourage anyone from believing what they want to believe. Admittedly, I think that it is best to inform up-and-coming bp enthusiasts proven facts, not experiential "facts". Heck, the last time I checked, pet stores were still telling new owners to feed their snakes in separate containers, yet we all know here that this supposed "fact" is untrue and holds no scientific value...at least not yet .

Anyway, before I go on a completely unnecessary tangent on feeding containers, I hope this clarifies things .

[Reinz]

Point well taken. Thank you for taking the time and effort to clarify.

[treaux]

I'm curious for those of you with BPs that like to soak before a shed if they are doing it while in blue or right up to the point of shedding. There clearly is some sort of oil under the skin that is shed and the shed itself seems permeable. This would make it sound reasonable that soaking a snake right before it sheds could allow some of that oil to be rinsed off (keeping in mind, soaking them in warm water is different than them soaking in a water dish or water source (usually cooler than the ambient temp).

Sticking to BPs here (since other snakes are adapted to other climates), I have only noticed my BPs wanting to soak when their general humidity is off. This has happened recently with the dry winter we've had here and I've had a couple of stuck sheds I've had to help by soaking them while letting them run through my hands until the shed comes off. My new technique is to simply spray a bit of water at the entrance to their hide daily when they are in shed. They are on a paper substrate and this keeps things nice and moist in their hide. Been having nothing but good sheds lately.

The idea of pre-emptively soaking a BP to help their shed mostly sounds harmful as BPs are so easily stressed. It is much better just to give them a moist environment to facilitate a good shed and only soak if it doesn't go so well and they need help.

[Reinz]

I am not in favor of pre-emptive soaks or baths at all.

I just like to offer my snakes the option to do it on their own if they wish.



My BP was the last snake to get a bowl. I didn't not think to offer it to her until she kept trying to soak in her dish which was way too small. In all of the photos you can see the humidity gauges read in the 60's and 70's during her soaks.


(Water dish is way too small, note humidity gauge)

Shedding wasn't generally a problem until two times a year or two ago. Her humidity levels were fine, but the shedding was coming off in pieces on two different occasions. Come to think of it, it may have been because too MUCH rough stuff was in her cage. (Log and lava rocks)

I know for sure that my Boas and Carpets will stay in theirs bowls until shed.

But I can not be 100% sure that my BP has, even though I want to think that she has. I'm just so used to it I quit paying attention. I will make note of it next time she sheds. But she HAS soaked while in the BLUE for sure, even with proper humidity.


Elvira