Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a pair of '07 Womas a few months ago. At first everything was ok, they were quite active (especially at night), had a nice shine to their skin, and fed without incident. I have them in a 48" enclosure, with a heating element and a large bowl of water, with Aspen shavings for bedding. Over the past month or so, I've noticed that although they'll eat anything I throw into their cage, they are looking kind of "dry" - their skin has taken on a dull appearance, and they are a bit lethargic. They are also spending most of their time submerged in the water bowl. Yeah, I figured that it was just shed time, but each had shed about a month ago, and they've been acting this way for quite a while, I don't think it's about shedding. I'm guess it's humidity, which, is basically 0% here in Colorado. I've tried turning off the heater (which keeps the cage 95 degrees on one end, and about 80 on the other). Keeping them a bit cooler hasn't changed things. If it is humidity - which I'm just guessing it is - how do I increase it? Womas aren't rain forest pythons, so I didn't set this cage up with a mister, etc. I already have a large water dish in their cage. Any suggestions from Woma owners? Since they're eating and drinking, I'm not overly concerned, but on the other hand, something ain't right - they don't seem happy like they were when I got them. thanks for any suggestions!

Maybe you have mites. Snakes will soak to try to get rid of them. Check around their eyes and nostrils. Very small but you can see them.

When you say that they eat anything offered and are lethargic, what are you feeding and with what frequency?

Mine always have a smile on their face Stick to newspaper or another type of paper. You can see problems that you can't with other substrate. If they have mites, they'll soak. 80-95 is a bit warm. Drop about 5 degrees on the high end, and where they come from it can easily hit low 60's.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
2.3 Woma
4.2 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.1 Bloods
1.1 Balls
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.0 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.2 F2 Carpondros
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

I would raise the humidity. You can do this by cover up some of your lid. Aspen shavings are pretty dry and seem to almost suck up humidity. Womas live in crevaces where it is a bit more humid than just plain dry desert. I would also not house them together.
Just my 2 cents
Nick

They are too hot, if they are spending that much time in their water dish they are overheating. Womas do not need those high temps, Ive raised many without high temps and they ate, bred, shed, and grew with no problems. Keep it to 75 at the cool end, mid 80's at the warm end. That is all you need to do.

The dull skin and lethargic condition is called Heat Stroke...

Good Luck!

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Cheers
Lateralis
"I would rather be precisely wrong than approximately right"
Marion "Doc" Ford

They can live well in probably one of the widest temperature ranges of any python. But I agree, over 90 is not good, unless a female is basking. Cute pic, btw. I missed the baby at first glance.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
2.3 Woma
4.2 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.1 Bloods
1.1 Balls
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.0 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.2 F2 Carpondros
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

I think people assume because they come from the deserts of Oz they need to be kept like bearded dragons or acanthurus. Same with the eggs, they do not do well when incubated at high temps, Thanks for the kudos on the pic btw, that is one of my favorite shots this year. I need to get a shot of the babies up here now that they have shed.
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Cheers
Lateralis
"I would rather be precisely wrong than approximately right"
Marion "Doc" Ford

Not sure about the high temp issue. I hatched 12/12 at 91 degrees. The babies ARE pigs, though, lol
-----
1.1 Blackheaded pythons
2.3 Woma
4.2 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.1 Bloods
1.1 Balls
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.0 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.2 F2 Carpondros
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC