[Behavior] Kinda Worried

[Aspectt]

Ok so I have been making a lot of posts sorry but new thing is happening. My new red tail has been soaking for 8+ hours in her water dish I have been Going home more and more to make sure the humidity never falls below 40.. Im scared she is sick and or is not getting enough humidity. Should i be worried or do they do this for long periods? I know if they stay in there for a long time humidity is too low. But is that for days or what? Kinda scared

[zamora]

Re: Kinda Worried

Some pictures of her home would be beneficial. What are your temps and humidity? Does she maybe have mites? Is she in shed/going into shed? How long have you had her?

[Aspectt]

Re: Kinda Worried

I have only had her for 2 days and no mites. One side is like 90 and one is like 83ish. No sign of going into shedding and humity i try not to let fall below 40. Will post pics in a Sec

[Aspectt]

Re: Kinda Worried

Shshould i

[Aspectt]

Re: Kinda Worried

I also have a new light then in the pic and The light only has one not 2 SO its looks a little better. Anyone going to reposed because getting more and more worried

[Pandorasdad]

Re: Kinda Worried

Soaking is not an uncommon behavior. Some snakes will do it for days at a time. If you don't see any mites, and your temp and humidity is good, don't worry too much.

Get her out and handle her. How is she acting?

[Aspectt]

Re: Kinda Worried

Well at first when i would try to take her out she would go into a defenses position but i just now found out that my dad touched her this morning and she did noting but just flick her Tong. I have only had her 2 days a lot of people on her have told me to wait at least 2 weeks to start handling her or it will stress her out. She came form a pet store i have her feeding records and all that. My dad looked this morning and saw no mites but will look more when I get there. If there is mites What should i do about it? How to i get rid of them!

[Aspectt]

Re: Kinda Worried

Well I just went a head and handler ed her she is very sweet was shaking a little because I was a little afraid tbh haha but checked cage no mites. And when I but her back the in the cage her head likes to go sright up. So I can see the bottom of her chin and when I was holding her she was always looking up at me. Normal thing for them to do I would take it. When should I start hook training?

[Noelle7206]

Re: Kinda Worried

Your cage set up looks a little 'bare' to me...some snakes like to 'soak' in their bowl because it gives them a sense of security that they aren't finding from the hides provided to them...like those very open half-round

tree bark tunnels. She may also have some hydration issues...providing a "humid hide" is often a good idea too...it adds to the overall humidity in your cage, and offers them the humidity & hiding that they crave, while

keeping them from contaminating their drinking water (-hopefully). I like to offer my snakes 'hides' on both the warm & cool side of cage, making sure they also offer 'back pressure' (snakes feel safer when they can

squeeze into a tighter space....they don't love 'high ceilings'). Even the cardboard roll from your paper towels would be appreciated by a baby boa...so think safe & creative, especially while your snake is growing (and

will quickly out-grow many fancy hides you may buy now). I'd keep the tree bark tunnel, btw...but just add some more 'furniture'. If you need more info about how to make a "humid hide" (easy!), just ask?

And btw, I agree...hold off for a couple weeks at least before you handle her...best to wait until she has fed & digested at least a couple times for you...less stress is better for her health att.

[Aspectt]

Re: Kinda Worried

Ok well I Handled her today will not do that again. But she did poop in this water bowl cleaned it as soon as i saw it. Will make sure not to handle unless have to take care of her. Poop was white as well is that ok? I will get more for her just trying to find the best only small things at these pet shops I hope i did not do anything to the little guy holding him for a min or two today

[Noelle7206]

Re: Kinda Worried

Ok well I Handled her today will not do that again. But she did poop in this water bowl cleaned it as soon as i saw it. Will make sure not to handle unless have to take care of her. Poop was white as well is that ok? I will get more for her just trying to find the best only small things at these pet shops I hope i did not do anything to the little guy holding him for a min or two today

No don't worry...it's just better to refrain from handling right now...but for sure you want to clean the water bowl & take care of cage as needed...no problem.

Snake poo: a little like bird poo...except the brown stuff is usually more formed; the 'white stuff' is the urate crystals (the equivalent of urine in other creatures & humans). Very normal...the urates are generally like
a moist-slushy chalky paste when fresh...that dries to a solid that is easily powdered & airborn. You'll have plenty of time to see more of both, ha ha ha...

As for finding 'small things at these pet shops' ('cage furniture' I assume?): it's perfectly ok to use small clean boxes that approximate a comfortable size for your snake...cut a 'doorway' just slightly bigger than what

your snake needs to crawl thru WITH a full-stomach. Cardboard is disposable too, of course when it gets dirty. Many things will work as 'hide boxes' for snakes...but think safety (nothing heavy that can tip over on &

injure the snake, and nothing that has holes into which your snake might get stuck...it happens! I have used driftwood, for example, that had mostly bigger gaps but also one small hole that posed a risk for the small snake I

gave it to, so I just plugged that hole with a little cork. Wild snakes can die when they try to crawl thru bird-netting (used to protect plants like berries) or other tight fencing materials & then get stuck, unable to back out

because of the directional nature of their scales. Also watch for sharp edges...there are some cool-looking things (castles & fake rocks) made for tropical fish, but I'd steer clear. Besides being pricey, most have very sharp

edges inside that don't bother swimming fish, but might cut a reptile. When it comes down to it, empty cracker boxes work great for the time being... another thing some ppl use are new/clean food storage containers,

especially the ones that aren't clear. Snakes like to hide...and the plastic is soft enough to cut a doorway (in the top works best). For a 'humid' hide', just put moist moss or moist orchid bark or other substrate inside...your

snake will probably love it and stay out of the water bowl. I have one snake that has terrible sheds (a million pieces) unless she has a humid hide in addition to her regular (dry) ones.

[Pandorasdad]

Re: Kinda Worried

But she did poop in this water bowl

I was about to mention this. When my Pandora could soak, (I no longer provide bowl big enough for her) she only did so right before dropping a growler.

It sounds like perfectly normal behavior. No worries!

[zamora]

Re: Kinda Worried

Just to add one more thing...please cover three sides of your tank with something and that will increase her security. You can use construction paper or something more fancy and visually appealing like this: DB Backgrnd - Boulders &Grassy Plants - 24 in. - Sold by ft.