Question for thoes of you that remove water bowls for pairing?

[CritterVet]

Watched a RDR video on this subject last night..Ralph Davis reckons that he removes them simply to reduce the risk of cross contamination of any viral/bacterial infection by the snakes sharing drinking water..

That's kind of ridiculous. Considering the intimacy the two reptiles will be experiencing during breeding, worrying about sharing a water bowl is silly.

[dr del]

Hi,

I wondered about that - but I have been removing the waterbowls without thinking about it.

The most common problem that seems to flair up if you are breeding seems to be an RI - whether from overbreeding or just from a slight dip in immune system efficiency due to cooling. At least that is the one I see mentioned most often.

Now between the act of mating and drinking from the same water source is there any increase or decrease in the chances of an RI being passed from snake to snake?

I know snakes with an RI will sometimes drool into the water container so can see that as a contamination point - but will that pass to the other snake easier than simply sharing the same environment. And, if the other snakes immune system is healthy, will it still be more likely to become ill because of either form of contact?

And the snakes aren't always without water for the full three days - if I see the male locked up with the female then I remove him once he is done and everybody gets at least a night of alone time with the water dishes replaced.

I have seen Herman ( my big studly normal ) spend one hot and steamy night with three snakes in the same week then get fed on the 5th night like a happy little camper. Not exactly all that common but he has done it.


dr del

[Bruce Whitehead]

I remove the dishes... with the stress of breeding and the increased chances of RIs I do not want to risk it.

One thing that my herp vet told me years back was that since they cannot cough, the chance of catching it from the environment is seriously decreased... basically she said "the snake would have to go up and cough in the other one's face to pass it"...

I know we can transfer them and there is a risk from the environment, but a dish would be a definite point of transfer, so taking it out just makes sense to me. One more means to transfer removed.

And a well fed snake (there is a lot of moisture in a rat) i am confident will be fine.

Bruce

[Wonzzer]

yeah bruce that what i was getting at
now my question still remains- how will they get their moisture?

Dude, I only keep my pairs together for nomore then 48 hours. I don't think they are gonna miss their water bowls.

[CritterVet]

Dr. Del, I think the increase in RI seen around breeding has a lot to do with stress, as well as the other factors you mentioned.

RI's in mammals and birds are often spread by aerosol -- that is viral particles or bacteria are spread into the air with sneezing and coughing. As was mentioned, reptiles don't sneeze and cough, so this method of transmission probably doesn't play a major role. That leaves the other major route of RI transmission -- direct and indirect contact. The infectious microbe comes from the respiratory system, out mouth, and into the environment. Anything the snake's tongue touches or the oral secretions drip on is potentially contaminated. I have yet to meet a snake who only sticks it's tongue out in the water bowl.

If it makes you feel better to take water bowls out, go for it. However, I would not expect it to be an effective means of preventing transmission of respiratory infections between breeding pairs.

[West Coast Jungle]

I remove water bowls and the main reason is bacteria survive longer in water. These animals dont drink everyday like mammals generally do. Since you only pair for a couple of days its not going to effect them at all. I have been doing this for years. I may mist the enclosure a bit to kick up humidity to mimmick their natural rainy season. As mentioned earlier snakes dont cough or sneeze and sexual contact does not spread RI's(wrong side of the body). When you are pairing males to several females you dont want to find out later that someone was sick and now it has spread to several others. Its a smart safety precaution that I was taught when I first started from successful breeders. You have nothing to loose so why not?

[cerastesruber]

snakes can go for a loonnnnggg time without water.. 5 or so days isnt going to hurt.. I leave my bowls in though.

[cerastesruber]

well, now that ive read these other posts maybe i will remove the bowls :p

[Mike Schultz]

A snake with an RI will smear it everywhere... removing the water bowl is just silly. It's like letting two kids with chicken pox play together as long as they don't share drinks.

A ball python can go a few weeks without water... But of course its not recommended... we just leave our water bowls in. No real reason to remove it.

[snakesRkewl]

Too many spilled water bowls means no water during breeding.
If they spill the water I clean it up and remove the bowl till they get separated.
I have a couple big girls that spill constantly and seemingly on purpose, good times