Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just got a five foot argentine boa and she is awesome.my cage is set up with hides on both sides with a hot and warm side when i take her out she is a joy to handle but after i put her back in she goes straight for the water dish and spends all her time there she might cruise for a little but then she goes right in .never uses the hides is this normal for argentines

` I would check for ecto parasites. If you've eliminated the possibility of mites, etc., and that she is going there for the temperature she likes, or humidity she needs, she may just like to soak.
` I have several who just like to soak. If the water is always very clean, it doesn't seem to hurt them.
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NOTE: This is copied directly from my post below about hide spots. Read on...

From my own personal experience...
When I first got my boa, and was right in the middle of the very steep learning curve that accompanies a new kind of pet, I noticed that my snake spent most of its time "hiding" inside the water bowl with 90% of its body being submerged. First, I checked for mites and found none. Then I thought it was too hot inside the cage, so I added more substrate, raised the light several inches, got a temp gun, etc. Turns out the temps weren't more than a few degrees off of ideal, and my snake still "hid" in its water bowl even after a slight temp adjustment.

After some research on the web, I finally decided to try a different and more functional hide spot since I had never seen my snake use the silly "half log" that I had bought. I took the tip from PE and began using the clay base of a plant pot with an entry way cut out, and IMMEDIATELY my boa was out of its water bowl and now spends a lot of time curled up under there.
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David - Houston, TX
Young Red Tail Boa
Purchased 11/16/03
www.geocities.com/davidag02

Dude,your snake is gonna drown and die!!!!!!!!!

Just kiddin' Mark

George