Scared the Crap Outta Me

[Sapphyr]

So, as you all know, I own a BRB. I'd read that they need a dish big enough to 'swim' in. I know it was a comment here by someone I think is a reputable BRB owner. There's about .5 in. - 1 in. of water in his humid hide and his water dish.

So, I went to get him for his feeding, and I couldn't find him. Assumed he was under the substrate. Still couldn't find, him, even with removing cage decorations. Got scared he'd escaped somehow, even though my lid locks. Looked over and saw his pattern under the moss in his humid hide, completely submerged, and I panicked that he'd drowned. I pulled up the moss and took him out of the water and he just looked at me, flicking his tongue per usual... Was so relieved.

So, I'm curious, is swimming water suitable for BRB's? After this I'm really questioning it. Should I be concerned about him drowning(because I know snakes can), or do BRBs like to be underwater for a few seconds or so?

I just don't want anything to happen.

Edit: I also ask because I also know that not all snakes are the same with water, such as a hognose would drown in even shallow water, and there's some snakes that are more... 'water friendly' and enjoy being in water frequently.

[TeaNinja]

lol that's kind of funny. you panicked and grabbed him and he was like "what??"

[Lankyrob]

MY SD retic never goes near his humid hide or huge water bowl until the day that he sheds. He will then submerge himself 100% for about 5 minutes (have also had the panic of him drowning!) and then slither into his humid hide where later on in the day he will shed.

[TeaNinja]

maybe they poke their nose/mouth up and take breaths? lol

i don't know why but i enjoy watching my snakes drink water. maybe it's because i so seldom see it. i've only seen nigma drink 2 or 3 times and i've never seen my bp drink. but then again, snakes are great at doing things RIGHT when you're not watching lol.

[Lankyrob]

Your not wrong - that is the advantage of being sat right next to their vivs for upto 20 hours a day - still havent seen one of the little swines shed yet tho!

[TeaNinja]

i got the luck of seeing nigma come out JUST in gime to watch his 2nd shed with me. i saw him come out of the hide and start rubbing his face on everything. he was digging around under the substrate and rubbing on the water bowl lol.

[Sapphyr]

Well he shed sometime last month, but he doesn't appear to be in blue or anything, and wasn't previously, either. I was scared he'd got stuck under the moss and drowned or something. :c There are alot of cracks between the clump of moss and it's not a perfect fit, so there's an open space all around the sides, but I know how my hognose could drown easily if I put too much water in its dish(read that they weren't the most locomotive fellows), so was afraid something similar may have happened.

Hope Snakesitter or someone else that owns BRBs comes around to answering about the water in general and if I should worry about him drowning, or if it's just him enjoying a good soak.

[whoaxmary]

Lol, awe, little guy just wanted to give you a bit of a panic. ;p Friggin' kids, eh? ;p

Your not wrong - that is the advantage of being sat right next to their vivs for upto 20 hours a day - still havent seen one of the little swines shed yet tho!


Sooo true. :) My laptop in placed right beside Blues viv, and across the room from Ruby's, so I always have a great site of them both. Mind you, Ruby hides nonstop so you don't see much but what looks like an empty exposure, But I often get to see Blue moving around, drinking, and doing all sorts of fun things. <3

[Aaron_S]

Most snakes don't drown easily. You are correct about the hognose not being able to swim very well. Your snake can stay submerged for more than just a couple of minutes. Snakes have a very large lung capacity because they don't breathe the way we do. If you watch them they don't inhale and exhale every few seconds unless stressed.

[mld]

Thought that you might like this!
Hypomelanistic Brazilian Rainbow Boa Swimming (http://www.moonlightboas.com/care-info/videos/hypomelanistic-brazilian-rainbow-boa-swimming.php)

[Sapphyr]

Oh, ok, then I guess I shouldn't be worried about it, but man that scared the daylights out of me D;

And oh, it's those people with the awesome BRBs c: And I have a long tub of water just like that in mine's cage with that much water filled up(around and inch, maybe a little under). Well, I guess it's fine then. Was just a little concerned after the fright he gave me D;

[Ch^4]

Most snakes don't drown easily. You are correct about the hognose not being able to swim very well. Your snake can stay submerged for more than just a couple of minutes. Snakes have a very large lung capacity because they don't breathe the way we do. If you watch them they don't inhale and exhale every few seconds unless stressed.

x2. And since they are cold blooded, they do not use nearly as much oxygen as warm blooded animals.

