Question about slow-worms

Hi,

Yet another question...

Our Boa has for the past 3 days stayed in her/his large waterbowl, with just
her nostrils sticking above the surface. Wondering about this behavior. Is
it normal, is she perhaps getting ready to shed. She's as friendly as usual
and doesn't seem to mind being picked up but when put back in her tank,
she'll go back to lay in the water. We've only had her for about 2 months
now and she hasn't shed yet, so I'm not sure what to expect from her. Our
old Garter we had many years ago, just basically shed her skin with no
different behavior prior to shedding.

Kat
 >> Stay informed about: Question about slow-worms 

"K. Trodglen" wrote in message ...
>Our Boa has for the past 3 days stayed in her/his large waterbowl, with just
>her nostrils sticking above the surface. Wondering about this behavior. Is
>it normal, is she perhaps getting ready to shed. She's as friendly as usual
>and doesn't seem to mind being picked up but when put back in her tank,
>she'll go back to lay in the water. We've only had her for about 2 months
>now and she hasn't shed yet, so I'm not sure what to expect from her. Our
>old Garter we had many years ago, just basically shed her skin with no
>different behavior prior to shedding.

I don't have a boa but I think this is normal behavior. I have seen
them lots of times at the pet shop sitting in the water bowl. It
could be that they are soaking their skin to make it easier to shed.
 >> Stay informed about: Question about slow-worms 

"Poop Dogg" <nospam DeleteThis @nospam.com> wrote in message
news:2cmdnWwf2aWWEYmiXTWJjA@bravo.net...
> "K. Trodglen" wrote in message ...
> >Our Boa has for the past 3 days stayed in her/his large waterbowl, with
just
> >her nostrils sticking above the surface. Wondering about this behavior.
Is
> >it normal, is she perhaps getting ready to shed. She's as friendly as
usual
> >and doesn't seem to mind being picked up but when put back in her tank,
> >she'll go back to lay in the water. We've only had her for about 2 months
> >now and she hasn't shed yet, so I'm not sure what to expect from her. Our
> >old Garter we had many years ago, just basically shed her skin with no
> >different behavior prior to shedding.
>
> I don't have a boa but I think this is normal behavior. I have seen
> them lots of times at the pet shop sitting in the water bowl. It
> could be that they are soaking their skin to make it easier to shed.
>
>

Also i cant comment 100% for this breed, BUT certain snakes if spending a
lot of time, more than usualy in water can be mites or stress, again not
sure on the specie. Lots of snakes in pet shops stay in water out of fear
or stress. But yes a prior shed or good old soak does happen.
 >> Stay informed about: Question about slow-worms 

Kat,

What is the temperature in your boas cage? During some of the hotter
days of summer, some of my snakes head to their water dishes just to
cool off.

Otherwise, it may just be shedding time. Have you noticed the eyes
clouding up prior to the soaking?

Stay safe,
KBC
 >> Stay informed about: Question about slow-worms 

Slow worms are protected in the UK as far as I know.
I know in Exeter (Devon in the SW UK) at the moment the police are involved
as they have found a few mutilated ones, so it is pretty serious.
Daft question - have you asked the RSPCA to see if they can answer your
question .....
Good luck - the slow worms are sooo cute!

Jo (Jon's other (better!) half)
from sunny
Devon!

"fr0glet" <fr0glet RemoveThis @fr0glet.hates.spambots.org> wrote in message
news:vh6232h5a8g1e7@corp.supernews.com...
> "JaJ" <jaj_developer RemoveThis @yahoo.co.uk> wrote...
> > I live in the country and where I live there is a field close by that
> > populated by slow-worms and lizards (as well as other species).
> > However the person who own the field wants to build on the land.
> >
> > From my understand of the Wildlife and countryside act (I think) this
> > is illegal. Is that true or am I wrong in this assumption.
> >
> > Also does anyone know of an organisation that can advice me please
>
> Contact a local Title company and request the customer service department.
I
> work for Chicago Title, our C.S. dept. takes calls of your sort regularly.
>
> Whoever has owned the land in the past has had to stipulate what the land
> was designated for, especially if there is timber on the property. To
change
> that land use requires a stack of legal documents as well as some sum of
> money paid to your state. While this paperwork is in process, it is
> available to the public and you can petition for protection of the land.
>
> Errrrr.... just noticed you're posting from the UK. I have no clue what
the
> land laws are there, so I'd still go for calling a title company but no
idea
> what happens from there. :)
>
> fr0glet
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Question about slow-worms 

We've got a colombian rainbow boa and she spends about half her time in her
water bowl - apparently they like it quite humid and I suppose this
helps....

"K.B. Cunningham" <outlaw301.DeleteThis@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:13045-3F15AA46-67@storefull-2154.public.lawson.webtv.net...
> Kat,
>
> What is the temperature in your boas cage? During some of the hotter
> days of summer, some of my snakes head to their water dishes just to
> cool off.
>
> Otherwise, it may just be shedding time. Have you noticed the eyes
> clouding up prior to the soaking?
>
> Stay safe,
> KBC
>
 >> Stay informed about: Question about slow-worms 

"J" <snakes_boi.RemoveThis@yahoo.co.uk> wrote...
> We've got a colombian rainbow boa and she spends about half her time in
her
> water bowl - apparently they like it quite humid and I suppose this
> helps....

