Ball python soaking

[benk8805]

So I have read that ball pythons like to soak on occasion, but mine goes a few days in a row when he soaks all the time. I have checked him over for parasites, he is clean. Also he isn't really preparing for a shed I dont think because the soaking doesnt really coordinate with it. And I have a cool side that I keep very humid and he spends a good amount of time there. Any help? Is it just that some prefer the water more than others?? Thanks

[Tzeentch]

I noticed my ball python spending a lot of time in his water bowl last week. Temp in the tank was reading 84 so I did'nt see how he was "cooling down". Turns out the air in his new hide was reaching 100+ degrees.
Ops, I need a thermostat.

[Aes_Sidhe]

What is Your Ambient temp... I noticed my soaking a lot when My AC go down.. ambient temp was for couple days 88F so I know that he just was cooling himself...

[blackcrystal22]

A ball python should not soak if it is mite-free and the temperatures and humidity are good.

What are the exact temperatures on the warm side, cool side, and ambient in the cage?

If the ambient is above 84F, that's probably why. He's too hot.

Ambient Air - 80F
Cool Side - 80-85F
Warm Side - 90-95F

Also, just to be safe I would give the cage a treatment of Prevent-A-Mite just to make sure that's not an issue.

[benk8805]

Cool side is about 75 to 80, ambient around 85, warm side 90 to 95.

I have a 75 watt heat bulb on the warm side maybe I should scale it down to a 50? He does seem to spend the majority of his time on the cool side. I was just concerned about him being too cool as that seems to cause more problems than being too warm, so maybe i went a little overboard?