Soaking a lot???? Should I be concerned?

[STORMS]

OK, I picked up this little one on Sunday. It seemed to be a bit dehydrated, head was very dry looking and it's really thin, under fed maybe? Anyway, when I got home from practice yesterday it was soaking in the water bowl, no biggie right? Well when I left for the office this morning I checked on it before I left and once again it was soaking in the water bowl. How much soaking is too much? After it soaks, should I dry it off? Im concerned a bit because of scale rot. It has no mites (as far as I can tell) but I know that is one reason that they will soak.

Also, I fed it last night and the little thing ate like a champ so that made me feel better

But whats with all the time being spent in the water bowl????

I have never seen either of my other 2 BPs soaking.

Someone please put my nerves at ease

The conditions it was kept in before I got it were less than par - no UTH, no hides, no water bowl...poor little thing.

Any ideas?

[Wh00h0069]

He could be soaking becasue he is dehydrated, or he could just be trying to get away from the heat.

Sometimes it is a sign of mites though. I would check him very carefully for mites. If it is not mites, then you may want to check his temps.

I have also heard of some that get in their water bowl to feel more secure.

Keep us up to date, and good luck.

[Mochelem]

It can be several things, make sure you do check the water for any little black bugs (mites). Also check the temps if its too hot it might be trying to cool down. Also it may be going into shed some snakes soak before a shed. It might just like the water. With a snake that soak that often you have to make sure you change the water daily because they might use the dish as a potty.

[STORMS]

Temps are OK...93 on the warm side and 86 on the cool with ambient temp of 83-85, so I don't think thats an issue. I was thinking it may be soaking to re-hydrate itself, but it spends a good deal of time in the water bowl. How much is too much? I'd hate to see scale rot become an issue because of all the soaking. Humidity is staying between 50-55%, so I should be good there too.

Should I dry it off in a towel after these soaking sessions?

Also, I did take a good look at it yesterday - no mites, I checked around the eyes & every where else

Also...no mites in the water & I have changed the water 2X a day because it keeps splashing it out

[Mochelem]

Temps are OK...93 on the warm side and 86 on the cool with ambient temp of 83-85, so I don't think thats an issue. I was thinking it may be soaking to re-hydrate itself, but it spends a good deal of time in the water bowl. How much is too much? I'd hate to see scale rot become an issue because of all the soaking. Humidity is staying between 50-55%, so I should be good there too.

Should I dry it off in a towel after these soaking sessions?

Also, I did take a good look at it yesterday - no mites, I checked around the eyes & every where else

Also...no mites in the water & I have changed the water 2X a day because it keeps splashing it out

I wouldnt worry about drying it off, as long as the substrate is dry I wouldnt worry about scale rot. The snake does look a bit skinny maybe it is rehydrating. I would just let it be keep giving it fresh water and see if anything changes.

Scale rot generally happens when there is wet substrate where the snake is hanging out like under a hide, and too much heat.

[Wh00h0069]

Temps are OK...93 on the warm side and 86 on the cool with ambient temp of 83-85, so I don't think thats an issue. I was thinking it may be soaking to re-hydrate itself, but it spends a good deal of time in the water bowl. How much is too much? I'd hate to see scale rot become an issue because of all the soaking. Humidity is staying between 50-55%, so I should be good there too.

Should I dry it off in a towel after these soaking sessions?

Also, I did take a good look at it yesterday - no mites, I checked around the eyes & every where else

Also...no mites in the water & I have changed the water 2X a day because it keeps splashing it out

Well the only two things left that I can think of is rehydrating or using the water bowl as a hiding place. Sounds to me like you are doing everything right. Either way, it will likely subside in a few days.

[STORMS]

I wouldnt worry about drying it off, as long as the substrate is dry I wouldnt worry about scale rot. The snake does look a bit skinny maybe it is rehydrating. I would just let it be keep giving it fresh water and see if anything changes.

Scale rot generally happens when there is wet substrate where the snake is hanging out like under a hide, and too much heat.

It is REALLY skinny my guess is it was under fed. It did eat a small mouse last night. So, I guess I'll keep changing the water a couple times a day and just keep my eye on it.

Well the only two things left that I can think of is rehydrating or using the water bowl as a hiding place. Sounds to me like you are doing everything right. Either way, it will likely subside in a few days.

It does use both hides, so thats a good thing I'm going to just keep a watchful eye for anything odd

Thanks guys

[littleindiangirl]

I would personally lower the cool side a wee bit if possible. 86 seems warm to me... But that's up for debate. (we keep ours at 80-81)

Also, he may still be hiding in his water bowl because that's all he knows for security so far. I find sometimes my new babies have no clue what the dark hide is or what it's for.

In the meantime, I would clutter up his cage.

[STORMS]

I would personally lower the cool side a wee bit if possible. 86 seems warm to me... But that's up for debate. (we keep ours at 80-81)

Also, he may still be hiding in his water bowl because that's all he knows for security so far. I find sometimes my new babies have no clue what the dark hide is or what it's for.

In the meantime, I would clutter up his cage.

When I get home I will adjust the cool side temp to see if that has any positive affect. I have more plants I can throw in there too, so I will do that as well.

Thanks Connie

[STORMS]

OK, Yesterday when I got home from the office it was in the water bowl - it was in there when I left So Im not sure if it spent the whole day in there or what. So yesterday evening I adjusted my cool side temp like Connie suggested - now its fluctuating between 80.4 & 82.1 (It was at 86) and I also "cluttered" up the tank with a bunch more plants. I checked on it before going to bed and it was in the hide on the warm side (93). Checked again this morning - still in that hide. I just came home from work and guess where it was?

Back in the water bowl of coarse.

So, now what?