bci soaking too much????

[raVven]

Hello all!!!
Hopefully some one out there can offer some advice..
I am a beginner in the herping world..5 months or so..and this is new to me!!!!

My 4mth old Red-tail, Ra, has spent the last 3 days in his water bowl - non-stop!! i have had him for 3 months now, and he has shed twice, but i have never seen him do this before.

He started just after i took him to the Port Credit Show on Sunday; he climbed into the bowl during the trip..and hasn't been out since!!!

Is this part of normal shedding behaviour, or is there something else i should be worrying about..like health or enclosure issues???

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, thank you all!!!

jc.

[daver676]

Could your snake have picked up something at the show, like mites? I've read that some snakes that have mites will soak themselves to help relieve their discomfort.

BTW, why did you take your snake to the show?

Dave

[Jeff_Favelle]

bci soaking too much????

What is the correct amount of time for a Boa to soak?

[snakemann87]

Good point Jeff!!!!!!! My burm ALWAYS soaks a ton before shed. What is humidity in your tank?

[raVven]

dave: I took him to the show cuz i was supposed to meet someone there who was interested in buying him...nope he couldn't/didn't "pick up" anything at the show...he never left my car!!!

Jeff: if I knew the proper amount of time a bci should soak...I wouldn't have put up this post!!!

jc

[snakemann87]

Why would you sell it you just got it!!!!!!??

LOL there is NO correct time a Boa or any snake for that matter to soak!!!! That was his point

[raVven]

snakemann87 : humidity is around 60% in his enclosure...

i am just concerned 'cuz he has never done this before...

all i am really asking is this...should i be concerned, or is this normal...

jc

[raVven]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

I am feeling much better now!!! I had read somewhere that if a snake soaked too much, it could get scale rot in the belly area...and being kinda new....got worried!!

thanks again for insights!
jc

I have never had any problems with any of mine soaking, sometimes it goes for days, mostly they don't bother. I imagine that it would be soaking+damp substrate that cause most problems. Most of my animals soak regularly at times during the summer, desert heat is impossible to block out in my home, the ones that need humidity have an excess of ventilation to keep the substrate dry. Belly/scale rot will come if there is no dry environment to prevent it.

[mikemcguire]

My boa soaks sometimes for a long period of time, and then will go for a while without soaking. He is wierd like that. However, I would definately check for mites.

[HetForHuman]

mine sometimes soaks for a few days and then when she is done she leaves me a nice steaming load of crap in the water dish.

She could be just plugged up a little and trying to relieve herself.

[raVven]

Thanx everyone...i appreciate the info...
he has come out of the water bowl, and now has buried himself in the substrate!!!
i use compressed coconut bark, in chunks, and its about 2" deep.. i find it really easy to use, clean-up, and keep moisture/humidity levels were they should be!


mikemcguire: i checked and then rechecked..and had my fiance check as well!!! NO MITES!! thank God!!

again..thank you all sooooo much!
jc

[spyderman]

I think I mayh have the same problem with my Boa. I was told to keep the humidity up when shedding, so, I misted his 3 times a day. Now the belly scales have started to come off, leaving a very sore looking pinkish patch behind. Looking at some pics, I think it is scale rot. What can be done to help heal this?

[reptiles4life]

maybe the humity level in the tank is to low

[MAN OF STEEL]

let the enclosure dry out and apply regular old neosporin
after applying a little bit of hydrogen peroxide with a q-tip.
works good. also, if your snake is soaking excessively they might be a little too hot. good luck.