Why has my ball python been soaking for almost a whole day?

[spasticbeast]

I have had my bp for about 2 and a half months now, and he has never done this. I checked him multiple times for mites, and haven't seen anything. (though, I admit that this is my first bp and I am not an experienced mite hunter) The only thing that has changed in his vivarium is the foam background that I added. I made the background myself and the only thing I can think of is that when the non-toxic paint was drying on my porch, the wind blew it off the table it was on, and a mite jumped on from the ground. He also has not shed yet, and I was wondering if this could be some kind of pre-shed behavior. I lowered temps as I read they soak if they get too hot sometimes. If it is mites, then I will pick up PAM on the way home from work, and then throw out about $150 in decorations when I get home. Any suggestions?

[cmack91]

sometimes they will soak before they shed, but mines never gone that long, a couple hours at most, although my boa soaks all day before she finally decides to poo in her dish. and yes they will do this if they have mites, ive heard to check around the cloaca, eyes, and mouth. when mine had them i just saw them on the belly though, and can you check your temps?

[spasticbeast]

I lowered the hot side from 90 to 85. The cool side was 75. Humidity was 58% so I misted.

[cmack91]

double check for mites i guess, besides that, shedding, or pooping, and unless theres something idk about, i'd say he just wanted to bath idk, i wish i could help more

[Inknsteel]

Sometimes they just decide to soak... Double check your husbandry and as long as your temps and humidity are on point and you don't see any sign of mites, I wouldn't worry much.

My buddy's Pastel YB has been at my house for about a month getting ready to breed my normal female and he sits in his water dish unless it's feeding day. When he's hungry, he's out of the dish, but right back in after he eats. No idea why he does it. I say he's just a little "special"...

[spasticbeast]

Okay. Just got home from work and did the most thorough job that I could checking for mites. Nothing. I even used a clean white towel to give him a rubdown. I did notice that his belly is a little pink, so I hope that this is just a quirk he has before he sheds. @inknsteel He is definitely special. He tries to eat the rats from every direction but headfirst before he figures it out.

[Inknsteel]

A pink belly is one of the early indications that your snake is going into shed. Sounds like that's what it is...

[Kinra]

A pink belly is one of the early indications that your snake is going into shed. Sounds like that's what it is...

I agree, I have two females that shove themselves into their water dishes when they are going to shed.

[spasticbeast]

Well, I will know for sure in a few days. I hope that is the case. He is 7 years old 43 inches and about 1600 grams. How often would a bp that age and size shed? He was very thin and kind of neglected when I got him, and he has put on around 400 grams over the last 2 1/2 months. He was getting fed like once a month, he eats one medium rat for me every week no problem. He also switched over to f/t from live on the first attempt.

[JLC]

Snake mites are not native to the US, so you won't accidentally pick them up from your own yard...no worries on that score. Given how long you've had him, and the fact that you haven't seen any sign of them so far, I'd say you're pretty safe in that regard.

If he's putting on weight after being underfed for a long time, he may shed every month or two. My big, mature male sheds about 3-4 times a year...not because he's growing much anymore, but the old skin just gets worn out and needs to be replaced from time to time. Trauma and/or stress can also bring on more frequent sheds. So far, from the little I've read here, sounds to me like everything is going as expected.

Reasons they might soak besides relief from mites or other external parasites:

-- Tank is too warm (already been covered and ruled out)
-- Going into shed (already covered and a likely scenario)
-- Lack of security...they either don't have a hide, or the hide(s) they do have are too big and/or open for their comfort and they discover the water bowl to be a more comfy fit
-- Full belly...sometimes after a big meal, they may lay in the water where the buoyancy can take some of the pressure off of a full belly