My Port Macquarie Python has been laying in her water bowl for 2 days....she did this a few weeks ago too and we suspected "Mites"...but i couldnt find any and have completly changed her substrate..(was aspen....now red sand)..also sprayed enclosure for mites(just incase) and she was doing well for a week or so.....i fed her a small mouse yesterday...she seemed to eat with no complications.....then tonight i noticed she has her mouth open and is laying in her water dish ..again...:cry:...what could be wrong???
HELP.....My Port Macquarie look sick!!
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mungus
Very Well-Known Member
Check your temps.
What are they in the hot & cold ends.
She could be laying in the water to cool herself.
notechistiger
Very Well-Known Member
And check to make sure she's not laying in her bowl now because of the sand! I found fine sand to get underneath the scutes of snakes and irritate them so that so that they spend most of their time in their water bowl. Until you change to newspaper that is 
ok...i dont actually have accurate temp guage in her enclosure ...we are in nth queensland and she is kept inside (no aircon)...so avge is around 26-28degrees...she is still in her water dish NOW....would u suggest i put her in another enclosure on paper tonight...and see what she does?......other than her mouth being open..(until i disturbed her then she closed it)..and her lying in her water dish....she is behaving normal...i picked her up and she was still placid as usual .. also i feed her in seperate papered enclosure so i know she wouldnt have swallowed any sand.....
when i had her on aspen she seemed to lay in water dish all the time...which is why i changed her to red sand.....i think you may be right though paper may be best!!
what are the usual reasons for a python having mouth open?
I know laying in water alot is normally a sign of mites...but ive ruled that out...at this stage ill try anything !!!
when i had her on aspen she seemed to lay in water dish all the time...which is why i changed her to red sand.....i think you may be right though paper may be best!!
what are the usual reasons for a python having mouth open?
I know laying in water alot is normally a sign of mites...but ive ruled that out...at this stage ill try anything !!!
notechistiger
Very Well-Known Member
It's quite possible your snake is too hot. Get a thermometer and actually check. They're not expensive.
M
MrBredli
Guest
Get rid of the sand, go back to the aspen.
Do you provide any heat for the snake?
Do you provide any heat for the snake?
BlindSnake
Very Well-Known Member
I agree with the above comments, the first thing you should do is sort out your temps, and provide a paper substrate.
Without having all the details it is a little hard, but if you have suspected mites, treated for it, then seen improvement, and now you are noticing the behavior again, it is possible that the mite problem has reccured.. You need to do several treatments to break the mites reproductive cycle. (If that is infact the problem.. Mite treatments are toxic by nature, and best avoided unless necessary)
Another reason for gapeing (holding mouth open) could be RI. I would suspect other thing first, going by what you have said, but it is worth checking for any poopping or crackling noises. You can also often feel it in the top third of the snake.
To do this, I reccomend loosely holding the snake up, with its head in the vacinity of your ear. Dont fully restrain it. You will need to listen, in a quiet area, for 5-10 mins to be sure, as they will often mask it for a few mins.
Without more info, it is hard to be any more specific.. If your temps turn out to be ok, and you see no signs of RI, would it be possible for you to have someone with experience check the snake for mites or any other probs, and run an eye over your set up??
Without having all the details it is a little hard, but if you have suspected mites, treated for it, then seen improvement, and now you are noticing the behavior again, it is possible that the mite problem has reccured.. You need to do several treatments to break the mites reproductive cycle. (If that is infact the problem.. Mite treatments are toxic by nature, and best avoided unless necessary)
Another reason for gapeing (holding mouth open) could be RI. I would suspect other thing first, going by what you have said, but it is worth checking for any poopping or crackling noises. You can also often feel it in the top third of the snake.
To do this, I reccomend loosely holding the snake up, with its head in the vacinity of your ear. Dont fully restrain it. You will need to listen, in a quiet area, for 5-10 mins to be sure, as they will often mask it for a few mins.
Without more info, it is hard to be any more specific.. If your temps turn out to be ok, and you see no signs of RI, would it be possible for you to have someone with experience check the snake for mites or any other probs, and run an eye over your set up??
Ramsayi
Very Well-Known Member
You really need to know what the cage is doing with regard to temps both day and night.A thermometer is a must have peice of equipment as guessing that the temps are ok just wont cut it.As far as spraying for mites go its always best to do nothing unless there is a problem then treat accordingly.
Snakes soaking in water bowls don't necessarliy mean mites.They can soak if they are too hot,they can also soak if the cage is too cold and the water happens to be warmer than the air.They can also use a water bowl as a hide if they are feeling insecure or if they are coming up to a slough.
Snakes soaking in water bowls don't necessarliy mean mites.They can soak if they are too hot,they can also soak if the cage is too cold and the water happens to be warmer than the air.They can also use a water bowl as a hide if they are feeling insecure or if they are coming up to a slough.
mysnakesau
Almost Legendary
She could be going to shed. My pythons soak in their bowls just before shedding.
The mouth open could be a temperature thing - maybe she is hot?
The mouth open could be a temperature thing - maybe she is hot?
steph
Active Member
we had the same problem with one of our darwins now both of them seem to soak in their water bowl, especially since the heat we've been having in brisbane 31 or 32 degrees and humid too. even when the night time temp is 26 or 28 degrees in their enclosures it seems to be too hot for them at night, yes we checked for mites and were concerned at first but they seem healthy and are feeding so not too worried. from what ive read on snake bedings id get rid of the sand and either use paper or aspen.
Ramsayi if you read this reply could you let me know what temperatures you keep your darwings enclosures at??? mine are 30 degrees at one end and 26 -28 at the other but these pythons seem to like it a bit cooler???
cheers jules and steph
Ramsayi if you read this reply could you let me know what temperatures you keep your darwings enclosures at??? mine are 30 degrees at one end and 26 -28 at the other but these pythons seem to like it a bit cooler???
cheers jules and steph
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