Bathing? Exercise?

[LadyJemima]

In preparation for this weekend's snake adoption (yay!!) I've been browsing the forums here trying to brush up on my knowledge. (Despite snakes being "easy" to care for, man, there is certainly a lot to learn).

Anyway...to my surprise, I have stumbled in two things that mystify me -- baths and bathtub exercise! Do tell me more! How does one bathe a snake? Do your corns like to be in water? Do they swim? Is swimming good for them?

And speaking of exercise -- do you allow your snake to roam outside of its viv, ina largenox or other enclosed area?

But really, I'm dying to know more about the baths. :laugh:

 

[LadyJemima]

*in a large box

 

[Karl_Mcknight]

I don't bathe corn snakes. Most of us don't. If your water dish is big enough the snake will soak itself when it wants to. There's really no reason to bath a corn snake unless the humidity is extremely dry and your snake is having a tough time shedding. Sometimes a few minutes of soaking helps. You can place the animal in something like a Tupperware casserole Tub with a snap on lid. Place just enough water to cover the snake's back. Don't fill it up, because then the snake has to swim or tread water. It could drown. Of course the water should be slightly warmer than room temp. Not the temp you like to bathe in. But the general rule is, don't bathe him if you don't have to.

As for the Exercise part - Rat Snakes in the wild climb on rock ledges, fence posts, trees, slither along the ground...etc... they don't just lay still in a cage all day. Snakes can get overweight just like people do if they are fed too much and don't get any exercise. I take my snake out in warmer weather and let him play. I just keep an eye on him.

(Picture below)

 

[DollysMom]

I don't bathe my snake. I do provide bowls large enough for them to soak in if desired. I have never seen my snakes sit in their water dishes. I have on occasion seen them crawl on the rim. In over 2 years I have only had them poop their bowls a few times. I have seen them sit in their humid hides, especially in the week before and after shed.

I regularly let my snakes crawl around my bed and living room floor, closely supervised, mostly the latter when they are larger and the former when they are smaller. Due to allergies we have no dogs or cats. If you do I would be very cautious. The snake will get the worst of any adverse encounter.

I believe excercise is good for them and helps to replicate what they would get in the wild. I also have them crawl through my arms which gives them an experience similar to their crawling through branches. Of course for me it is not all about excercise, it is about spending quality time with my snakes.

One side effect of all the excercise out of the enclosure is that my corn snakes rarely poop in their enclosures. I am however an expert of cleaning poop off the floor and carpet. As far as cleanliness goes, a corn snake will not by nature crawl through its poop. I have never seen them so much as lower their tail too soon (and they do lift their tails so as to not poop on themselves).

If you do ever bathe your snakes be sure to dechlorinate if needed and use potable water. Most will drink the bath water.

 

[Twolunger]

There's really no need to bathe your corn snake, except in the rare instance that you suspect a bowel impaction, or to aid in shedding. If you bathe a corn in lukewarm water no deeper than the snakes back quite often they will defecate in the water. My snakes do coil up in their water bowls, but it's usually right after a shed, rather than before. You would think they would want to get into the water before a shed. I guess they know what they want to do. As other replies indicated, exercise is always a good idea.

 

[LadyJemima]

A lot of people have mentioned snakes defecating when in water (or on carpet). Why is this?

 

[DollysMom]

Exercise.

 

[LadyJemima]

Good info. I read here on an archived thread that *some* corns enjoy swimming. Should I see if mine (soon to be adopted) would enjoy it? I also read that swimming too much can dehydrate them.

 

[LadyJemima]

Aside: Karl, what morph is your Rufous?

 

[Karl_Mcknight]

Rufus is a Striped Corn snake. He's about 2-1/2 years old now and right at 4 feet long.

on swimming: Any snake can swim and will do so if it needs to. Some snakes spend more time in water than others. Corn snakes are not what I would call "Water Snakes." Yes they can swim, but you almost never see one in the wild doing so. If you want to let your snake swim, where would you do this? Certainly not in a swimming pool because of the high concentrations of Chlorine. The only other option then would be in a creek, river or lake. And unless you can swim faster than the snake, it might be an opportunity for the snake to escape. I use to let my Boa Swim in the lake a few times, but she was the only snake of my 5 snakes I've had that I ever took swimming. And that was only 2 or 3 times.

 

[UncleSams]

I have never bathed my corns. The humidity never gets too dry for them to have a bad shed, and I keep their water bowls full and fresh. As far as exercise, mine are still too small to let outside and out of my hands, even if I did keep a close eye on them, they could easily slip away. However, I do let them explore around my parents house when I go over (my mother loves snakes), I just make sure they stay in the middle of the floor.

 

[DollysMom]

Welcome to the forum, UncleSams. Looking forward to hearing more about your snakes. I think you are with the majority of us who don't bathe.

 

[UncleSams]

Thanks DollysMom. I don't have many snakes, but they're like potato chips..you just have to have one more!