Ball python doesn't like water

[Laura&Vincent]

Hello,
My 3 year old ball python had a bad shed, and while i'm working on the humidity in his cage, i'm trying to soak him to help with the shedding pieces. The problem is... he hates water. I've tried bathtub, bucket, bowl, putting his hide in the bathtub to make him feel more secure, but the only thing he wants to do is get away from/out of it as fast as possible.
Is this common and is there anything else I should try?


Thanks

[Elise.m]

Is there water running into the pool of water that he's sitting in? If so that might cause him to try to get away. Generally BPs don't mind water.

[dr del]

Hi,

Some of them really dislike it but a lot of it depends on the temp (it should be about 86f maximum ) and depth (half way up the snakes body at the deepest).

The humidity in the air above the water in the lidded container will be enough to loosen the skin on its back etc.

You could also try putting it in a damp pillowcase and tying a knot in the top and leaving the snake in there for 30 minutes or so - make sure that the thread count is low enough to allow air to get through and that you do not catch the snake in the knot when tying it.


dr del

[OhhWatALoser]

most of mine hate water, never thought anything of it

[sarahlovesmiike]

I had the same problem. Mine like it if I hold onto their back end so they feel more secure, or onto their front end depending on which end you want to soak. Just do ten minutes on each end everyday until the shed is gone.

[rabernet]

Try using this method - stickied at the top of this forum.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=43403

[shescountry89]

Hey, my spider ball python absolutely hates water. Even when I mist him he goes insane, so when he had a bad shed once. I got a small sterilite tub, with no holes and filled it with luke warm water, put a towel in there and stick him in it so he was almost submerged. Close and lock the lid, leave him in there for about 30min or so then take him out and let him go through the towel. His skin should come right off.

[takagari]

3/4 of mine hate it also. about once every other month I let them go in the tub.

I feel its sort of like sticking them on a treadmill. Good exercise for them

Shawn

[BabysMomma]

Baby absolutely despises water and being wet. He hides when I mist, and only the tip of his nose ever touches the water in his dish. So what I did was wet a towel and let him climb through it over and over, eventually the dampness and rubbing got the bad shed off.