Drown in pool?

[red_tail_ale]

I just moved my RTB to her new enclosure, which has a built in pool (basically a sink). Its pretty deep for her size, but she's about to start shedding and went right to the pool.

When I went in to check on her about 5 min ago, she was 100% submerged with about an inch or so of water above her. She was moving around in a circular pattern. I reached in and propped her head out of the water, and she seemed fine (no breathing sounds, open mouth, clicking, etc), but I bailed out some water until she was just submerged with her head out of the sink.

So, I'm curious. Can a snake drown in water that deep? How long can a snake stay underwater like that?

[USMCgunner11]

I'm not sure how long they can hold their breath, but I noticed the same behavior from my 9 month old Colombian RTB. I watched her go completely under the water and started poking around inside her water bowl (like she does when she's actively trying to escape from the tank at night) and then came out on her own.

I left it a little more shallow as you did but she still likes to play in the water every now and then. Something as deep as a sink might be a little more hazardous though. Any pics of your set up would be nice.

[RandyRhoads]

She shouldn't if the sides are sloped enough to guide her out.

[red_tail_ale]

She used to do the same thing when her pool was a large glass bowl. She'd poke around the bottom for a while then come up. I've seen her scale walls before so I have a feeling the metal in the sink wouldn't be an issue, but I don't want to take any chances.

Got some pictures, not the best, dunno how well they show the depth of her pool. Its after I pulled her out and bailed some water.

[USMCgunner11]

I'd say leave it at that depth. It looks deep enough for her to get a decent soaking in

[red_tail_ale]

Thanks. She's a bit bunched up because she got interested in my water bailing,but its still deep enough so she can be immersed.

[Strutter769]

I don't think it's possible to have too deep of water in the sink. (Great idea btw!) If they want to soak, they will coil themselves up tall enough to breathe. I've seen Lucy do it countless times in a 1/2 full bathtub. No worries.

[red_tail_ale]

Thanks Strutter. I know she never had a problem in her glass bowl. Even if she was poking in the bottom the water was low enough she could rest her head on her body and it not be underwater.

Understandably, my first reaction to seeing her in deep water moving at that pace was "Oh GOd! She's drowning!". I'm still a newbie when it comes to snake behavior, and I'm sure if she could climb up my bass guitar and start poking at my posters (as shes doing my avatar) she can get her head above water without my help. Getting her above the water was surprisingly easy, but I'm big on not taking a chance.

BTW, the enclosure was a home project for my uncle, who owned a pet shop from 1985 to 1997. When I couldnt get a good idea for my enclosure, he sold me this enclosure he used to keep his 2 rainbow boas in. I love the new enclosure, and plan to use some of its designs on my 9ft and over enclosure, but I'll definitely use a pool thats more wide than deep.

[Gungirl]

I understand where you are coming from 100% my new royal just went blue and started soaking. I have his humidity at 90% but he still likes to sit in his water bowl for a few hours at a time. I double checked him for mites so I know that it is just the shedding process. However I scared him while walking by and he fully submerged. I wanted to pull him out but I didn't and he eventually came up for air. I kinda started to freak but I didn't. None of my other snakes have ever soaked so its new to me.

[CDN_Blood]

Snake 101 - most snakes will soak in water, they'll submerge for long periods and they may stay in a water basin for days or weeks at a time.

They don't drown unless you do something foolish like put a snake bag in the same tank with a water dish. In that case, the snake can find it's way into the bag, move it around into the water, but not be able to find it's way out. I've seen someone do this, I warned them what could happen and sure enough when they checked on it the next day it had drown, so use your head about the things your put in a snake tank and your snake won't become just another statistic.

They know what they're doing under water, it's instinct, just like it is for us not to breath under water, so don't sweat it :)

[shaunyboy]

I don't think it's possible to have too deep of water in the sink. (Great idea btw!) If they want to soak, they will coil themselves up tall enough to breathe. I've seen Lucy do it countless times in a 1/2 full bathtub. No worries.

^^^^^
i agree with the above

your snake will be ok submerging itself fully under water

i had a rescue jungle carpet with a mite infestation,that used to fully submerge for long lengths of time under water

i wouldn't worry about it,she won't drown

cheers shaun