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I was wondering if anyone has had experience with a milk (black preferably) spending alot of time in their water bowl? I checked him for mites & he seems clean. The temp in my snake room is a little high because of my boas (77-80F), but he has no actual direct heating at present on his enclosure. I am worried about scale rot if he soaks too much. Are my fears founded?
Thanks as always for the great responses that I get from fellow herpers on this awesome forum!!!

Bill

He could be getting ready to shed. As for the rot...i dunno anything about it. I wouldnt worry to much just keep an eye on him. My male nelsons spends most of his time in his water bowl. No mites no shed no rot.......just likes to lay in his water for a day or two and on occasion 3 or 4. Also what kind of substrate is he on?

I am keeping him on a dry substrate as it were (Reptile & bird litter). I was thinking of moving him over to peat moss & vermiculite mix, but have yet to do so. It has certainly not affected his appitite, as he is pounding 6 hoppers a week!!! He just shed 3 weeks ago, so I don't think that that is his issue. Although he is only 2 years old & growing like a weed, so...

Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it.

Bill

Bill,

I don't think 77 to 80's high for kings, might even be on the low end of the range but maybe not for that ssp.

check your records and tell us when it shed last: if it was 3 wks ago, and it's eaten six to ten times, it's probably going into shed.

of course, you didn't mention whether this is the first time this has happened, or whether he always does it, or does it once a month, how long you've had him, etc. So lots of possibilities but i think an impending shed is the most logical explanation.

update us!
terry

>>I was wondering if anyone has had experience with a milk (black preferably) spending alot of time in their water bowl? I checked him for mites & he seems clean. The temp in my snake room is a little high because of my boas (77-80F), but he has no actual direct heating at present on his enclosure. I am worried about scale rot if he soaks too much. Are my fears founded?
>>Thanks as always for the great responses that I get from fellow herpers on this awesome forum!!!
>>
>>Bill

Terry,

He shed on August 7th. Since that time, he has had 18 hoppers (6 X 3). I have only had him for 4 mths, so I don't have a real history on his habits or preferences. Maybe I am so used to boas that I am getting skiddish, but I swear that he thinks that he is a water snake Actually his daytime high is probably closer to 85F. I am not home in the midafternoon to fully record the actual values.

Bill

If I remember correctly, the black milks like it cooler than a lot of other milks.
phflame

Hi Bill,

Your other post says 85 degrees...in my opinion that is too hot. I think he is trying to cool down by soaking. Over the years i have kept mine at 85, 75 with a hotspot, and at about 71 and, although they will eat at any of these temps, I find they are happiest at mid 70's. At 85, some of them did soak alot.

I have kept them in larget cages with gradients and that seems to be where they spend most of their time. I now keep them at ground floor with no auxillary heat, in a house with the thermostat stuck at 76 and they are perfect.

I would turn down the heat.

Jeremy Clarke from NorCal