Water bowl usage...drowning?

[Amanda E]

Hi. I know this will probably sound stupid, but here it goes anyway...

I was cleaning a cage, left the snake and her water bowl in the cage while I was dealing with the hides, etc. Since she didn't have a place to hide, she curled up in her water bowl.

I didn't think anything of it. I know they are good swimmers, etc., but my husband walks by and asks what she is doing. I look and I see her circling the bowl, under water, seamingly looking for a way out.

My husband asked if I had to worry about her drowning. I said I had never heard of it happening, but I decided to pull her out anyway and direct her to a different hide.

Now it's got me thinking. Has anyone ever had a snake die of drowning when there is an obvious way out of the water? I know any land animal can drown if trapped under the water, but would a snake be stupid enough to get in a bowl of water and not figure out how to get out again and die there? I've never heard of it and I doubt it has happened, but does anyone have any first-hand experience with this?

 

[CornCrazy]

My snakes circle around in their water bowls all the time. I've never seen any ill effects from it.

 

[Rich Z]

There have been occasions of snakes drowning in their water bowls, but the only cases I have heard were from a particular design. Some people will make water dishes out of something like a deli cup with a lid on it. They will cut a hole into the center of the lid for the snake to get a drink, yet making it difficult to spill the water dish or get shavings into the water.

While this certainly does what it is supposed to, it has become a death trap for some snakes. You see, what can happen is that if the water volume in the water bowl designed like this is such that when a snake crawls completely into the dish, and the water level raises to reach the lid itself, the snake sometimes cannot find it's way out of the water dish via that centrally located hole, and drowns as a result.

I have personally seen this happen to someone who used to use this method of water dish design. To give you an idea of what I am talking about I have borrowed a photograph from a site that still sells these, even though I have specifically warned them of the danger of using them.

 

[CornCrazy]

Oh wow...I make water dishes of my own of that nature, Rich. I have never had anything bad happen. I have made a bunch out of sterlite food storage containers and some out of deli cups. I don't fill them up with a lot of water, though. I thought about the fact that the snakes will displace their water when they soak in the bowls. I only put an inch or so of water in the bowls. In the deli cup containers, I have air holes towards the top of the sides of the containers. If the water level gets above the holes when the snakes are soaking, then the water leaks out of the holes. Here is a picture of one of my sterlite water bowls:

I don't know if it matters, but I also put the holes closer to the end of the container. Maybe the snakes can find the exit easier that way???

 

[Alias47]

Even though this is a thread warning against the use of them...that is an excellent idea...

Especially with the drainholes so they don't get trapped underwater.

I have a badly dehydrated snake right now that has to soak for an hour a night...and I soak her in a deli...she can hold her breath a long time, I have found out...but she ALWAYS gets her head up for air...

I was really nervous the first few times...but now it doesn't even phase me...can't imagine she will let herself drown.

 

[Bluebeard]

I'd have to fall back on the Darwin theroy, if they are to stupid to come up for air then maybe they shouldn't be in the gene pool.

 

[CornCrazy]

Even though this is a thread warning against the use of them...that is an excellent idea...

Especially with the drain holes so they don't get trapped underwater.

I have a badly dehydrated snake right now that has to soak for an hour a night...and I soak her in a deli...she can hold her breath a long time, I have found out...but she ALWAYS gets her head up for air...

I was really nervous the first few times...but now it doesn't even phase me...can't imagine she will let herself drown.

Thank you Derek. I have a few snakes that like to soak a lot...and make a mess with their water. I have been using water bowls like this for almost 2 years and have never had a problem. I honestly think it is because the hole is at the edge of the water bowl. I noticed that the snakes like to circle the perimeter , so I thought that was the logical place for the opening.

I typically only put the drain holes in the deli cup water bowls. It doesn't work as well to put the holes near the edge of them, so I wanted a way to make sure the water level didn't get too high. I've never had any trouble with them, either.

Good luck with your little dehydrated snake! I hope she recovers quickly!

 

[Susan]

JMHO, but I would rather clean up a mess every day than run even a slight risk of having a dead snake.

 

[CornCrazy]

The thing is...with my water bowls, there is NO risk of one drowning. There is NEVER enough water in them for the snake to drown.

 

[Itsnowingcorns]

On the topic of water bowls, I have NEVER seen my snakes soak but there is never any problems with shedding and they drink plenty. Is this normal?

 

[Alias47]

VERY normal...

I have never seen any of my snakes "soak" (although they tend to poop in the water dish so they must sometime). I have seen a few of them drink...
Not unusual...besides they use so much of the moisture from their prey they don't necessarily need to soak.

Really up to the snake.

Terri,
When I get my racks...I think I am going to make water bowls like that. I was going to use the ceramic ones, but they ARE messy...and in a rack, who needs a bunch of wet bedding. It isn't healthy for the snake...and too time consuming to change beeding and water bowls twice a day.

 

[CornCrazy]

Derek...those containers came from a dollar general store. The size pictured cost $1 each. There is a bigger size for $2 each. I really like using them. Almost all of my racks have water bowls like these. I do have a few square ones, though. With them, the holes are in one corner of the lid. Let me know how they work for you whenever you get that rack built

 

[Alias47]

Got an unexpected Christmas bonus today...as soon as I can get the check cashed, I will be ordering two Snake Shacks from Nature's Spirit (Casey and Darla Hulse).
My Christmas present to myself.
I have talked to them 3 times and everytime all my money ended up going to my wife or kids...so now that I have the chance, I WILL be buying them.
TOMORROW if I can help it!

 

[Alias47]

Oh, Yeah...hows my stripe doing?

She isn't causing you too much hassle I hope.

Matt Graybeal is holding 16 of them for me (well Ken will end up with most of them)...just too cold to ship...especially HERE...it has been sub-zero the last couple of days.
So I NEED the racks...

Thanks for the water bowl tip...I have a dollar store at the strip mall on the corner...never even THOUGHT to go there...

 

[CornCrazy]

She's doing great...and is NO trouble at all. I will be getting pics of the zig zags to you sometime this weekend. Actually, here is a picture of the anery zig zag het ? (he is possible het several things):

This is an old picture, however. He is a bit lighter (and bigger) now.

And you're welcome for the tip. I hope you enjoy the water bowls as much as I have!