Water Bowl

[LuvMyBoa]

One quick question for the moment... I have a yearling RTB in a 75 gallon aquarium, which I have of course learned through here that it is too big for him, but I did add several more hides.
The environment is in line with the posts here, an many books that I have read, but my question is where should the water bowl be placed in the tank?

I have an UTH on one end, and typically keep the waterbowl on the opposite end of the tank for fear that the heat from the UTH would help breed bacteria, even tho I wash the bowl every 3-4 days. I also move the waterbowl much closer to the UTH when he is getting ready to shed, incase her wants to soak. So, where is the best place to put the waterbowl for my girl? or boy...dunno yet It's name is Kahluah and I have had it for about 9 months.

While I'm at it, I have another question... Kahluah soaked before he shed shortly after he came into my home, and hasn't soaked even once since then. I mist his tank several times daily, keeping the humidity in a good range, but still, the past two sheds, he has retained 1-2 inches of old skin on his tail. Any thoughts on how to help with this? I do make sure to mist him directly several times before a shed because of his tail problem... I've tried to get the retained skin off by swimming him, and working with the tail after that, but there is some at the end I just can't get off of the wiggly little bugger! Any thoughts?

Thanks one and all! Love you, love your site! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
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[XzyluM]

Place the water bowl on the cool side. As for getting the retained shed off, soak the snake for about an hour, the old skin should come off. You can gently use your fingers to get the old skin to slide off after you have soaked him.
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[XzyluM]

Also, it is critical to get the retained skin off of the tail. If the skin stays on there, it will cut the circulation of blood off and the tip of the tail will need to be removed. Also, the water should be changed every day or every other day. Placing it on the warm side would help to increase the humidity only. Just like a human, you would rather have cold than warm water. Same goes for snakes. Hope that helps.
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[LuvMyBoa]

Thanks! That does help! I will try to take care of the retained skin first thing tomorrow! And glad I wasn't TOOOO far off with the water bowl [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]
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[XzyluM]

Anytime. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] Ask away!
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[Stormyva]

Welcome to RH/RTB!
Another thing you can do if you have the room in the cage is one water bowl on each side. In the cages that have two bowls I see the snakes drink from the one on the cool side and then go to the water bowl on the warm side to soak. Unfortunately as the snake gets bigger, the water bowls should get bigger and eventually there is just not enough room to allow the two water bowls.
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[BWSmith]

I have also rubbed som minreral oil on the tail to try to work off retained shed.
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