Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How many people's P.regius willingly sit in their water bowls? It occurred to me that they are from a fairly arid climate and maybe don't encounter pools of water very often so perhaps liking to soak is a learned behavior in captivity? What is a good method to soak without traumatizing the snake? On another line why does my snake, who never sits in the big water bowl, climb up on top of the fish tank and stick his/her head UNDERWATER? (no worries a "life guard" wa son duty)

The majority of 'soakers' are doing this to losen their skin for sheading. I would be a little concerned with the fisk tank, though, as the snake is more likely drinking from it, and I can say the chemicals or bacteria from the lack there of, can be deadly....

maybe he wanted a snack if you know what I mean...

I thought the guppy was lunch but it didn't go for it. I wish it would eat that particular guppy!

I know the snake was most definately NOT drinking from the fish tank, I know what that looks like. I also don't use chemicals in that tank and if I did I wouldn't have let the snake near it in the first place. I also have a very good idea about the bacteria present in that tank (I do this sort of thing for a living) and wouldn't let the snake near it if I thought there was anything too virulent in there. What he/she did was climbed up on the lid, lowered his/her upper body down into the water, submersed head and looked around, blew out through nostrils and lifted head back out of water and then proceeded to crawl across the lid of the tank to investigate other things.

It isn't about that. Herpetologists warn about snakes being in or drinking 'dirty' water, due to high bacti counts. They also say to change water when bathing your snake just because it defecates into the water.

Nor was I. I appreciate everybodys input. I was just trying to explain exactly what the snake was doing so maybe you or somebody could shed some light on it. I work in aquatic pathology so I do a lot with bacteria and parasites and even if I don't know much about snakes and I make sure to keep my snake's habitat very clean. I have a special soak tub for the snake that I used only twice before. He/she shed ok though so I shouldn't have to use it until next time and it is dry and clean and being stored for the time being. So what do you think the snake was doing? I was wondering if it was just checking out the fish?