Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have recently purchased a Columbian Red Tail Boa. I took him to my local vet right after I got him and had him checked out. Everything looked good besides a little dehydration for which he got a shot to help that out.

He does however spend all of his time in his water bowl, no matter how much humidity is in the tank.

This is my first Boa. My Burmese python I had before was never in the water. I assume that this is a little unusual.

Any Input would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

DAN

Good that you took him to a vet, great way to start.

If the vet did not notice mites immediately, that's a good sign.

Some boas like soaking in water more than others. Do you know when the last time your snake shed? If you don't, he/she may be getting ready to shed, and some boas will soak a lot before this happens.

Excessive soaking can also be a sign of mites (which look like tiny specs of pepper) or another health problem... but since you've already had him checked out, it might just be shedding. Also, make sure you have a couple of hiding spots in the cage for him as well, until he gets comfortable in his new home he might be "hiding" in the water.

If his eyes get cloudy at some point, you'll know that a shed will happen soon (eyes usually clear up for a couple of days after getting cloudy, and then a shed will happen).
-----
Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com
1.0 Ball Python, 1.0 Hog Island Boa (RIP DeeDee), 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 0.1 Green Tree Python

Also - I'm curious as to the "shot" that helped with dehydration - do you mean the vet gave the snake some fluids intravenously, or put a feeding tube into the snake's stomach and pushed in fluids? I don't think there's a medication that can help with dehydration.

Most people say to soak a dehydrated snake so that they both drink and absorb some water into their skin, so your snake seems to be self-medicating....
-----
Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com
1.0 Ball Python, 1.0 Hog Island Boa (RIP DeeDee), 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 0.1 Green Tree Python

They gave him a shot right into his stomach somewhere. They did it at the same time as they were sexing him. I personally did not see the shot administered.

As far as shedding, his skin looks nice and vibrant and doesn't show any signs of getting ready to shed.

I also put a hollow U shaped log for him to hide under in the cage. He wants nothing to do with it, and heads straight for the water, which happens to be on the cool side of the tank (85 degrees). His basking spot is at 95-96 degrees.

I recently fed him and would like for him to stay in the basking spot some of the time to aid in digestion and keep him healthy. He wants nothing to do with it. He goes straight into the water when i put him back in the cage.

Hot spot of 85-90 and cool side needs to be lower than 85 he is trying to cool off and is very very HOT!! You need to control that heating device.
Bob

Agreed, he is too hot and that is why he is in the water, to cool down.

90 hot, and 78-82 cool.