Soaking Temp?

[daver676]

If I wanted to soak my ball python, what should the temp of the water be? How long should I soak him? He seems "wrinkly", and hasn't eaten in 4 weeks. It's only 3 months old.

Dave

[Linds]

Room temp or slightly below skin temp works fine usually. If you put your hand in and it feels warm, then it is too hot for your ball (our body temperature is almost 100 degrees, by the time it feels warm to us it has to be exceeding that).

Is your snake dehydrated? You can tell by gently pinching the skin, if it stays there rather than immediately going back, then your snake is dehydrated. Soaking will help a little, but they aren't amphibians, they do need to ingest fluids to be rehydrated. Have you had her tested for parasites? Is she wrinkly because she is losing weight? A small amount of unflavoured pedialyte helps with dehydration, and can sometimes act as an appettite stimulant as well. Only a few millilletres for a snake that size though. It can be administered with an eyedropper or syringe.

[jncoclub]

Uh oh- when ever I soaked my snakes I put it in warm (not hot) water. I didn't take into consideration that they regulate heat differently. Would putting the snake in warmer than necessary water hurt the snake? Now I feel bad that I gave my snakes a "too hot" sensation.

[BurmBaroness]

Daver 676,
Warm soaks DO help with dehydration, I have used them many times with rescues. Take a plastic tote that has holes for ventilation, and put some lukewarm, not hot, not cold, about the same temp as the snake, about halfway up the side of the snakes body. I usually turn a saucer upside down so the snake can rest on it. I then place the tote on a human heat pad, set on low. Put the heat pad under the entire tote, so that the water stays at a comfortable temp. It won't be as hot as the heat pad might feel, just keeps the water from getting too cold. I have left snakes in there as long as several hours, and I know some who have done it for a day or more. Just be sure the water isn't too deep. Also, if the BP is whistling, gurgling, or you notice bubbles or mucous coming from the mouth or nose, DO NOT SOAK. That is RI(respiratory infection), and raising the humidity like that could cause the snake to drown in it's own mucous. Good Luck