Bathing and Plants

[The Green Man]

Hello everyone! I'm new, so bare with me while I become accustomed to the new community.

I just have a couple of basic questions for now.

First, I'm wondering how many people here witness their Balls actually submerging themselves in their water dish. When I chose a ball and read up on caging, I saw information everywhere that stated they'd need a water dish large enough to submerge their entire body in. I provided this, of course, but so far, I've yet to see my python in his water. He'll hang out near the dish, or hang from the vines and trees above it, but he never actually gets in the water. I'm concerned because he always has a hard time with his sheds (at least, what in my experience is a hard shed, having kept a kingsnake for the last seven years who always just slithered out of his skin and left it in one big inside-out tube) even though I'm careful to maintain humidity between 50-60%. Today, I finally got tired of the patchy, broken shed skin still stuck to his hide and gave him a warm bath, and of course most of the shed came right off in the water.

My second question is a little more difficult. Does anyone else keep live plants in their terrarium? I wasn't able to find much information on caging balls with live tropical plants, so I went out on a limb and tried it myself. I cut one of those Gladware "tupperware" containers down so it was only about three inches tall, filled it with potting soil, planted my tropical plant in it (purchased at PetCo), then placed it in the cage and used the substrate (I'm using EcoEarth) to completely bury the tupperware and cover the potting soil. I've tried three different plants so far, but the only one I've had luck with is a low cluster-leaf type plant with thick, waxy leaves. The other two plants I tried were tall, spindly things, and Badoo (my python) just uprooted them night after night. The low waxy plant seems to be thriving, however.

That's it for now. Thanx for your time!

- The Green Man

[Mike Schultz]

I've never seen my python in her bowl but she does stick her nose in to drink every once in a while (often after eating)

However, her sheds have been almost perfect (usually one big chunk with two or three little pieces scattered around.

So i guess it's down to the individual python?

Hope this helps a little- I don't know about the live plants as I have a very minimal setup at the moment (for easy cleaning)

[starmom]

I've never kept live plants in my reptile cages, but I'll go out on a limb and share a thought with you...

Snakes pee and poo where ever they explode and sooner or later it will be on your plant I've had my big spider girl pee and poo in her water bowl. I've had them pee and poo in all different places all over the cages. I've had them 'tail paint' their poo everywhere Also, my snakes in cages are all about 1200g and they cruise around at night all over everything!!

I'm guessing that your plants would be short lived with either being smooshed by a heavy snake or pee'd or poo'd on

As for a large water bowl, I have one in each of the cages for a humidity bump. I have yet to see a snake go into it

[butters!]

in my case all 3 of my bp's urinate or defacate on something.never ever in open space.i think its kinda like us having a bathroom door.we dont like when someone watches us pooh (except a select few) <<<<ewww but thats off the subject.mine really like to pooh on the little stand that holds up the accurite.drives me ape-shiat

[amanda_rose07]

I do not put live plants in the aquarium. I only put fake ones in there. My snake tends to use the bathroom on them, knock them over, and break them. So it is up to you whether or not you care to have your plant killed or soiled. As for the water thing, I have one snake who will not leave her water dish. She will do a lap around the tank every once in a while but after that she is in her bowl. Now I do have another ball whom I have never ever seen get any where near the water. Not even to drink. So maybe it just doesnt feel like submerging itself. Oh and Im semi-new as well. Im only giving personal experience!