What are snakes' opinions on baths?

jncoclub · 10-16-02, 10:44 PM

When ever my snakes eat they always get rat pee on them, so after like 2 days, I try to rinse them off or soak them in a shallow bath, just so I don't have to deal withthe thought of having rat pee slithered across me. My ball python dislikes water for like 2 or 3 minutes, buit then calms down. Today I put in my little columbian red tail and hog isle, and they both freaked. It looked like they were trying to drown the each other in the process of using each other's bodies to get out. (The water was only like an inch and a half deep, and a comfortable warm temp.) Is it a fluke thing that they don't care for water, or in time will they too calm down? None fo them just sit and soak intheir water bowls either. I thought all snakes have the ability to swim, and some even can stay under water for like 20 min. ? Can you all help inform me on this? I recently used Eco Earth as a new substrate for their tanks, and I foresee more baths in their future.

Thanks! Jennifer:atom:

Quervo · 10-16-02, 10:55 PM

They're like kids .. some hate it .. some love it. My BP usually loves to soak, but I've found he is VERY picky about temperature. The perfect temp for him is water that I can't feel .. or maybe a tad cooler. any hotter or colder and he scoots out and gives me a dirty look.

snakedude_03 · 10-16-02, 10:57 PM

one of my bp doesnt seem to like baths that much.. always trying to get out of the water
!

casacrow · 10-17-02, 07:24 AM

One thing that I believe ticks snakes off is when you throw them in the tub with nothing to hold on to. They do not feel sucure this way. I would just put a towel in the water with them so they can hang on to something.

nighter628 · 10-17-02, 08:34 AM

Dunno if that helps or not, but it sounds good hehe.

shimbathesnake · 10-17-02, 09:40 AM

My pinesnakes like a bath from time to time,

I've often wondered if snakes fart? placing them in a bath would be a good way to find out! We could look for bubbles.

Clem

PoiSoNouS · 10-17-02, 10:21 AM

My BRBs are mostly in water.. But ive found that they will like to be there only if they go by themself..
If I put them in water, they want to get out...

the only time I had to give a bath to one of my boas is was because she had problem shedding.. otherwise I dont give them bath.. I put a large enough water bowl.. so they go only if they want to...

Jeff_Favelle · 10-17-02, 10:29 AM

Simple solution:

DON'T FEED YOUR SNAKES LIVE FOOD!!

Pixie · 10-17-02, 10:38 AM

My corns and my bp will enjoy a bath once in a while but for my bp the water has to be a nice warmish temp. Too cold and it'll get out right away. The corns don't seem to mind coolish water and bathe themselves pretty regularly on their own in their terrariums. No mites, I've checked thoroughly so I guess they just like a nice soak. About 1 or 2 times a week I'll see them in their water bowl for a few minutes.

Clem, you made me laugh so much about wondering if snakes fart!!! It's a good (and funny) question. So far, I haven't seen any bubbles so I don't think they do. Anyone ever seen or heard a snake fart???

Pixie

shimbathesnake · 10-17-02, 10:44 AM

Putting them in the bath to look would be like checking a bike inner tube for a puncher.

Tom P · 10-17-02, 01:11 PM

My BP LOVES to go in the water, but I have to agree with putting something in to hang on, all i put in is an upsidedown bucket, it is just enough for him to feel secure. Even the temp isn't a big issue with my BP.

Tom P

J.J. · 10-17-02, 01:40 PM

My snakes dont mind going in the water, but its not their favorite time either. But, they do feel ALOT better if i stick my hand in the water so they can coil around it, that way they quit wigglin'!

ElapheScott · 10-17-02, 02:23 PM

I wonder sometimes if snakes just don't like to be " forced' into anything. In the wild that means certain death.
I use a large Rubbermaid tub as a soak tub. I place a half of a cinderblock as a hide area in the middle of the water and let Nature take its course. They instinctivley head for the hide area.
I also agree with the live food issue. Not only can rodents administer a nasty bite, but frozen food seems to reduce aggressiveness.
But then again, what the heck do I know?

jncoclub · 10-23-02, 04:29 PM

Thanks for all the responses!
1- I'll look for fart bubbles too.
2- They definately feel better if I leave my arm in the tub also, as something to hang on to.
3- I normally soak just to help with the shedding process, and the occasional pee/poo situations.
4- My BP use to only eat black gerbils. Recently I have gotten her to eat 2 gerbil-scented rats (because gerbils get exensive and won't be enough for when she gets bigger) and I attempted to feed her a frozen rat last week. It was a "no go."
5- This weekend I will attempt to feed my Hog Isle, Red Tail, and Burm frozen- they are still all pretty young and live is what they were used to. I just kind of wished that the BP would have set a good example for the others.

For those who feed frozen, do you have to jiggle the food infront of your snake? Do you toss yours right in the cage? Do you still feed them in something other than their cage? Any tips and hints would be appreciated.

jz
:atom:

10-23-02, 06:33 PM

All my animals but the hots have large enough waterdishes to soak in. some seem to live in their's, others seldom are sighted inside. Seems an individual preference, the milks, kings, and boas all soak regular, the corns are about 50/50. The hots don't get large enough waterdishes to soak because I don't like large objects they can use to hide or hold on to.