Quick question about soaking

[mrgrimm]

I left for work at 5:30am this morning and noticed his body was completely submerged in his water bowl. He is an almost full grown Ball Python. 14 hours later and he is still just sitting in the bowl and my wife said he has been in there all day long. He moves around a little in there and sometimes puts his whole head under, too.

I have been searching this site and the net and have found various reasons which lead me to believe this is pretty normal but I am curious as to just how long I should let him stay in the water. I have looked him over pretty good and close and have not noticed any mites, but I should probably look again tonight or tomorrow just to make sure I didn't miss something.

The humidity fluctuates through the day from 66%-74% and temps are 81F cool side and 88F hot side with it closer to 92F under his hot side hide. I also do not see any signs of him starting a shed but I am new to snakes so I might be missing a sign...his eyes look nice and shiny black. What do you think, is over 24 hours in the water a bad idea? I was wondering if I should remove the water bowl tonight? I want to go to bed but I don't want to needlessly bother him if he's going to be fine in there for another night/day. Thanks!

[Starbuck]

double check your humidty gages (are they digital, or analog style?) do you have a screen top?

He may be gearing up for a shed, my snakes occasionally will soak for a day at a time or so if it is unusually hot, but mine are all colubrids (i havent kept a bp).

[Aaron_S]

He's hanging in the water dish. If your temps aren't too hot and there are no mites it could be a simple shed cycle.

I wouldn't see a reason to remove him for it because he'll go back in.

Or also just hanging in the water dish....

[mrgrimm]

Originally Posted by Starbuck

double check your humidty gages (are they digital, or analog style?) do you have a screen top?

He may be gearing up for a shed, my snakes occasionally will soak for a day at a time or so if it is unusually hot, but mine are all colubrids (i havent kept a bp).

I have two digital gauges, one on each side and they are +/- 3% or so of each other. It is a screen top, but half covered with damp towel and then plastic cover or that. Only about 25% is actually open screen.

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

He's hanging in the water dish. If your temps aren't too hot and there are no mites it could be a simple shed cycle.

I wouldn't see a reason to remove him for it because he'll go back in.

Or also just hanging in the water dish....

Yes he looks rather content in there and I'm actually quite jealous as we only have a stand up shower in our house at the moment!

[shaunyboy]

reasons for soaking/submerging in water.....

re mites
check for mites,once he's been in the water for a few hours,take him out and let him run through white kitchen towel/paper,the little black mites are easy to see on the white background

re too hot
check your temperatures,because if its too hot the snakes last refuge for cooling down,is in the water bowl

re shedding
some snakes soak a lot coming up to and through the shedding proccess

re after feeding
i have seen cases of Bredl hatchlings who liked to soak for a few days after they were fed

cheers shaun