Reptile & Amphibian Forums

man that sounds funny...but seriously..do they?

i came back to school today and found Kaa soaking inthe water dish and has been in there all morning.

Yes, many will, but not all. Since you just got him a little while ago, you should use this opportunity to make sure he isn't suffering from an infestation of mites - one of the more troubling reasons Ball Pythons will soak. What you would see if he has mites would be little bitty black flecks in the bottom of the water dish. If you see these, it probably means TROUBLE.

Since you said you're a science teacher, maybe you would have access to a microscope? I know you said you teach grade school, so that's why I am asking. If you would have access to a microscope, you should be able to examine more closely than most of us any debris that you find in your snake's water bowl.

Hopefully, you will find no mites, just a growing snake who is getting ready to shed.

Good luck!!

~Rebecca
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0.1 Dumeril's Boa '04 (Courtney)
1.2 Ball Pythons
[1.0 '05 Orange Hypo (Specter)]
[0.1 '05 Het Orange Hypo (Sylvia)]
[0.1 '03 Normal (Sue)]
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

thanks i was looking for bugs but i have only seen little black flies from our house plants.

but no mites and Kaa's head is getting white...my only concern is that it has been in the water dish all mornign so far...from 7:30 when i got here til now almost 11:00.

too much?

I'm not sure if it can be too much in a harmful way. I couldnt tell you that, but I have seen my snake soak for a whole day, and I also was worried so I double checked my temps and it was a tad too warm. Maybe check yours and see. But most likely you have nothing to worry about, and Kaa just wants to be wet during this proccess.

i do see some black specs in the water...but they are long and not bug looking. i think they maybe dirt or bark fragments from teh log hides in teh tan...but arent mites kind of roundish in body shape?

but i will break out my mico and mak ea teach able moment out of it.

ill give a heads up later today

thanks for the help again

You are probably right - mites would most likely appear rounded, so your debris is probably something else.

Good on you for turning it into a "teachable moment!"

You said Kaa's head is turning white? How so? I don't remember what you were using for substrate. Could Kaa have passed some urates (white solids) in his water bowl while he is soaking? If so, that could be what is on his head.

Everything sounds pretty normal.

~Rebecca
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0.1 Dumeril's Boa '04 (Courtney)
1.2 Ball Pythons
[1.0 '05 Orange Hypo (Specter)]
[0.1 '05 Het Orange Hypo (Sylvia)]
[0.1 '03 Normal (Sue)]
0.2 American Pit Bull Terriers (40lb darling lap dogs:Brandy&Mara)

so no bugs!

but what i ment by turning white..between the scales is getting white. i have yet to see it shed but its skin looks dull all around so assumed it was shed time...but the water does look a little dirty so it could be poop residue as well. either way i change teh water everyday so it will get clean today.

thanks for teh help

Soaking could mean mites too.

Dave

I have a couple of balls that will soak for 2-3 days before shedding. It's perfectly normal and nothing to worry about as long as you haven't noticed mites or ticks in the water. As one person earlier said, it's always good to check the temps in the cage. Chances are they are ok but better safe than sorry.

~150 Adults, 20 species