Burm stays in water...

[tankyou]

Hey, is it bad my burm likes to just stay in water all the time? He is 9.5'. I have a heater in the water but he stays there constantly. Is it healthy or can it hurt him? His eyes are beginning to haze like he is about to shed.
Thanks a bunch for any opinions...

 

[Oddball]

From just the info in the opening post, I'd assume he's soaking to aid in his shed. Either that or the heated water is warmer than the overall warmth of the tank and he prefers the warmer water.
BTW, does his enclosure have a mite block? There's always the chance he's using the water to reduce an itching pest problem.

 

[walls]

IME when I big snake has a mite problem it is VERY easy to detect so I dont think that is the problem. Burms like water, and the fact that he is in shed and the water is heated he is most likely just soaking.

I would check the ambient temp of his enclosure and the temp of the basking site. Also check the humididty level in the cage. I would also check the temp of the water, I have been keeping large boids for over 20 years and have NEVER heated the water container. I dont think it is necessary and depending on what kind of heater you are using it can be dangerous to the burm or even you if your snake breaks the heater under water.

How long has he been in the water?
Does he come out to dry off at all?

Skin blisters can become a problem but its not likely unless the snake has no way of COMPLETEY drying off.

 

[Z Trip]

Very healthy, give it lots of swimming space.

 

[fote03]

I don't think you should heater the water just change it daily and give him warm fresh water. My burm loves to swim. If his eyes are hazing over than he is about to shed and that might be more of the reason he is in the water. But it also might be due to the fact that the water is warmer than the rest of his tank. One of my old burms would stay int he tub of water for hrs but would always come out and dry off so i never worried about it. Post some pictures of your burm and its cage? And take some temps and find out if you need to heater the rest of the cage better. TAKE OUT THE HEATER.

 

[Brooklynella]

Sounds like he's going to shed.

 

[tankyou]

Hey guys, thanks.

Well, he stays in the water constantly since placing him in his new enclosure which I am almost finished building. I have one more area of wood to attach. Up until last week, he has been in a 40 gallon terrarium. And the only occasion Titus had to swim was when I let him play in the bathtub. So maybe it is the fact he has 100 percent acces to become submerged is why.
I will be getting a temp and humidity gauge soon, but the temp of the water is around 85 degrees so maybe that is why he stays in there?

I built this enclosure by sealing off an area under my stairs in my house. Wifey allowed me too as long as it costs less than a hundred bucks.
Almost done and still trying to decide how to design his new home. Whatever I do, it has to be easy to clean when appropriate. His new "pool" is a $10 rubbermaid container that you slide under the bed for now.
Dimensions of enclosure: 68"W x 58H x 50Deep. Still a work in progress but could not wait to let him start enjoying it.

PICS

 

[Gary1984]

I'd take out the heater, it is not required.

 

[tankyou]

The heater is placed behind the standard ceramic floor tile placed in the back to keep him away from the heater. Here is a couple of other pics of Titus. He has been an added addition to my family. Is handled virtually everyday and has never tried to bite or lash out, hiss or nothing. I am always cautious when extracating him out the cage though. Once he is out he is fine and loves to just cruise around the room and stretch out. Titus was born around the end of 2005.

 

[Brooklynella]

No doubt you are aware that Burm's get very large. Keep handling him often so he stays nice and relaxed, especially since you have kid(s) running around the house. Also, if you have a cat, be very careful not to put them both in the same room together.