Have you considered making her a moist hide box? My herps *love* theirs. I
use plastic containers (any type will do), cut a herp-sized hole in the
side, and put 2" of moist moss in the bottom. I mist the box about every
other day, and keep it on the hot side of the tank. They spend all their
time in those boxes!

fr0glet
 >> Stay informed about: Question about slow-worms 

Not sure what the exact temperature is in the cage since I don't have a
thermometer. She's out on our screened in porch. We live in Florida and yes
it is hot. She's not in direct sunlight. Don't have her UV lamp on since I
figure that it might be to hot. She's acting as usual, apart from basically
living in her water bowl, with just her nose above the waterline. She's got
a great big doggy bowl as her water dish, that I change the water in every
other day. She's eating as usual (a mouse a week) She's not very old, only
about a foot and a half long. So far she/he (see 'her' as a she, that's why
I say she) hasn't shed since we brought her home, so I'm not sure what her
'normal' behavior is yet. No cloudy eyes. Good appetite, attacks her food
the same second I drop it in front of her. Good natured, regardless of if
she's hungry or has recently eaten. Will get a thermometer tomorrow and
measure how hot it is in her cage.
Thank you for your reply

Kat




"K.B. Cunningham" wrote:
> Kat,
>
> What is the temperature in your boas cage? During some of the hotter
> days of summer, some of my snakes head to their water dishes just to
> cool off.
>
> Otherwise, it may just be shedding time. Have you noticed the eyes
> clouding up prior to the soaking?
>
> Stay safe,
> KBC
>
 >> Stay informed about: Question about slow-worms 

It all depends...it could be something as simple as preparing for it's
Ecdysis (shed), or as others have mentioned, it could be the environment
(cage) is too hot. Snakes, being ectothermic, will make ready use of a water
bowl/dish to regulate their body temps.

The cage could be too dry (lack of humidity), or it could be a sign of mites
as well.

Mites aren't easy to see on most Boids due to their coloration, but you can
check their water bowls. Look for little red or black specks in the water
dish...they will look similar to small aphids (that's as best as I can
describe them in words)...on the bottom of the water dish.

Note: Look vary carefully, as if you are using "CareFresh" as a substrate,
it does contain black "flecks" that could be mis-identified as mites.

Good Luck!

~Wade

"K. Trodglen" <hass8199.DeleteThis@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:MWKQa.2380$r35.1256@fe03.atl2.webusenet.com...
> Hi,
>
> Yet another question...
>
> Our Boa has for the past 3 days stayed in her/his large waterbowl, with
just
> her nostrils sticking above the surface. Wondering about this behavior. Is
> it normal, is she perhaps getting ready to shed. She's as friendly as
usual
> and doesn't seem to mind being picked up but when put back in her tank,
> she'll go back to lay in the water. We've only had her for about 2 months
> now and she hasn't shed yet, so I'm not sure what to expect from her. Our
> old Garter we had many years ago, just basically shed her skin with no
> different behavior prior to shedding.
>
> Kat
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Question about slow-worms 

Thank you for your reply.
Examined her bowl but no red or black specks at all. Going to measure the
temp in her cage tomorrow to see if it's to warm. Don't think that it lacks
humidity since she's outside on the screened in porch and we are in Florida.
If it would be a case of mites, what do you give them to rid them of them?
Or would I need to take her to a vet? What type of bedding is best for a
Rainbow Boa?

Kat



"Slither Factory" <slitherfactory.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:51pTa.112031$GL4.29555@rwcrnsc53...
> It all depends...it could be something as simple as preparing for it's
> Ecdysis (shed), or as others have mentioned, it could be the environment
> (cage) is too hot. Snakes, being ectothermic, will make ready use of a
water
> bowl/dish to regulate their body temps.
>
> The cage could be too dry (lack of humidity), or it could be a sign of
mites
> as well.
>
> Mites aren't easy to see on most Boids due to their coloration, but you
can
> check their water bowls. Look for little red or black specks in the water
> dish...they will look similar to small aphids (that's as best as I can
> describe them in words)...on the bottom of the water dish.
>
> Note: Look vary carefully, as if you are using "CareFresh" as a substrate,
> it does contain black "flecks" that could be mis-identified as mites.
>
> Good Luck!
>
> ~Wade
>
> "K. Trodglen" <hass8199.DeleteThis@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
> news:MWKQa.2380$r35.1256@fe03.atl2.webusenet.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > Yet another question...
> >
> > Our Boa has for the past 3 days stayed in her/his large waterbowl, with
> just
> > her nostrils sticking above the surface. Wondering about this behavior.
Is
> > it normal, is she perhaps getting ready to shed. She's as friendly as
> usual
> > and doesn't seem to mind being picked up but when put back in her tank,
> > she'll go back to lay in the water. We've only had her for about 2
months
> > now and she hasn't shed yet, so I'm not sure what to expect from her.
Our
> > old Garter we had many years ago, just basically shed her skin with no
> > different behavior prior to shedding.
> >
> > Kat
> >
> >
> >
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Question about slow-worms 

With wet moss, watch for mold or mildew! But they do love it!

CyberWraith

"fr0glet" <fr0glet.RemoveThis@fr0glet.hates.spambots.org> wrote in message
news:vhjgip92met59e@corp.supernews.com...
> "J" <snakes_boi.RemoveThis@yahoo.co.uk> wrote...
> > We've got a colombian rainbow boa and she spends about half her time in
> her
> > water bowl - apparently they like it quite humid and I suppose this
> > helps....
>
> Have you considered making her a moist hide box? My herps *love* theirs. I
> use plastic containers (any type will do), cut a herp-sized hole in the
> side, and put 2" of moist moss in the bottom. I mist the box about every
> other day, and keep it on the hot side of the tank. They spend all their
> time in those boxes!
>
> fr0glet
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Question about slow-worms