Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 05 Jalisco Milk soaked in his water dish for the first time ever today. We have three 05 snakes (Milk, King, and Corn), and this is the first one to do this. I'm not sure why. I had taken him out (he ate 2 pinkies 2 days ago) and he crapped all over me, so I put him back. While I was cleaning the carpet (yuck) I looked up and he's in his water dish. He stayed there a good 15-20 minutes. He normally hides under the newspaper and never comes out. I'm not sure if he'll ever do it again, so it was neat to see.

Walt

Walt, maybe he was just thirsty (did you see him drinking while he was in the water bowl?), OR maybe you should check him for mites.

Sometimes when snakes soak in their water bowl for long periods of time, or hang around it unusually, it is because they are trying to drown any mites on them.

I hope your snake was just thirsty. Mites can be really hard to get rid of. It is not impossible, just really tedious and can take a while. More of a headache than anything else.... especially if they spread to your other snakes.

Scott

You may want just do a check for mites & keep an eye on this little guy for a few days. I am not saysing he has mites but it is one thing that i look for my animals sit in the water, unless they are pre-shed.. Thankfully i have not delt with a mite issue in many years!!!

Thanks, guys, but he's never shown any sign of mites and never been anywhere where he could get them (outside or anything).

He shouldn't be due to shed again for a few weeks, but he's growing fast, so you never know. He didn't seem to be drinking. He shook his tail under water...lol. Could it be he thought he was hiding under the water? The water dish has a broken flowerpot over part of it.

Like I said, he had just crapped all over. Maybe he needed a bath??? lol again...

I'm puzzled...

Merry X-mas,

Walt

He only eats f/t pinks, so I'm guessing they get mites from live mice or outside??? Like I said, no sign of mites, I'm guessing pinks wouldn't have mites, and I also guess freezing would kill mites even on adults, right?

Walt

Freezing should kill mites on rodents. Like i said i am not saying the snake has mites it's just one of the warning signs. And, withoutknowing how long you have the animal or if you had added any new animals to your collection without quarintine, which is the most common way to encounter a mite problem. Hopefully he was just taking a swim! Have a Happy Holiday!! ~ Mike

No problem. We got all 3 snakes in October, and they've never been in contact with each other.

Walt

my snakes only do that in empty water bowls and humidity hides
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jake

my addiction:
2 normal ball pythons (lazlo and izzy)
1 amelenistic corn snake (mazy)
0.1 blizzard corn (blizz)

I provide a large water jug for all my snakes. You're setup is very spartan and is probably too dry for a milksnake, unless the humidity is quite high in the cage. You'd be surprised how often they go in the water when your not looking.

TC

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Ratsnake Haven...researching ratsnakes since 1988

Ratsnake Haven Group...an information providing list site.

How is this Spartan? Also, my milk NEVER comes out from under the substrate (newspaper). The only time you can see him is after handling or changing the paper...

Walt

>>How is this Spartan? Also, my milk NEVER comes out from under the substrate (newspaper). The only time you can see him is after handling or changing the paper...
>>
>>Walt

It's spartan because there's no burrowing medium and no soaking jug and your snake isn't using the hides you provide. It's going under the paper because it's trying to hide and feel secure. There's no variation in moisture/humidity and little choice for a temp gradiant. Just trying to help

TC

the light/heat bulb may be to brite since a lot of milk snakes are nocturnal.
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I may be old , cantankerous, crabby, and cynical, but......

>>the light/heat bulb may be to brite since a lot of milk snakes are nocturnal.
>>-----
>>I may be old , cantankerous, crabby, and cynical, but......

I would suggest a small heat pad on one end of the cage, since it would provide a better temp range, and you don't really need the extra light. Milks generally hide by day. I would put a little wood shavings or different hide, at least on the warm end, though, to provide a buffer from the heat. If it wants more warmth it can then burrow down towards it.

TC

You should have a humid hide for your Jalisco. A plastic tub (like Cool Whip or similar) with a big hole cut out of the lid or side and filled with damp sphagnum moss will work great. Let the moss dry out all the way before dampening again. Works wonders for lots of reasons.

Your cage looks like a setup for a rosy boa or other dry-area inhabitant, but not for the likes of a Jalisco.