Bathing water

GoodSmeagol · 02-20-09, 05:22 PM

When bathing reptiles, what/how does everyone determine the appropriate temperatures.
I have my own feelings about this however look forward to everyone elses opinions.
Thanks

Chu'Wuti · 02-20-09, 05:26 PM

You're bathing your herps why? I just let my BP soak when he feels like it. LOL!

Anyway, the temp of the water, from what I've read, should be about 85-90 deg F. It'll feel a little cool to you, but remember, your body temp is hot to your snake, at least for most of them.

If it's another herp, e.g., some lizards, bathing water temp might need to be higher. Some of them like basking temps up to 130 deg F. I don't know what's appropriate for them; I've had a lot more snakes than I've had lizards.

siz · 02-20-09, 06:07 PM

I usually get the water about lukewarm before putting my lizards in it. The lizards i bathe are bearded dragons, iguanas and tegus. edit: Oh and you need to keep warming the water as it cools.

GoodSmeagol · 02-20-09, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chu'Wuti

You're bathing your herps why? I just let my BP soak when he feels like it. LOL!

Anyway, the temp of the water, from what I've read, should be about 85-90 deg F. It'll feel a little cool to you, but remember, your body temp is hot to your snake, at least for most of them.

If it's another herp, e.g., some lizards, bathing water temp might need to be higher. Some of them like basking temps up to 130 deg F. I don't know what's appropriate for them; I've had a lot more snakes than I've had lizards.

I chalenge this.
Yes our INTERNAL body temp is HOT for some herps, ie a snake (I do not bath my snake however have heard this discussed, and want to set you all straight.)

So here is WHY "It'll feel a little cool to you" is wrong.

Our standard body temperature is somewhere around 98F YES?
Do we take that temp by placing the thermometer in our fist? NOPE!
We tak our temp useing a stick thermo or digital thermo, either *** MOUTH or PIT.
When you say it should feel a little cold to us, is wrong, our hand temps range from 70-80F.
If the water feels 'lukewarm' it will be high 70F's

Has any one except me ever dropped a thermo into the water to test? I did last night, water feels schorching hot around 110F(ie Fresh Coffee or Tea) When we place this liquid at this temp in our mouths it feels HOT.
You can run your hand under water that feels a little warm, now take a gulp of that same water. Does it burn your mouth? if not, the temp is below 98F(the temp of our mouths)

If you slow down and think about it, this myth is debunked.

Please post counter arguments, but keep it civil.

mykee · 02-20-09, 09:11 PM

Civil. Ok. Why the hell would you bathe your reptiles?

Chu'Wuti · 02-20-09, 09:55 PM

Your hands must run cold, GoodSmeagol--I just took the temp of my hands, and their at 92.5. I also drink hotter coffee than you do, it seems.

I'm going to have to ask my son (a barista & manager at a Peets) what the proper serving temp is for coffee, though . . . I know it varies for teas, but I don't know about coffee. I just like mine hot.

So back to the original topic. IF I ever felt the need to bathe my snake--e.g., to help remove a stuck shed (which shouldn't happen anyway if your husbandry is correct)--I'd use about 85 deg. F. Measure it with a thermometer. But you shouldn't have any problems with a stuck shed as long as you maintain the proper humidity for the species you're keeping. I know Mykee will agree on this, and he'll also add that he raises the humidity to 100% when he sees his BPs going into shed to ensure a complete shed.

As I said, primarily I just keep my snake's water bowl full and he bathes as he pleases.

Kmef07 · 02-20-09, 10:59 PM

I'd have to agree with goodmeagol. there have been plenty of times when i can feel water that is warm but no where near 100f or 98f. 98.6 is a core body temp not an extremeties temp. it will vary what you percieve as hot by how cool it is in your surroundings or if you were outside where it was cold. that is why if you get your hands really cold then stick them under just barely warm water your hands will burn as if the water was too hot.

Quote:

I just took the temp of my hands, and their at 92.5

this is because you probably wrapped your hand around the thermometer. you need an infrared temp gun to get the surface temp of your hand. if you wrap your hand around the thermometer it won't let heat escape as it normally does and will give you a much higher reading. again the water seems hotter or colder based on the difference in temp between your hand and your water. it is how your body's nerves tell the difference just by difference from how they currently are not by how they are supposed to be.

