We have a gopher snake and a california king. Lately the gopher snake spends a lot of time (hours a day) soaking in his water dish. Behavior and feeding is normal. He is near shedding and maybe that's all it is. It just seems like a lot of time soaking. Temps in his cage seem fine. We do not moisten his substrate. Is that recommended? Maybe he just needs more humidity. Suggestions appreciated. Thanks.
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Gopher Snake question
kl_donaldson
Aug 30, 2004 08:30 PM
Replies (4)
azatrox
Aug 30, 2004 09:53 PM
It sounds like it MIGHT be a humidity issue. But since he is going to shed, I'd wait until after he sheds to see whether the amount of time spent in his water dish is any less. Snakes often spend alot of time soaking while "in the blue"....If he's otherwise acting like a normal gopher snake, then just wait and see if his behavior changes after he sheds.
-Kris
janome
Aug 31, 2004 10:33 AM
Could be mites also. I've read some snake will soak in order to get rid of mites on them. Do you see any little tiny bugs...like pepper? Those are mites.
Doug-P
Aug 31, 2004 08:32 PM
I have a gopher that I got 6 weeks ago. It is a year old and 3 feet. He hasnt been handled much, and is a little jumpy. I take him out for 20-30 minetes every day, except for when digesting. He has calmed some since I first got him.
When I first got him, he would spend most of his time in it's hide box. For the last week or so, he has been out and about alot more. He has been soaking for a couple hours a day, the last 3 days. Starting one day after the last feeding.
I was thinking that he was feeling more comfertable with the saroundings, and in genral relaxing more.
I live in a old farm house in the hills of E. TN. It's hot and humid. Temps in cage run 80 at night to almost 90 in the peak of the day. Humidity is between 70 and 80. I know temps, and humitity are a little high, but I dont have central air, or a dehumidifyer. (CANY WAIT TILL FALL!)
I also have a northern pine, a black pine, and 2 corns. None of them soak.
Doug
kl_donaldson
Sep 01, 2004 11:54 AM
It's good to hear that this is common behavior. The snake seems just fine and certainly has an appetite. A lot of kids in this area catch them for pets, but don't keep them long. I see them in the fields, mostly near the schools. I do a lot of hiking in the desert canyons around us and don't see them there. Rattle snakes and kingsnakes, but no good old gopher snakes. I think they are attractive, much prettier than the native kingsnakes. Unfortunately, they do look like the diamondback rattlers which are pretty common here too.
