Pre-shed soaking?

Norm66 · 12-08-11, 07:25 AM

My JCP, Jerome, has been soaking in his water dish for the past couple days. When I bought him I remember the breeder saying he would be due for a shed fairly soon so I'm assuming that's what this is.

I know it can be a sign of mites, but I've never seen any and he's been home for 3 weeks and just started this behavior, I would think if it was mites he'd have been doing this from the start.

So my real question is how long might this go on and should I be worried that he's on the cool side in water for extended periods? It's 78-80 deg F on the floor of the cool side depending on what time of day it is.

Thanks.

alessia55 · 12-08-11, 07:36 AM

He's probably just getting read to shed. Don't fret unless you see spots in the water after he's done soaking.

Jay · 12-08-11, 07:50 AM

What's the temperature in the warm side ?

Norm66 · 12-08-11, 08:08 AM

The warm side swings from about 88-92 on the floor.

Jay · 12-08-11, 08:22 AM

I would say it's related to the shed if he's already gone blue I would say the shed should happen this week.

MoreliAddict · 12-08-11, 08:25 AM

Double check humidity but I personally wouldn't worry to much until you see how he sheds. I've seen healthy well-shedding jungles soak in the water dish before.

Norm66 · 12-08-11, 08:27 AM

I haven't been handling him and it's tough to see whether he's gone blue or not. I do think he's on his way though because even my wife says he looks duller than he did. I guess I'm just worried about every little thing with him since he won't eat. Of course maybe that'll change after he sheds....

Lankyrob · 12-08-11, 08:42 AM

We find it hard to tell when our JCP is in blue too - jsut check the water for mites and if there arent any leave him be to shed in peace

Norm66 · 12-08-11, 08:53 AM

Thanks everybody. I've been keeping the humidity between 50% and 60% on average the past few days. I even put another water dish in halfway between the warm & cool sides thinking it would stay a bit warmer if he wanted to soak in it. He's ignored it so far. At least it's helping with humidity a little.

shaunyboy · 12-08-11, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm66

My JCP, Jerome, has been soaking in his water dish for the past couple days. When I bought him I remember the breeder saying he would be due for a shed fairly soon so I'm assuming that's what this is.

I know it can be a sign of mites, but I've never seen any and he's been home for 3 weeks and just started this behavior, I would think if it was mites he'd have been doing this from the start.

So my real question is how long might this go on and should I be worried that he's on the cool side in water for extended periods? It's 78-80 deg F on the floor of the cool side depending on what time of day it is.

Thanks.

check theres not been a malfunction at your hot end mate,they will dive into a water bowl if its too hot for them in the tank

it could also be mites

it could be you just have a carpet who likes to soak before a shed.

that said i've never had a carpet soak in its water bowl unless it had mites

a jungle i bought from a shop had mites and it was in its water bowl 24/7 until i treated it

imo if it sheds then still goes back into its bowl,then there may be mites present.check the water bowl for mites,also around the snakes eyes and nostrils

hope you get to the bottom of its behavoir mate

cheers shaun

shaunyboy · 12-08-11, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimthaS

Double check humidity but I personally wouldn't worry to much until you see how he sheds. I've seen healthy well-shedding jungles soak in the water dish before.

carpet pythons have no specific humidity requirements mate

i agree it copuld be a shedding thing

cheers shaun

CDN_Blood · 12-08-11, 09:10 AM

Don't sweat it. They'll sometimes soak for days if they have the means to do so.

Norm66 · 12-08-11, 10:03 AM

I've got thermometers on the floor on both sides. The warm side has, at its highest point been to 92 (per the min/max function). It's surely hotter up on the perch closer to the lights of course but I though the temp should be taken at the substrate. I know carpets have no real humidity needs, but my house is heated by forced air and gets really, really dry so I've been keeping it up between 50% and 60% since he's been in his water bowl. Before I was getting it up to 70% and letting it drop down to 30% or so to keep nasties from growing.

Could mites have not been in evidence but 3 weeks later hatched (or whatever mites do)?

And if I'm to check for mites in the water and he's still in the water do I break my 'hands-off until he eats' thing to check? Hopefully I'll get home today and he'll be obviously in blue or maybe mid-shed or something.

Thanks again for the input.

Kayla90 · 12-08-11, 10:18 AM

I find with my carpets you have to pay attention to their skin colour. Their eyes don't really change colour, they just lose brightness and go a little dull which can sometimes be hard to notice unless you pay a lot of attention to their eye colour from the beginning. So when you notice their whole body colouring is a bit off they are usually in shed.

shaunyboy · 12-08-11, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm66

I've got thermometers on the floor on both sides. The warm side has, at its highest point been to 92 (per the min/max function). It's surely hotter up on the perch closer to the lights of course but I though the temp should be taken at the substrate. I know carpets have no real humidity needs, but my house is heated by forced air and gets really, really dry so I've been keeping it up between 50% and 60% since he's been in his water bowl. Before I was getting it up to 70% and letting it drop down to 30% or so to keep nasties from growing.

Could mites have not been in evidence but 3 weeks later hatched (or whatever mites do)?

And if I'm to check for mites in the water and he's still in the water do I break my 'hands-off until he eats' thing to check? Hopefully I'll get home today and he'll be obviously in blue or maybe mid-shed or something.

Thanks again for the input.

i would break your not handling rule to make sure there are no mites present,mites can cause a snake stress to the point of not eating and defensive biting.it would be good to rule them out

The Life History of Snake Mites | Vida Preciosa International, Inc.

my carpets are at uk room humidity ,which is 40 to 60 % and have no issues

my basking spots are 86f to 90f

it may be a case of a carpet that likes a soak

if you find any full stop sized dots in the water or on the snake,squish them between your finger tips and you will see blood (the way i identify mites)

all the best shaun