Belly Full Equals Soaking

[BillinIndiana]

The last two weeks Avalon our BP has had a larger meal and the next day we find her soaking in her water dish. The meal isn't really that big, but it is bigger than what we have been feeding her. We're using up some fuzzy mice so we have been given her 4 mice in one feeding. .. She weighs 130g her

She's not ready to shed, her last was about 3 weeks ago. I guess she could, but I don't see her eyes cloudy up... And No she doesn't have mites. We only have her and haven't used any type of bedding other than store bought Forrest Floor cypress.

We'll work on switching to one large rat pretty soon, there is a show coming up her in a few weeks and we'll get some new feeders.

Why do some BP soak after a big meal?

[hypnotixdmp]

Some just like to soak, while as you said it could also be something else like mites. I have a buddy who has about 3 BIG girls that are always soaking, but no mites!!!!!


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[BillinIndiana]

Don't Mites have to be brought into the tank? I mean they don't fall under the "Immaculate Conception" category do they?

[interloc]

No immaculate conception for mites lol. But they do seem to spring out of nowhere. It only takes one or 2 on a new snake (which would be very hard to notice) to cause a world of hurt. I've also heard of them coming home on the clothes of people who were handling snakes at shows. Keep an eye out. I'm always suspicious of soaking.


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[DooLittle]

What are her temps? Maybe she is too hot? I would first suspect mites, or too hot. I have never seen any of mine soak.

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[MrLang]

1 or 2 of mine do pre-shed soaks before they fade, turn pink, or turn blue. Usually they get a little dull colored and soak like you described for 3 or 4 days, then turn pink for 3-7 days, then turn blue for 2 days, then look completely normal and 2 or 3 days later they shed. That is just my experience.

If you can't see any mites floating in the water bowl or on the snake I would not worry about them, just keep checking over the course of the next week or 2.


If you haven't ready this it will explain the whole process.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...edding-Process

[BillinIndiana]

There again I can't see where it could be mites? We've had her for 6-7 weeks and the soaking has just started the last to feedings.

Her temps are in the low 80's..

She has dulled out though, her skin almost looks dry, but her humidity is around 60% pretty regularly..

[DooLittle]

80 hot spot, or 80 ambient? What kind of substrate? If you have papertowels, mites would be fairly easy to see. Shed could also be possible sooner if she is eating larger meals.

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[BillinIndiana]

Ambient.. Forrest Floor Cypress

[MrLang]

She has dulled out though, her skin almost looks dry, but her humidity is around 60% pretty regularly..

She's definitely going into shed. It's good that she is pre-soaking because there is a better chance of a more successful shed if she does. Just mist the cage with 4 or 5 pumps a day and she should give you a nice 1 piece ball of skin.