Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My new IJ I got about a month ago has been sitting in his water bowl for 3 days straight now. I took him out a couple times, changed the water and put him on a branch but he goes right back. Is he in shed or something? He doesnt look like he is in shed.

Has anyone else ever seen this?
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0.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snakes

He could be in shed, or have mites, or both.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

I have seen this type of behavior occur when the cage temps are too hot and or the humidity is not appropriate for the species involved, it could also be a sign that the snake has a mite infestation.
Snakes sometimes soak themselves during the ecdysis (molt) process and also to hydrate themselves. This can occur before they go "blue". Some snakes are also biologically programmed to have close ties to water. I do not believe this to be the case with IJ Carpets however. I would think it's one of the other causes.
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Frank Roberts
R&R Herpetological
Roberts'Realm of Reptile Research

My IJ sometimes starts soaking up to a week before he goes into blue... however as the other guys said this could be a sign of mites... check him out and maybe get some provent-a-mite if he doesn't go into shed soon.
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1.0 Spotted Python
1.0 IJ Carpet Python and 0.1 Jungle Carpet on loan (We have our fingers crossed!)
0.1 Ball Python
1.0 Variable Kingsnake

I've seen this in snakes that don't feel secure in their enclosure. They actually will "hide" in the water. I assume you have hides on both ends of the temp gradient?
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Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
3.4 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Ball Pythons
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
0.1.0 Pueblan Milksnake
1.2.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
1.0.0 Western Hognose
1.1.0 Solomon Island Ground Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.0 Desert Kingsnake
LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
0.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
1.0.0 Turquoise Sunburst Veiled Chameleon
1.0.3 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Yellow Niger Uromastyx