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Big Mike
11-27-02, 09:47 AM
My California King has been soaking since he ate last night. Any thoughts?

First thing I thought was mites, which could have been brought in along with the mice I got for my snakes last night. I inspected him as closely as I could without disturbing him and found no signs of mites.

He just shed two days ago and does not appear to have any retained skin. Humidity is not low and he also has a humid hide available to him.

His pre-bath meal was about the most he has ever eaten. First a fresh killed fuzzy followed by a F/T (small hopper/big fuzzy). He did not seem to have much trouble getting down the 2nd mouse is less than 5 min.

I fed him in a Rubbermaid bin that I put into his tank. He seemed very agitated when I went to put him in the feeding container. After eating, he checked out his warm-side hide and then went into his water dish and dunked his entire body and went around in a circle a few times. That seemed odd.

The temp on the warm spot is around 90 and the water dish is on the warm end so it's not cool water. Maybe he is using the warm water to help digest his big meal. I've never seen that before, has anyone?

He was still in there when I went to sleep and he was still in there when I woke up. I was thinking about taking him out and seeing what he did then but I did not want to stress him.

I plan to take him out and give his enclosure a full cleaning and putting in new substrate. I will check for mites and anything else.

Has anyone seen this behavior before?


http://www.printroom.com/_vti_bin/ViewImage.dll?userid=Oilfan94&album_id=109991&image_id=33&param=74627

Tim_Cranwill
11-27-02, 04:23 PM
Hmmm... my cal kings don't soak too often. Sorry I can't help out much.

Who did you get him from? He looks exactly like my girl from Henry Piorun. Very nice:)

Big Mike
11-27-02, 05:01 PM
Thanks.

We resuced him from a pet store...before we knew any better. I saw one in another pet store that was very similar but I was never able to track down where they came from.

Alphonzo
11-27-02, 09:53 PM
If the snake has no mites (as you already pointed out) I would not let it trouble me.
It probably just likes it.
Keep us updated how long the snake stays in the water.

o>

Big Mike
11-28-02, 09:20 AM
Thanks, he was out when I got home yesterday.

I was just worried because of how urgent he seemed in the water. Swimming around and keeping his head under for a while.

Still no signs of mites but I'm keeping a close eye on him.

Alphonzo
11-28-02, 10:55 AM
succes with the snake
o>