Well, think of it this way: Should a BP be aware that there are dangerous bacteria, viruses and fungi that may thrive in warm, wet environments? No. All they know is that bowl is comfy to them for whatever reason.


And you can't really compare a tiny, enclosed, controlled space to what they may encounter out in the wild. In such small, enclosed spaces (even if you're picturing a giant 75gal tank...it's still tiny compared to the wild)...harmful agents can build up very quickly in huge, concentrated numbers that they would not likely encounter in the wild.

And that's not to say that snakes don't sometimes suffer scale rot and other illnesses in the wild. Instinct may tell them a particular spot is a good temperature, and it feels snug and secure...but it won't tell them that dangerous levels of bacteria are building up beneath them and getting under their scales.

Lemme know how things go with that dry bowl! I'm really curious to see if he continues to use it or not.