GoodSmeagol · 02-20-09, 11:31 PM

HAHA Mykee to funny, silly assumptions and very narrow minded

I ask the question as general, because many forums I have read posts of people saying the water should feel slightly cold.
Mainly for bathing my dragons, once a week they get a good soak, to ensure their vent is clear, and also to allow them to take a sip if they lacked some water leech from the greens. I also make sure to poor lukewarm water into my snakes water bowls to refill, I would hate for one of them to take a dip, in chilly waters!

To be fair, I did refer to hand temperature as a 'fist' so his temp was taken the way I suggested.

And true enough I let my coffees sit for a few minutes before I enjoy them,

Either way, internal body temps run WAY higher then 'slightly cool to us'. The purpose of this thread was to generate conversation on the topic, because I feel a lot of people may be misinformed, I hate taking even room temp showers! CHILLY

Chu'Wuti · 02-21-09, 10:35 AM

ack. I just noticed my misspelling. That's what I get for being in a hurry, I guess.

And you're right, Kyle, I held the thermometer in my fist. But I've also noticed that my hand temperature changes quite a bit, so sometimes even my hands run cold!

Oh--and GoodSmeagol--I reheat my coffee if it gets the least bit cool! My DH makes me a quadruple-shot of espresso, I add cream, then reheat it before I even begin drinking it!

I guess I'm a little nuts about hot coffee!

Kmef07 · 02-21-09, 12:15 PM

ya chu how do you concentrate after drinking that much coffee?

mykee · 02-21-09, 01:14 PM

The temp of the water should be slightly higher than the ambient air temp of the reptiles enclosure.
That simple enough?

Chu'Wuti · 02-22-09, 10:05 AM

Quote:

The temp of the water should be slightly higher than the ambient air temp of the reptiles enclosure.
That simple enough?

LOL!

Quote:

ya chu how do you concentrate after drinking that much coffee?

The real question is, How would I concentrate withOUT drinking that much coffee?!

I've been putting in a lot of hours on my darned book, not sleeping as much as I should. So coffee is what's keeping me going right now!

My dream celebration after finishing book & general exams--have a big party, then SLEEEEEEP. No alarm, no dogs needing to go out . . . just SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

Wolfus_305 · 02-22-09, 11:09 AM

Good luck on your book/exams Chu!
I know people who can't function without a few cups of coffee. Personally though if I have a few sips of coffee I go nuts. I love the smell of coffee though.. mmmm.

Wow, Mykee. You sure know how to simplify things.

Kenny

Kmef07 · 02-22-09, 11:54 AM

Ya good luck. my parents have to have a cup or two of coffee in the moring or they literally get sick. i can drink it or not it really doesn't seem to have an effect on me it just makes me all warm inside.

gonesnakee · 02-22-09, 02:56 PM

Luke warm is typically too hot for most snakes yep & as already mentioned there is no reason to be bathing them if their proper husbandry needs are met. Maybe stuff like Beardies & other lizards once in a while, but snakes ah No. For all you idiots out there that think the water should be right warm YOU ARE WRONG & yes I say idiots because how many of you have experiences with folks putting their herps into thermal shock because they had the water too warm? All this too the touch crap is just that, crap. You guys can argue about if forever if you are so inclined though LOL. The best way is to know the EXACT temp of the water & have it between 80-90F no hotter. 85-90 F water is COOL to the touch last time I checked anyway BTW LOL My fishtanks are 85F & the water is not warm when I put my hands in (a quick test without the heat gun involved). Warm water is typically in excess of 100F & can kill herps depending on the species. I have known of several cases where folks have killed their snakes bathing them in too warm of water in a matter of minutes (thermal shock), "but it was just lukewarm to the touch when I put my snake in though!"

"Luke warm" has killed at least 1/2 dozen snakes that I personally know about anyway. KNOW what the actual temp is as everybody has their own opinions as to the whole luke warm thing (some are way out to lunch) & it is far from accurrate. Mark
P.S. Temp Gun! Nuff said!