Setting up a snake before Vacation

[Cam]

Hi All. I will be taking a 2-2.5 week vacation this summer, and the lady who feeds my (other) animals while I'm gone is terrified of snakes. I can possibly get someone else to come by one time but that's a big maybe.

I've got a 5 foot carpet I'll be leaving for that time. I know she won't starve, and her substrate can probably deal with any messes in that time period but I am concerned about her water bowl. I was thinking maybe something similar to the water dish I have for my cats that has a reservoir and tops up the actual "bowl" part continuously, but I'd hate for her to knock it over, or somehow spill a significant amount of water into her cage and be stuck in there with it.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[StudentoReptile]

My experience with Morelia is slim, but is the risk of dehydration that great in only 2.5 weeks?

Honestly, if it were me, I would just fill up the bowl right before I leave and that would be that.

Sounds like she would knock over the cat bowl thing (I know what you're talking about...just can't think of the name for the product!). Maybe an automatic misting system would be in order?

[SnakeyJay]

Or a large bowl... I use a circular washing up bowl for my boa..

[Gungirl]

Offer up at 2 water bowls this way if one gets spilled or pooped in it will have a clean one to drink out of. I would still do your best to get someone to at least change the water once.

[Terranaut]

2.5 weeks is a long time without fresh water. I would find someone who can take care of the water before the food. I couldn't leave mine that long without having someone check on them.

[Gungirl]

^^ Agree. I left mine alone for a week when I went on my honey moon and I freaked out until someone could do a water change and check on everyone's temps.

[Lankyrob]

We rarely holiday just have the odd weekend away with friends, we have someone come in EVERY day to check the water bowls, mist those that need it and generally just look things over, i certainly wouldnt leave any of my snakes without someone looking after them :)

[alessia55]

I think you're talking about these things?
http://www.petplanet.co.uk/shop_dev/assets/new_product_images//ferplast/8599.jpg

I'd put out two large dog bowl dishes that can't be knocked over and fill them to the top.

[red ink]

I'm going to go against the grain here....

2 - 2.5 weeks for a healthy well fed snake is but a blink of an eye, won't hurt it at all even without water. Specially a Morelia....

They can and will go months without eating or drinking as hatchies and adults.

Absolutely nothing to worry about....

[Cam]

I'm going to go against the grain here....

2 - 2.5 weeks for a healthy well fed snake is but a blink of an eye, won't hurt it at all even without water. Specially a Morelia....

They can and will go months without eating or drinking as hatchies and adults.

Absolutely nothing to worry about....

This is along the lines I was thinking, but as a relatively inexperienced keeper I wanted to make sure.

The idea of having someone check on her every day is great but the only people I trust in my house while I'm gone are either afraid of snakes or of the bumbling inept type that are likely to do as much harm as good, so it's a bit of a hard spot. I will make sure she has lots of water and gets a good feed before I go. Unless the thermostat eats it, I don't see how much can go truly sideways, but I'd rather not put the animal in any discomfort if I don't need to.

[USMCgunner11]

2 1/2 weeks is a long time outside of most of our comfort zones. Is there a way to configure your set up so that it would allow the individual to access the water bowl easily without having to come in contact with your snake? Worse comes to worse, I second the 2 bowl idea but would hope that you can find someone to do at least 1 top off on them. After 2 1/2 weeks I'd imagine that the water levels would be low

[red ink]

This is along the lines I was thinking, but as a relatively inexperienced keeper I wanted to make sure.

The idea of having someone check on her every day is great but the only people I trust in my house while I'm gone are either afraid of snakes or of the bumbling inept type that are likely to do as much harm as good, so it's a bit of a hard spot. I will make sure she has lots of water and gets a good feed before I go. Unless the thermostat eats it, I don't see how much can go truly sideways, but I'd rather not put the animal in any discomfort if I don't need to.


The bowl ideas are great but honestly.... If you don't have anybody willing to open a the snake enclosure and the snake knocks them over then you have a heavily saturated substrate under heat sending your humidity sky high. You might just come home to a snake with a case of RI.... I would go with the no water in there at all but that's just my opinion, I reckon it's actually the safer bet.

[shaunyboy]

I'm going to go against the grain here....

2 - 2.5 weeks for a healthy well fed snake is but a blink of an eye, won't hurt it at all even without water. Specially a Morelia....

They can and will go months without eating or drinking as hatchies and adults.

Absolutely nothing to worry about....

^^^^^
i agree 100% mate

fill your carpets water bowl the day you leave and you have NO worries

a carpet will go a couple of weeks without water with NO issues mate

the fact that your filling the bowl before you,go gives it fresh water for the first 7 days any way

i only change my carpets water ONCE every 7 days

go enjoy your holliday;)

cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

2 1/2 weeks is a long time outside of most of our comfort zones. Is there a way to configure your set up so that it would allow the individual to access the water bowl easily without having to come in contact with your snake? Worse comes to worse, I second the 2 bowl idea but would hope that you can find someone to do at least 1 top off on them. After 2 1/2 weeks I'd imagine that the water levels would be low

leaving a snake without water for 2.5 weeks,may be out most keepers comfort zones

but its NOT out a " carpet pythons " comfort zone (not being cheeky mate)

imo,a " carpet " will go a few weeks without water,with no ill effect

cheers shaun

[StudentoReptile]

I'm going to go against the grain here....

2 - 2.5 weeks for a healthy well fed snake is but a blink of an eye, won't hurt it at all even without water. Specially a Morelia....

They can and will go months without eating or drinking as hatchies and adults.

Absolutely nothing to worry about....

Thank you!

[Cam]

Thanks for the responses, all. She hasn't managed to knock anything over in her cage yet (not even a tippy tree ornament thing I have in there) but I will put a big bowl in there and velcro it to the bottom so it absolutely can't get knocked over.

I think when I construct her adult home I'll slope the bottom and put a drain in it to a bucket, both for cleaning purposes and so if she spills the water while I'm away, it won't sit in there and go moldy.