Need tips on bathing...

[CALIVIK]

My guy is 10wks & seems to like the water, I need to know how to clean him & how often this should be done. We take him out everynight to visit w/ him.

TIA,

Vikki
10wk old male CandyCane

 

[dwyn127]

If he likes water, give him a water dish big enough to fit in. That way he'll go in when ever he wants. Bathing snakes just isn't necessary.

 

[CALIVIK]

Thank you, I do have a bowl big enough for him. I was just curious on the bathing, since I have small children handling him & they tend to put their hands in their mouths. SO I needed to know how important it should be for him to be cleaned & washing hands after & before handling him. Thank you for responding so quickly!

Vikki

 

[titus]

It's not needed to wash your snake before or after handling, but to wash YOUR hands after, this is important for everyone. I always have a bottle of no water disinfectant next to my cages and use it even when changing between snakes when I'm feeding or doing checkups.

 

[@__@]

to be honest with you, i do put my snakes to bath

first i would boil Piper betel Linn and after that i'm using the water to wash my snakes ..

i'm washing them once or twice a month...


--Bram--

 

[MegF.]

My snakes hate water, and I don't think sticking them in water will help in the overall scheme of things when you're talking germs. Your children are being supervised when handling the snake, so when they are done, they go straight to the sink and wash their hands. It should become a habit with them, especially if you make it a game with them. You can make up a little saying that they can say. I do that a lot with the kids to help them remember things.

 

[antsterr]

remember that snakes don't sweet or secret any oils or anything so their skin should be as clean as the substrate they live in. Even then they don't seem to pick up poop if they crawl though it because their skin is so slick. I would leave the washing to you're side of the deal and let the snake bath on it's own terms.

 

[dwyn127]

Your children are being supervised when handling the snake, so when they are done, they go straight to the sink and wash their hands. It should become a habit with them.

Exactly. My 7 year old daughter is my biggest helper and the second she puts a snake away, she goes right to the Purell.

 

[Gronk]

Vikki...

Sometimes they cool themselves off a bit by "taking to the water", and on occasion I've seen snakes soak a lot because of mites.

Not trying to scare you on the mite issue, but keep an eye out to just to be on the "sure" side. <Smile> Mites look like tiny brown flecks of pepper, often they hang near the snakes eyes.

Again....this may not be an issue at all for you, just wanted to point it out. <G>

 

[newsnakeowner1978]

I put Anubis in the tub 3 days and 5 days after a feeding. It dont' serve any purpose for cleaning him but its makes him poop in the water so there is less to clean in the tank. And he dont' mind the water so why not put him in. If it dont' stress out your snake and he enjoys it then go ahead to put him in. Just my 2 cents. Good Luck.

 

[CALIVIK]

Thanks! I do have the washing hands down to a tee!! Its my 18mth old who wants to kiss/touch him & I tell her 'No' & she is MAD...lol But she is over it quick..lol I had just read about salmonella in a book & it concerned me. The purell is a grt idea. I carry that stuff in my purse...
My 4yr. old & 6yr. old both know to wash before & after handling him, & I do the same. I was just curious if really he needed bathing. Even if it was once a mth. So I think I will let him do his own thing. So far I am doing grt at that. I am learning his behavioral patterns right now. Tryin' to get to know him..HTMS Mainly really leaving him alone during the day & taking him out at night 5 days a wk & giving him exercise.

 

[Roy Munson]

A snake's shed cycle is all the external cleansing it needs. It will do this periodically. Every corn I've ever introduced to water seemed to hate it. I've only done this for one of two reasons. Eons ago I had to eradicate mites from some hatchlings that I stupidly co-housed. The second reason was that I thought it might be good exercise for an egg-bound female. I'm still not sure if the exercise benefits of the swim outweighed the negative stress for the egg-bound female (eventually she passed all eggs/slugs). I would never bathe an apparently healthy snake. :shrugs:

 

[susang]

My Creamsicle really seems to like water, I know he doesn't have mites. He will cruise through his water bowl, under and over it get in the water and out. My other snakes don't seem to do the same thing, except in summer when they all seem to like the water a little more. susan