is this normal???

[tc195]

my red tail boa has been soaking none stop for the past three days. do they normaly do that?

[SherriX2]

Mine did a few days before he went in the blue

[Predaking]

He is about to shead...My Ball Python Just past the blue eye stage...so mabey in a day or two she would shead..

[tc195]

i hope yall are right.

[RepGuru]

Hiya,

There are three reasons for this behavior.

1. Simply too hot - check temps and humidity

2. coming up to shedding time

3. unwanted friends!!

The latter is not nice but is unfortunately not something that many herp owners consider. Take a really close look at your animal. Mites are not too difficult to detect and must be dealt with IMMEDIATELY. If this is the case - and I in no way am trying to put the frighteners on - you will need a potent medication (usually powder) for mites, but will need to thoroughly cleanse all areas, particularly housing areas of every reptile you own. Mites spread easily and quickly and will cause a slow miserable death if not dealt with.

DO NOT PANIC!! - 99.9% chance it's a simple pre-shed, but you are now armed with the info just in case for the future.

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[tribalsnake]

Three days seems a bit long, a previous poster touched on mites as a possibility. I would suggest remove your snake from the water bowl and look in the bottom of the bowl for mites. They will appear as black dots in the water, almost look like someone sprinkled pepper in the water.

If after taking it out and inspecting the water and you do see mites, you will want to treat asap. Even if your boa was coming into shed, a successful shed will be compromised if there is a mite problem.

It would be priority to deal with this issue first, if mites are the case.

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[tribalsnake]

Here is what you will need to get if you have mites. It is a spray called provent-a-mite. you will remove your boa from cage, remove water bowl, and follow directions on can. Spraying everything in cage, substrate. Ventilate enclosure well until spray has dried and vapors dissapate replace snake and water bowl (after it has been washed and rinsed good). Usually within an hour after spraying.

You should be able to find this at most pet stores. It is truly the one product I have personally witnessed 100% solution to mites. You can do a search in this forum also for mites, if you can not aquire PAM.

It is also a good idea to purchase Reptile Relief for your snake, a mild spray you would put on a cloth and rub your boa down before returning to treated enclosure. Also find at pet stores.

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[EricIvins]

Why would a shed cycle be compromised if the animal had mites? Shedding is one of the ways for these guys to get rid of external parasites....... Which may help if you catch it physically shedding and your able to pull the animal before the mites saddle back up.

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[tribalsnake]

Originally Posted by EricIvins

Why would a shed cycle be compromised if the animal had mites? Shedding is one of the ways for these guys to get rid of external parasites....... Which may help if you catch it physically shedding and your able to pull the animal before the mites saddle back up.

EricIvins...Your information is correct .

To answer your question; shed problems, from the stress may be linked to a post mite infestation, many animals have allergic reactions to insect bites and can have secondary problems from infestations.

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

[cb76]

Tru!

[tc195]

ive tried looking for mites in the water bowl but she brings in so much substraight in with her its hard to tell if theres mites in there.

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks