Male IJ soaking

[Andy_G]

My 15 month old male IJ has all of a sudden started soaking. There have been no changes to his environment, no health problems, no mites. He also isn't eating and he seems to want out of his cage. He seems to be horny, but it is normal for IJ's to still be "needy" at this time? The soaking and fasting(only 3 weeks so far so im not sweating) is very unlikely for him, he normally stays away from his water and he has always eaten for me, even in shed. Could he be trying to relieve himself or something?? LOL

Temps are 78 on the cool side and 88 on the warm side with a hot spot of 95 via heating pad. Humidity at a constant 65-70%. He's in a 4x2 custom.

[Andy_G]

Well, I see that some of you HAVE looked at this thread at least LOL!
Help me out a bit if you can here guys! Suggestions? Ideas? Anything???!!!

[Yasser]

Here's some ideas....
The most obvious is possibly mites...perhaps only a small infestation, maybe they are just sliiping under your radar.

It may also not like any temps changes occuring (extreme cahnges) and the waterdish temps will tend to remain more constant and buffer them from the fluctuations.
It also may be electing to use the waterdish just to fell like it can be wedged in something, not necccessarily for the water though.
Perhaps it may need something dry to cram into.
Our IJs tend to go through phases where they like to soak usually starting at about 6 month sof age to a year. As they get older they seem to do it less and less. Perhaps wild IJs assume a semi auqatic way of life when young in search of smaller prey. And later as they grow up,they move to drier areas in search of larger prey like rodents and birds. Who knows.
Good luck!

-Yasser

[Andy_G]

It's not mites, I have checked everything numerous times now. No changes in temp, not even minor changes. One change was that I put a larger water dish in with him a few weeks ago, but I took it out because I didn't like him soaking in it for long periods of time. He stopped using his hides around the beginning of febuary, perching instead.He seems to want out of his cage, could he still be looking for a female? Could he still be acclimating to the switching of the water dishes?