Swimming in water dish?

[Traceur]

My baby ball python has been in his water bowl twice already today. This morning he went inside his water bowl and was trying to swim around (it's quite wide). And then I found him going back in there again, but not trying to swim this time. Is this normal?
Also, for the past couple of days he seems to be quite active during the day. But he'll still explore here and there at night. Is this a sign of stress?

He already has two hides in his terrarium. Cool side is 80 degrees. Humidity is 57%. Hot side has been 91-92 degrees.
His feeding day is tomorrow. He did not eat last week.

Anything helps

[ckuhn003]

My baby ball python has been in his water bowl twice already today. This morning he went inside his water bowl and was trying to swim around (it's quite wide). And then I found him going back in there again, but not trying to swim this time. Is this normal?
Also, for the past couple of days he seems to be quite active during the day. But he'll still explore here and there at night. Is this a sign of stress?

He already has two hides in his terrarium. Cool side is 80 degrees. Humidity is 57%. Hot side has been 91-92 degrees.
His feeding day is tomorrow. He did not eat last week.

Anything helps

I'm wondering if it could be mite related which is usually brought up when BPs are found in the water dish on frequent occasions. For the record, I've never found mine in the water dish and almost never active during the day which may be some cause for concern. Your temps seem to be good...humidity a tad bit low.

[tttaylorrr]

I'm wondering if it could be mite related

there's usually 3 main reasons for a snake soaking: mites, dehydration/upcoming shed, and/or their personality.

everyone is going to ask you to check for mites, and you should! get a white towel (or white paper towel) and have the snake slither through; the mites will show up as little black specs moving about.

in my own experience with a soaking snake: i only have one that soaks semi-regularly, and it just seems to be her routine when she has a shed coming up

[Bogertophis]

Activity can mean different things: temperatures uncomfortable (looking for the right ones) which btw doesn't seem to apply here, or it can mean hunger-
which seems likely since he didn't eat last time. Coupled with time in the water bowl can indicate mites though...do look closely, with a magnifier if you have
one...check on the snake & in the water both. Mites aren't merely annoying...they can kill snakes because their population expands exponentially...they cause
dehydration from blood loss (which is why snakes head for the water bowl, also presumably to relieve their itchy bites).

While some snakes like to soak when they'll be shedding soon, they aren't usually more active at that time. Shedding snakes usually hide more. So please do
look again for mites.

[Traceur]

I'm wondering if it could be mite related which is usually brought up when BPs are found in the water dish on frequent occasions. For the record, I've never found mine in the water dish and almost never active during the day which may be some cause for concern. Your temps seem to be good...humidity a tad bit low.

What causes mites exactly?
I know one of the causes is poor cleaning routines, but I've had him for a little over a week and he hasn't pooped or urinated. This is the first time today I've seen him in his water dish.

Also, what should my humidity levels be? I've been hearing between 55-60%

Thank you, by the way

[Traceur]

there's usually 3 main reasons for a snake soaking: mites, dehydration/upcoming shed, and/or their personality.

everyone is going to ask you to check for mites, and you should! get a white towel (or white paper towel) and have the snake slither through; the mites will show up as little black specs moving about.

in my own experience with a soaking snake: i only have one that soaks semi-regularly, and it just seems to be her routine when she has a shed coming up

Sounds great! But I can't exactly handle him at the moment, he's still new and I've been told that it's best to let him adjust until he's eaten twice before I could handle him. He's going on two months old here soon

Also, you have a very beautiful snake

[Traceur]

Activity can mean different things: temperatures uncomfortable (looking for the right ones) which btw doesn't seem to apply here, or it can mean hunger-
which seems likely since he didn't eat last time. Coupled with time in the water bowl can indicate mites though...do look closely, with a magnifier if you have
one...check on the snake & in the water both. Mites aren't merely annoying...they can kill snakes because their population expands exponentially...they cause
dehydration from blood loss (which is why snakes head for the water bowl, also presumably to relieve their itchy bites).

While some snakes like to soak when they'll be shedding soon, they aren't usually more active at that time. Shedding snakes usually hide more. So please do
look again for mites.

I will be sure to. How can I identify them?

[Bogertophis]

No, it's not from a dirty cage they get mites, although dirty cages help the mites reproduce. He likely CAME with some mites, IF he has them now...it's nothing
that you did or didn't do. Breeders & sellers of snakes are not all reliable when it comes to keeping their collections free of mites...but the GOOD ones do! It's
important because mites can also spread diseases among snakes.

Routine humidity at 55-60% is fine, but increase it (to about 70% or so) when snake is for sure in "shed" cycle.

[Bogertophis]

I will be sure to. How can I identify them?

Tiny moving specs...about the size of the head of a pin, usually dark (black/brown/or reddish) in color.
They can get rinsed off into the water bowl, but you also want to look all over the snake...around eyes/face/chin etc. They can
hide under scales & blend in.

Best to keep all new snakes on white paper towels for substrate until you're sure there's no mites; they show up better this way.

Also, wipe the snake's body with a damp white smooth cloth & check the cloth carefully for "specks".

And by the way, while we suggest NOT handling a new snake until he/she has fed several times easily & at normal intervals (so as
not to stress them while they're settling in) THIS is the one time to ignore that advice: if you see mites on your snake or in the
cage (on substrate or cloth etc), you need to deal with them right away, not wait.

[Zincubus]

I will be sure to. How can I identify them?

If you find one or more or many suspected mites you can crush it /them with your fingernail and if it's a mite it will be full of blood .. squash it on something white ..


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