Sitemaps

Why does our snake sleep in its water AND when, for how long, and how should it hibernate2007-11-24 2:04:54

continue to feed your snake as ussual.

good luck and enjoy.

---

if a snake curls up in its water for a couple of days it might be because it is getting ready to shed.if its eyes look cloudy and scales look pale then it is getting ready to shed. laying in water helps them soothe the shedding process and make the process more comforting. a snake usually decides on its own when it wants to hibernate but it is up to you when you want to prepare it..it will be less active obviously and its appitite will decrease. what i suggest is that depending on the snake to continue to feed it.if you feed it pinkies or whatever maybe put one in there and see if it will eat it ..if it doesnt then take it out and if it does then continue on a feeding schedule but maybe a little less frequent then its normal schedule.i hope this helps and good luck

---

They will often soak in their water bowls to help out with shedding. However doing this long term CAN cause skin problems. Extensive soaking can also be due to a mite infestation (trying to drown them). I would check for small black or red bugs. And make sure the temperatures in the tank are alright.

As far as "hibernation" (more accurately called Brumation), there is no need to brumate captive reptiles unless you plan to breed them the following spring. A yearly cooling is often needed for reproduction, however, if you don't know exactly what you are doing, it can actually be harmful to the snake's health. Many, many snakes live long and healthy lives without ever having been brumated.

---

mine does the same thing. the water provides necessary moisture for proper shedding. keep the cage temp around 85 to90 during the day and no lower than 70 at night. hibernating is not necessary in captivity but many snakes internal body clock will slow down their metabolism and eating habits. go to kingsnake .com for more care sheet info.

---

Your snake is probably hanging out in his dish to get his skin more moist. This helps him shed it all in one piece, and it's GOOD for him! You might even want to mist/spray him with warm water (just one or two squirts), but it seems like he's doing what he should to take care of himself. You can find some information about him here:

http://www.anapsid.org/king.html.

Good Luck!

---

Whatever you do don't take it's water away. Snakes need the water to help with shedding as they grow, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it soaking all day. Maybe look up what the humidity level's supposed to be in the tank online and try fixing it if it's off, that can make a difference.

As for hibernation, the snake will hibernate on it's own, you wont need to 'put it up for hibernation'. check out repticzone.com, it's the best site I've found for snake info and it'll tell you more about humidity and hibernation.