Does anyone know what it is that causes Water Snakes, specifically banded water snakes, to develop moisture sores? I have previously been under the impression that spending too much time in the water causes it, and I have known a few people that this has happened to. However I have had a baby Nerodia fasciata fasciata for half a year now. It has a clean area on land with places to hide, but it spends all of its time in the water, day and night. This is why I ask, may it be poor water quality that causes the sores? Such as too many chemicals (tap water or polluted water from outside), too alkaline, too acidic? I use 1 part purified distilled water 1 part pond water from the pond I collected the snake in behind my house. No sores have developed and the snake is healthy,eating well, and growing well. My question is, what besides just too much water causes moisture sores? Thank you.
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Moisture Sores
Replies (2)
Most likely this is bacterial in nature. There is no reason for you to use pond water which is teeming with microbial life some of which may be good and some not. Switch to straight purified water or tap water.
Then I would try and keep him from spending so much time in the water. What are your temps like? If undesirable, this could send him in the water bowl. Any chance for mites?
Thanks,
Dan
No mine is fine, no sores at all. I was wandering what has caused some of the other people I know who have kept banded water snakes to get them? They used tap water for their snakes which is why I think it may have been contaminants from the water purification plant that their water comes from or something? The only other thing I can think of besides chemicals from tap water is perhaps a parasite that was living on the fish that they fed their snakes?
As far as mine goes she has no sores, hot side of cage at 85 cool side room temp (74). There are as many areas for it to hide on the land portion as I can fit, as well as bask. I might try adding a normal branch so that it can be over the water on the water side of the cage, just like they do in the wild.
