Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know that the natural environment of a hoggie is dry, but I am having issues with my male getting dehydrated. There is a large water bowl in his tank, but still..... I took him to the vet just to make sure everything was O.K., and she rehydrated him (as well as "dewormed", and an antibiotic shot just in case) I think it has to do with my gas heat drying out the house as a whole. Does anybody else have this problem? I have resorted to misting him twice a day. First time in three years I have had this problem, and I am in the same house!! Any other possible causes for dehydration?
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Jenea

1:0 Eastern Hognose
0:0:1 Florida Redbelly Snake
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

hi.

The surface of hog terroir is dry, but they spend most of their time in relatively moist environments (under things).

in any case, put a towel over the cage vents, to slow down drafts. also, some substrates cause skin dehydration in my hogs, i use papertowels now and have not had any problems.

good luck.

E
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Erik Williams

fattailed geckos, western hognoses, and a bunch of postage stamps.
Contact me
Chicago Herpetological Society

I have been using Indoor / outdoor carpeting. Really easy to clean, just wash with antibacterial soap and rinse or run it through the sanitary cycle of my washing maching. I Have a bunch cut, so I just rotate them around. I am about to move my sad and lonley male into a 2 x 3 ft enclousure with a more burrowing friendly substrate. The misting seems to be helping. This is the first time, since I have lived in this house, that we have had "drying out" issues. My snakes and my husbands guitars Just wonderes if anybody else had humidity issues in winter. Thanks for your help.
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Jenea

1:0 Eastern Hognose
0:0:1 Florida Redbelly Snake
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

I keep my snakes in neodesha and vision cages with very small vents, so drafts and humdidity are not a big problem. I do lose houseplants to the constant battle against dryness every year. try a towel over the screen, i think that will really help. another alternative is to brumate your snakes and your guitars at about 50-55f, the lower temperatures will prevent dehydration and cracking.

cheers,

E
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Erik Williams

fattailed geckos, western hognoses, and a bunch of postage stamps.
Contact me
Chicago Herpetological Society

I take a small Plastic container (large enough for the snake to fit in) with a lid. Then i cut a hole in the lid large enough for the snake to fit through and fill the container with damp moss. This creates a humid area for the snake to escape to when it is dry or shedding.
Just keep it clean and change the moss often to avoid bactera growth. I also like to use a clear container so i can see her if she does not want to see me she will hide her head.

nathan