fire daemon said:
i honestly didn't get the impression that anyone here, or in the URL posted thread, that anyone was "dumping" their snakes into a bathub and leaving them at all!
No, indeed. At least I am not. I only put a few inches of water in (why waste water) and the big snakes can all float, swim, or rest on the bottom without any worry of drowning. They can also get out of the tub on their own, and sometimes they do. So I'm always there. I put the little ones in the sink, and they can get out of the sink if and when they want. For them, it's the same as getting off my hand. They want off, I wrap them back off and don't let them. They get out of the sink, I put them in, they get out, I put them in, they poop, I take them out.
I always find it amusing when people talk about what the snake prefers and what stresses the snake out when it comes to swimming them, but people advise conditioning them to handling. I have a snake that really doesn't like to be handled. Still, I handle it when I want to, and most people would suggest I continue doing so so that the snake will adjust to it. No one would say, well don't touch the snake anymore because it will get all stressed out!
I realize that with bathing, people don't see a benefit whereas with handling, they do. But I really, really, really hate being pooped on. And my wife really, really, really hates it if the snakes poop on the floor or on the couch while I have them out. So for me, the evacuation factor that accompanies swimming is a HUGE benefit, and worth acclimating any snake that isn't crazy stressed out by it to it.
But I nearly lost a hatchling down the overflow once, and now have them all taped up, and I have never left them alone. I like to watch them swim, for one. They are graceful and sort of effortless and lazy-looking and it's relaxing. But for two, I don't want them swimming around in soiled water, so I'm always on the ready to take them out, drain, and refill.
