Bathing BP's

[STORMS]

Hi everybody! Hope everyone is having a fabulous day! It's 84 and sunny in the Chicago burbs! Lovin it!

I have yet another question.... How do I go about bathing my BP's? How often do they need to be bathed? For how long? Should this be done in the bath tub or in a rubber maid tub? Temp of the water? I haven't had either one very long, but I have never given them a bath. I think I read somewhere that I'm supposed to. Or is this only after a shed?

Thanks in advance for all your wonderful help.

[Drew87]

I usually do it before a shed to help them out, but i also clean them up sometimes, warmish water not to warm i use a little tub and i put them in the water and a towel and put the lid on keep a eye on them but leave them in there for around 30 min then put them back in there tub and next day perfect shed. By the way have we gotten over the fear YET???

[starmom]

I just run mine under water when they've laid in pee or poo'd everywhere!

[SatanicIntention]

They do not need to be soaked or wiped down unless they have crawled through fecal matter/urates or are having a bad shed.

Never soak before a shed as it will lead to a stuck shed. You know how your skin looks after getting out of the pool or a hot bath? All dehydrated and wrinkly? It's because the water sucks out all of the moisture in the skin. Their skin does the same thing and will only make shedding time worse.

Now, if they have already tried to shed and have loose skin on them, then you can get a plastic container with a lid, put 1/2" to an inch of lukewarm water plus a few paper towels in the bottom, add the snake, put the lid on securely and place the entire thing, snake and all, in the snake's enclosure on the warm side. Leave for an hour and then let the snake run through a rough washcloth or towel to get the remaining skin off.

But no, bathing for no other reason is not recommended. The snakes stress out easily, and there's just not a benefit unless the snake is dehydrated(which yours shouldn't be).

[missi182]

I usually do it before a shed to help them out, but i also clean them up sometimes, warmish water not to warm i use a little tub and i put them in the water and a towel and put the lid on keep a eye on them but leave them in there for around 30 min then put them back in there tub and next day perfect shed. By the way have we gotten over the fear YET???

You can actually worsen a shed by soaking during a shed cycle for no reason. The layer of fluid that builds up between the old skin and new is reduced when you soak him. You do not need to soak a bp unless they have already had a poor shed and require assistance removing it. Check this thread out for assisting a bad shed

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=43403

Becky, your fingers are too fast

[STORMS]

. By the way have we gotten over the fear YET???

Slowly but surely... I wear gardening gloves (my Dumbo's feather) which keeps me relaxed, but yes I have been taking them out all by myself and handle each one for 20 min or so every night except after feeding obviously... It's a GREAT feeling!!!!

I just had to put on my "Big Girl" panties and deal with it!

[STORMS]

Thanks for the input. So far both my BP's are healthy and happy or as happy as a snake can be I guess. They have not shed for me yet, but I have not had them very long. How often do they shed? It's probably different for each snake, right?

[Drew87]

Glad to hear your getting over the fear, i understand what your all saying but ive never had a problem with the bath i give them before the shed they always have a perfect shed but ill give it a try and let them do it themselves. i also dont give them a bath everytime just when it seems to be taking them over a week to shed i do it thankx for the advice

[missi182]

A whole shed cycle can take up to 14 days, they will shed when they are ready At a young age, sheds occur every 4-6 weeks (as far as I know) and once they are larger, they shed less often. As long as your humidity is 50-60 %, always you should get a good shed. If the first shed you get from a new bp is in pieces, it may be due to previous husbandry (not yours) and the stress of settling in.

[starmom]

...By the way have we gotten over the fear YET???

Slowly but surely... I wear gardening gloves (my Dumbo's feather) which keeps me relaxed, but yes I have been taking them out all by myself and handle each one for 20 min or so every night except after feeding obviously... It's a GREAT feeling!!!!

I just had to put on my "Big Girl" panties and deal with it!

YEA!!!!!!!
You go girl!!!!!!!!!