Reptile & Amphibian Forums

is there any other point to bath a snake other than if it is retaining a shed?

Here's a few reasons that come to mind:
1) After an extremely large meal boids appreciate a soak to relieve the discomfort from the large meal. In other words, the water reduces the weight of the meal. A whole lot less gravity and a whole lot more buoyancy.
2) A warm soak to induce/facilitate defecation when appropriate. Somewhat a laxative function.
3) Severely dehydrated - soak.
4) Mites - soak.
5) Bathe/rinse to remove dermal nasty stuff.
6) Sensory variety/pleasure.
I'm sure there are more.
jsc

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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

I own 2 suri red tailed boa's and 1 ball python and have never heard of soaking or bathing them. Is this something I should consider doing on a regular basis? if so how often? water temp?

Not a must do unless it's needed for something like poor shed or help with a bowel movement, or mites etc..
Provide them a large enough water bowl, and they will soak if they desire. I have some that soak fairly regular, and others that never do it.
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Richard Carew
Sunset BCI
You laugh at me cuz I'm different! I laugh at you cuz you're all the same.
Stop Inhumane and Illegal Practices

If your up on proper husbandry and your snakes are being snakes with normal activities,then "soaking really isn't a "must do"and theres is nothing wrong with doing it as long as the proper temps are in place as well as maintained.When I do soak an animal its never allowed to "float" and the temp is maintained above 85*I use a regular heating pad under the tub for this task.
As far as the Bath(as in cleaning) thing,I ALWAYS wipe my animals with a paper towel sprayed with ChlorHex to keep them nice and fresh.It also removes some of the newsprint residue they pick up from their substrate.Any measure to minimize bacterial content/contact I'M ALL FOR IT !!as well as recommend it.Why clean a cage and not the animal ?? So I do LOL!
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TnK

yeah my female soaked for about 15 days straight when i first got her but she hasn't soaked nearly as often or for that long either and the male ive only ever seen soak for about 15 minutes maybe 3 or 4 times in the 4 months ive owned him but they both have access to a large soaking dish 24/7, i just saw another post about bathing snakes and was curious as to whether or not i should practice it

thanks for all the info everyone