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Bathing corn snake
- Thread starter Lewis25
- Start date
AliCat37
Michelle's Candied Corns!
If the water feels warm to you, that means it is probably around 100 degrees, which is (I'm sure you know) very dangerous for the corns.
I usually don't soak mine unless they need to burn some fat. When I do, I usually will fill the tub with water that feels cool to the touch, then I use a temperature probe to test it. If it is too cold or hot, I just add some more until it is ideal.
Nythain
New member
Bah. Average human skin temperature is 32c or 90f. It's very possible that luke warm to warm feeling water is approximately 80-90f. And since it's water and the snake will more than likely be moving a lot while in it, the risk of any harm is fairly minimal. That being said I really have to super strongly reinforce anyone who's going to bath their snake to definitely check the water temp with a proper thermometer.
If your water bowl is too small for your snake to fit into while curled up (it's impressive how little space a snake takes when it's coiled) then you might want to consider a slightly larger bowl. Definitely not a necessity, but many snakes will sometimes retreat to their water bowl for a soak for various different reasons. In fact, snake soaking is one of the best "first signs" of problems such as overheating, mites, low humidity. A larger water bowl definitely isn't a necessity, but if one is available and your snake decides to use it, then it's more pro than con.
As for actual bathing... As others have said, some snakes love a short soak/swim, while others absolutely hate it. That really varies from individual to individual. Definitely not anything that should ever be required, the two primary purposes would be to try and trigger a poop or to remedy a bad shed. If you do decide you want to see how your guy takes to it then I really just have a few pointers. Don't fill the tub/container with more water than the height of the snakes body. Think more of a puddle soak and less of a pool swim. And then, as I already said, definitely try to get an accurate temperature reading of the water with a proper thermometer. Not sure what others shoot for, but 77-82 seems like a nice target (I never bathed my corn, and the boa tolerates slightly higher temps better so I'm making an educated guess with those numbers based on desired enclosure temperatures).
If your water bowl is too small for your snake to fit into while curled up (it's impressive how little space a snake takes when it's coiled) then you might want to consider a slightly larger bowl. Definitely not a necessity, but many snakes will sometimes retreat to their water bowl for a soak for various different reasons. In fact, snake soaking is one of the best "first signs" of problems such as overheating, mites, low humidity. A larger water bowl definitely isn't a necessity, but if one is available and your snake decides to use it, then it's more pro than con.
As for actual bathing... As others have said, some snakes love a short soak/swim, while others absolutely hate it. That really varies from individual to individual. Definitely not anything that should ever be required, the two primary purposes would be to try and trigger a poop or to remedy a bad shed. If you do decide you want to see how your guy takes to it then I really just have a few pointers. Don't fill the tub/container with more water than the height of the snakes body. Think more of a puddle soak and less of a pool swim. And then, as I already said, definitely try to get an accurate temperature reading of the water with a proper thermometer. Not sure what others shoot for, but 77-82 seems like a nice target (I never bathed my corn, and the boa tolerates slightly higher temps better so I'm making an educated guess with those numbers based on desired enclosure temperatures).
vetusvates
Gamaliel's Principle
Note, and always remember these significant points. Very Important.
A lot of water is always preferable to a little water.
1) If you are in the western hemisphere, snake's head should always be kept pointing to GMT time zone. Meaning due east.
2) If you are in the eastern hemisphere, snake's head should always be pointing to GMT time zone, in this case, due west.
3) If in The GMT time zone, and in the northern hemisphere, snake's head should be pointed towards the tropic of cancer.
4) If in the GMT time zone, but in the southern hemisphere, snake's head should be pointed toward the tropic of capricorn.
5) If in the GMT time zone, and on or near the equator (between the tropics of cancer and capricorn)...and this is very significant...keep snake's head pointed up, towards the sky, snake at perfect perpendicular to surface of the earth at the point where you are bathing or soaking. This requires an upright bathing or soaking chamber, but the snake's sense of direction is at stake here, and it is worth the effort.
6) pH should be a measured 7.0.
7) Salinity between 0 and 0.90%.
8) Temperature 65-75F.
9) And lastly, hard water is much preferable than soft water. You don't want your snake feeling all slippery and slimey after a bath or soak, as it is very depressing to the snake (and rather repugnant to humans). The psychological trauma, of course, is immeasurable in reptiles...and to be avoided if possible.
A lot of water is always preferable to a little water.
1) If you are in the western hemisphere, snake's head should always be kept pointing to GMT time zone. Meaning due east.
2) If you are in the eastern hemisphere, snake's head should always be pointing to GMT time zone, in this case, due west.
3) If in The GMT time zone, and in the northern hemisphere, snake's head should be pointed towards the tropic of cancer.
4) If in the GMT time zone, but in the southern hemisphere, snake's head should be pointed toward the tropic of capricorn.
5) If in the GMT time zone, and on or near the equator (between the tropics of cancer and capricorn)...and this is very significant...keep snake's head pointed up, towards the sky, snake at perfect perpendicular to surface of the earth at the point where you are bathing or soaking. This requires an upright bathing or soaking chamber, but the snake's sense of direction is at stake here, and it is worth the effort.
6) pH should be a measured 7.0.
7) Salinity between 0 and 0.90%.
8) Temperature 65-75F.
9) And lastly, hard water is much preferable than soft water. You don't want your snake feeling all slippery and slimey after a bath or soak, as it is very depressing to the snake (and rather repugnant to humans). The psychological trauma, of course, is immeasurable in reptiles...and to be avoided if possible.
NH93
New member
vetusvates
Gamaliel's Principle
I think most people do, Nanci. Although I know some who have apparently grown accustomed to it,...and "say" they prefer it.
How Can I Make Soft Water Harder?
(link)
Note, making anything soft into something hard is not a precise science, and can often be a delicate operation. In this case, regarding water, only proper titrations, with an appropriate indicator (typically phenolphthalein), yield accurate results.
How Can I Make Soft Water Harder?
(link)
Note, making anything soft into something hard is not a precise science, and can often be a delicate operation. In this case, regarding water, only proper titrations, with an appropriate indicator (typically phenolphthalein), yield accurate results.
Senusenu
New member
Eugh, soft water feels absolutely slimey and gross to me and I can't stand it. I'd rather have slightly hard water and have to clean calcium buildup than feel slimey after washing.
vetusvates
Gamaliel's Principle
Senusenu
New member
A joke. From what I gather, he's rather deadpan with humor.
vetusvates
Gamaliel's Principle
Senusenu, you slay me. I insist that my humor is not bedpan. Pot de chambre, perhaps. Bouche pot...perhaps. Trop bête, possibly at times. But not bedpan.
And I am totally for anyone bathing one's snake anytime one feels compelled to bathe their snake. But never endeavour to bathe the snake of another without prior full permission.
And I am totally for anyone bathing one's snake anytime one feels compelled to bathe their snake. But never endeavour to bathe the snake of another without prior full permission.
AliCat37
Michelle's Candied Corns!
I don't find soft water to be any different than the hard water, at least not at home. The hard water just is gross because of all the stains and mineral buildup. It is no fun!
When I visit other places though, I can tell the water is different and I don't like it. I don't find soft water to be slimy either. o.o
When I visit other places though, I can tell the water is different and I don't like it. I don't find soft water to be slimy either. o.o
Nanci
Alien Lover
Deadpan, Eric. He said deadpan.
We have hard well water and a water softener. We still get hard water spots though. When we run out of salt I can tell because my hair feels like straw and I can feel the soap residue on my skin. Our cold water tap in the kitchen is not softened so no matter what the water bowls around here get calcium deposits on them.