Should I soak?

[8_Ball]

Ok well 80 is not high at all, I'm sorry but 95% of big breeders just have an ambient of 86 degrees and no hot spots and the snakes are fine. Go look up the average temperatures from Ghana and you will not see the lows dip below 78-79 usually. And the ground stays warmer than that even at night. Just because it gets to 70 here and there doesn't mean thats the best temperature to keep your snakes all year long. I bet your snakes spend most of their time on their hot spots. I've never heard of keeping snakes 75 ambient.. maybe the cool side the most but not the whole enclosure. The snake is not suffering if he spends most of the time on the warm side because clearly if he was "too hot and suffering" he would be on the cool side in his identical hide. I really don't think he drinks much from his water bowl. Thats my concern. I live far up North and if I had 75 degrees for the majority of his cage I would have a RI because is is drafty here most of the year.

[8_Ball]

Usually, if the BP is dehydrated, his/her eyes will dent. Is that something that you notice happening when you don't soak?

Personally, I dont think he's dehydrated. My BPs always drink when I change their water or after their meals but they're not dehydrated. Just being snakes.

Nope no denting, just big bright black eyes. Maybe when I mist its not actually the hides just around it and it is dry in the hides? Maybe some damp moss will help in one of the hides. He spends most of his time on the warm side so I highly doubt its too warm for him. Maybe the wrinkles are just from being balled up so tightly. He has the small Reptile Basic hides that are supposed to fit up to 300-400 gram balls but he's only ~225 grams. Should I maybe up the hide sizes?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

75 is way to cold for a ambient IMO. 75 is close to room temp I am not risking a RI. When it goes down to 80 degrees he goes on the warm side only. the cool side is 80-81. The middle (ambient) ranges 82-84 under the bulb. Warm side on the glass measures 92-93 which makes above the substrate ~90-91 degrees. I have a thermostat for both the heat pad and bulb. He is usually on the warm side now but goes to the cool side here and there. I won't drop the temp lower then 80 on cool side/ambient.

Cooler temps alone in the 75 range do not lead to RI, what does in a lot of cases is a combination of poor husbandry (low humidity or high humidity for example) and stress (stress brought on by soaking/giving bath to your snake etc)

Lower temps are less of a problem than stress is

[bondo]

Ok well 80 is not high at all, I'm sorry but 95% of big breeders just have an ambient of 86 degrees and no hot spots and the snakes are fine. Go look up the average temperatures from Ghana and you will not see the lows dip below 78-79 usually. And the ground stays warmer than that even at night. Just because it gets to 70 here and there doesn't mean thats the best temperature to keep your snakes all year long. I bet your snakes spend most of their time on their hot spots. I've never heard of keeping snakes 75 ambient.. maybe the cool side the most but not the whole enclosure. The snake is not suffering if he spends most of the time on the warm side because clearly if he was "too hot and suffering" he would be on the cool side in his identical hide. I really don't think he drinks much from his water bowl. Thats my concern. I live far up North and if I had 75 degrees for the majority of his cage I would have a RI because is is drafty here most of the year.

Balls don't just live in Ghana and I call bull on 95% of breeders keeping an ambient temp of 86 and no hot spot . They use the hot spot after eating. Other then that they are spread around. I live in northern WI and have had no ri issue ever with a ball python.

[8_Ball]

Nope no denting, just big bright black eyes. Maybe when I mist its not actually the hides just around it and it is dry in the hides? Maybe some damp moss will help in one of the hides. He spends most of his time on the warm side so I highly doubt its too warm for him. Maybe the wrinkles are just from being balled up so tightly. He has the small Reptile Basic hides that are supposed to fit up to 300-400 gram balls but he's only ~225 grams. Should I maybe up the hide sizes?

Balls don't just live in Ghana and I call bull on 95% of breeders keeping an ambient temp of 86 and no hot spot . They use the hot spot after eating. Other then that they are spread around. I live in northern WI and have had no ri issue ever with a ball python.

Well your misinformed. I can think of a few big name breeders who have heated snake breeding facilities of 84-86 degrees with no hot spots. It is becoming more common now.

[8_Ball]

Cooler temps alone in the 75 range do not lead to RI, what does in a lot of cases is a combination of poor husbandry (low humidity or high humidity for example) and stress (stress brought on by soaking/giving bath to your snake etc)

Lower temps are less of a problem than stress is

If he was stressed he would not feed every 5 days so I know he's not stressed lol. I literally put a quarter inch or lukewarm water in a critter keeper and place him in there. He drinks and I take him out in less then 5 minutes before the water cools. I only did this three times in the past 6 months and I only handle him about once or twice weekly for pictures and whatnot because he is so laid back. I mist in the mornings daily to 90% and by 6 pm it is almost at 50% again. I have humidity and heating down (which is a lot tougher since I do not have a heated reptile room with racks anymore since down sizing but it is do-able). I just would never go to 75 degrees since I live in a cool climate and the house fluctuates even though I have thermostats. I do not think a newbie should try cooler than recommended temps unless their husbandry is spot on which most members on here it probably is not. 75/81/90 zones are good but in a smaller enclosure 81/91 is easier to maintain I would keep kings/milks/corns cooler than my ball python.

[8_Ball]

Balls don't just live in Ghana and I call bull on 95% of breeders keeping an ambient temp of 86 and no hot spot . They use the hot spot after eating. Other then that they are spread around. I live in northern WI and have had no ri issue ever with a ball python.

My last two cents.. I found a old post on here:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...53-No-hot-spot

Kevin from Nerd doesn't use hot spots just an ambient of mid 80's. And Justin from J. Kobylka Reptiles does not ether in his new facility.

[bondo]

Well your misinformed. I can think of a few big name breeders who have heated snake breeding facilities of 84-86 degrees with no hot spots. It is becoming more common now.

You changed your story LOL Is it 95% of the breeders or a few?

[8_Ball]

You changed your story LOL Is it 95% of the breeders or a few?

I really meant 95% of big breeders keep their ambient a over 80 and some even have only ambients in the mid 80s with no hot spots. I backspaced and didn't finish because obviously most breeders use heat tape under tubs with a hot spot. But 95% of big breeders have a ambient over 80 for a fact because that's the suggested husbandry that has been taught.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I do not think a newbie should try cooler than recommended

And I don't think a newbie should soak his snake which is why when one ask I will always say BP do not need soaking / bath.

You got your answer there is no benefit in soaking your snake.