Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My snake had a pink belly a week ago and was having the dry skin. Now s/he just chills mostly in the water bowl to stay humid and I try to spray alot, but when he's out his scales are really dry and his head is super dried out. Is this normal for it to go so long or is his lounging in the water for hours on end making his shed exaggerated?

.
-----
Forever Trust in what we are,and nothing else Matters

I checked him out and I saw some small black dots on various partso f his body but I think its his pattern because they arn't moving. And I don't have any black things on my hands after handling him nor is anything along his eyes. Could you perhaps give a picture showing mites?

Your snake could be soaking for many reasons. What kind of heat do you use? Is it possible that his pink belly was from getting burned - that would also cause him to soak. But yeah - if he's sitting in his water dish for whatever reason - it could dehydrate him and make it harder to shed if that is what he's trying to do. How long has he been doing this? Does he come out at all? Have you checked to be sure you have good temperature and humidity levels in his cage? Does he have appropriate hides? Mites will appear as tiny black (sometimes white if they are young) dots that will be scurrying about on your snake - they love the eye and heat pit areas check him over real good - take him out and check the water bowl too.
-----
Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

Lets see. Did big inspection w/ big flashlight overh is body. No mites or organisms. His left front nostral is kinda crusty/blocked partially because of the slow-shed.

He's been doing this for about a week if not more. But mostly since I actually put the bowl in. The humidity is 30-50% with spraying. Avg 40%ish. Ii'm gonna tape a cloth to a side and spray that for extra humidity as well as misting the cage.

Would he eat if he wasn't shedding? I coaxed him into eating, kinda like every time. Hold the mouse by the tail without hemostats, just by my fingers (FT mouse) and bounce it around and on the snake some to get his attenction for a few minutes then snap he goes after it.

His scales are dry and stuff if he stays out of the water bowl. I think its given better humidity.

Heat source: Infrared lightbulb sitting ontop of wire mesh on top.

The humidity should be closer to 60%, especially if he's in shed. Give him a few days, and think about adding a humid hide or something else to increase humidity...

I taped a wash-cloth toa corner with it resting ontop of a hide. I'm starting to spray that so he has a dark damp hide now.