Here's my BRB getting a breath, but she does like to fully submerge herself:

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd519/PiPythons/Chakra/PC110024.jpg

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd519/PiPythons/Chakra/PC110025.jpg

[Snakesitter]

Hope Snakesitter or someone else that owns BRBs comes around to answering about the water in general and if I should worry about him drowning, or if it's just him enjoying a good soak.
Wait, I own Brazilians?

;-)

Each and every one of my adult cages contains a water "bowl" like this:

21 QT Modular Box MCB -M - IRIS USA Inc - storage and organization products home (http://irisusainc.com/p-506-mcb-m.aspx)

Note those are 16 long, 13 wide, and 7 tall, and can hold *21 quarts* of liquid. Usually, there is at least two or three inches of water in each bowl.

My snakes will head in after a large meal, near shed, and sometimes just at random. Once in, they can spend from a few hours to a full night to several days straight with their entire body below the surface, only their neck and head resting on the side -- and sometimes just the tip of their nose. Sometimes they will go completely under water, too, then pop up again after a few minutes. Never had one drown yet.

Sorry for the scare! Feel better, I hope?

[Sapphyr]

Yeah, I feel alot better now xD Thanks~ and wow, those are big tubs c: I'm more confident now that I shouldn't worry~

I wasn't sure if Ch^4 owned any or not, but the name popped to mind. Bad memory ;c Guess you do c:

[Snakesitter]

Yea, I went for large tubs so that they work for breeding season as well. The happy couples seem to find them romantic. ;-)

No worries, and good luck!

[DeesBalls]

my BRB will swim and stay in there for a long time.. when in shed, but ive seen her to be in there for id say around 30 min or so... she sticks her head / nose out of the water a bit..

[marvelfreak]

Rainbows are cousins to Anacondas so they love a good soak. They can stay in the water for hours with just their nose barely sticking out just like Anacondas. Colombian Rainbow head are actually shaped like Anacondas. I noticed my BRB quit soaking as much once i started using Reptile bark. Now he burrows. If they are soaking a lot in could be they don't feel secure.

[DeesBalls]

Rainbows are cousins to Anacondas so they love a good soak. They can stay in the water for hours with just their nose barely sticking out just like Anacondas. Colombian Rainbow head are actually shaped like Anacondas. I noticed my BRB quit soaking as much once i started using Reptile bark. Now he burrows. If they are soaking a lot in could be they don't feel secure.

i switched mine to eco earth, and i havnt noticed as much soaking either latley...

[Lankyrob]

MAybe a humidity thing? eco earth and reptibark both give better humidity to the enclosure.

[Sapphyr]

Well that was the first I'd seen him soak like that xD Most of the time I just find him hiding in his little cave or sitting on top of it.

And thanks Snakesitter :D

He's actually going into his second shed, he was in blue just the other day c:

[infernalis]

Most snakes don't drown easily. You are correct about the hognose not being able to swim very well. Your snake can stay submerged for more than just a couple of minutes. Snakes have a very large lung capacity because they don't breathe the way we do. If you watch them they don't inhale and exhale every few seconds unless stressed.

So glad you brought that up, Rapid breathing is a sure fire way to tell if something is wrong.

[Snakesitter]

MAybe a humidity thing? eco earth and reptibark both give better humidity to the enclosure.
I would agree humidity plays a role -- *interesting* idea though, water as a security move!

[Snakesitter]

And thanks Snakesitter :D
Any time, always happy to help a fellow herper!

Happy Friday!

[marvelfreak]

So glad you brought that up, Rapid breathing is a sure fire way to tell if something is wrong.
With my Borneo and Anaconda when they do this it means their pissed and they want to be left alone.

[Snakesitter]

I usually get "the shudder" when mine want to be left alone.