Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Everyone!
So my 3/4 year old Brazilian rainbow boa has been basking, completely submerged in his water dish for 2 days straight now. He began this right after eating. It is dry in my apartment, but not enough for him to be in his dish for this long. He seems perfectly happy. He regularly changes his position and his head is always resting out of the water. He shed about 2 weeks ago.
Is this normal?!
Thanks in advance!
Katie

Totally typical for a BRB to soak for days after a good meal. Just to be on the safe side I'd recommend verifying the temps - around 80 on the hot end of the enclosure. When he does decide soak time is over and leaves the bowl, check for little dark specs like pepper in the water. That would mean you (he) has mites. NOT likely that he does, just a good preventative action to ensure he's bug free as soaking is also a sign of mites.

My collection is mite free and I still watch water bowls for the little buggers.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks for the responses. I shall check for mites.
Having a hard time keeping the humidity high with an open top. Ive starting putting plastic wrap over half of the screen because I'm not sure how else to keep it moist! Using cypress which I like, and it seems Diego does as well... But is that the best choice for retaining humidity?
Katie

I live in a dry place and used to have humidity issues also. On the advice of the breeders here, I started using cypress for the bottom layer and damp New Zealand sphagnum moss for the top layer of substrate, and now I only have to mist once a week. An open top will make it impossible to keep good humidity. If the tank is glass, I'd ditch it and get one from somewhere like Animal Plastics, or a melamine tank with a sealed bottom. If upgrading your caging isn't an option, try cutting plexiglass to fit over the top. Plastic wrap could potentially melt if exposed to heat in winter. Hope that helps!
-----
~Cynthia

"And in the spring, I shed my skin and it blows away with the changing wind..."

Cover MOST of the top and use some solid plastic like plexiglass or lexan. That will help with humidity, only a small amount of ventilation required. Also, if this is the glass tank with screen lid it sounds like, wrap three sides in insulation to help retain temps as well. CAUTION, when you add insulation, temps will rise unless well controlled with a thermostat.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats