Question for the BRB owners out there. - Where Responsible Reptile Keepers Connect!

Jimbalaya · #1 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 04:08 PM

My little BRB, Sophie is going into her second shed (since I've had her). She shed on the 6th of last month, so I'm looking at pretty much a month between sheds.

For the past few days, she has submurged herself in her water bowl, sometimes for hours. I have worked the graveyard shift for the last two nights and when I get home in the morning (for two days now) she has been in her water bowl, unmoving. I got worried and got her out of there each morning. When I do get her out, she is freezing! It doesn't seem to bother her...I'm just wondering if I should be worried? Is this normal behavior for BRB's?

Right now I've got her draped around my neck to help warm her up before I go to sleep. She didn't act like this with her fist shed and I don't really know if I should attribut this behavior to that. Any advice would be apreciated.

pythonguy21 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 04:52 PM

what is her temps and humidity

what substrate are you using?

ok i keep my brb between 75-80 degrees, the humidty i keep at 80-90%

i use sphagnum moss in her cage it works great wet it a couple times a week, she really never uses her bed because the can burrow in her substrate and has enough humidity.

with brbs being so sensitive i only recommend using sphagnum moss with them. she is really happy with it, i used eco earth one time and she was unhappy. that lasted about two days until more sphagnum moss came in

AbsoluteApril · #3 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 05:33 PM

My BRB used to sit in his waterbowl for days (I had a clear bowl, so it was neat to see him all submerged in there!). As long as the temps in the cage are good, the water should be okay... I kept my waterbowl on the warmer end. I went back and forth with the moss, and in the end, think it is a real benefit for BRBs.

Allysen · #4 (**permalink**) 07-03-2008, 09:47 PM

Do you have a humidity hide for her at all? If you do, or if the rest of the cage is at a high humidity level, I wouldn't worry about the soaking too much as long as she doesn't have mites. Mine do this from time to time, especially when they're about to shed, and they do get out and bask if they get too cold. If she doesn't have any other options for moisture or hiding, then it might be an issue, because snakes can and will make the decision to hide, or be wet over thermo-regulation. Try moving the water to the hot end, providing a few alternative hides packed with damp cypress or moss, and see what she does.