Well a healthy ball python would rarely soak...it will soak if the humidity is too low, the hot spot is too hot, or is trying to drown mites...but besides that ball pythons dont need a big bowl to soak in only something that can provide enough water for them....Ball pythons do swim in the wild but since most of the snakes are captive-bred they have little concern of swimming...But they would enjoy swimming once in a while...