Water

[vangarret2000]

I am leaving on vacation for a week next week. Would it be ok to leave a couple of my snakes without water during that time? It don't happen often but sometimes a couple of them dump their water. I got a guy looking after my stuff while I am gone but if the water got dumped he isn't comfortable handling my bigger snakes.

[Trevor367]

No, it's not ok to go a week without water.

[GONESNAKEE]

Actually they would probably make out just fine as long as they are all healthy adult snakes & you ensure they are well hydrated prior departure.
Got to take into account we are talking about snakes NOT mammals here.
Some of the snakes listed likely do not even drink water but get it solely from their prey such as the Sand Boa for an example of such.
Many species of desert snakes are kept year round by folks without water EVER being offered & rely solely on prey for it just like in the wild.
Snakes such as the CK in the wild will brumate yearly as well & there is no source of fresh water in the holes they climb down into sometimes for months on end.
Their metabolisms of course are slowed considerably but a week is not long for a snake.
Snakes being exported & shipped from other countries go for a week without water all the time.
I'd ensure their temps are left on the low side while away & maybe have their dishes there still so buddy can fill them just a little bit maybe halfway thru the week, but I think they would probably make out OK as long as they are all offered a nice fresh drink ASAP once you are back.
Preference being to always having it offered of course, Mark

[TryBallPythons]

I agree with Mark. In the summer I go back to Ontario for between 7-12 days, and fill up their water dishes before leaving. I also turn down the heat to decrease evaporation, and use heavy water dishes that they cannot knock over. From my experience even being gone 12 days there was still about a 1/4 of the water left over. I have never had to worry about water dishes tipping over, however like I said I use very heavy dishes with all my snakes. The only one I have some issues with is my Het Albino BP, who likes to "go swimming" and tends to drench her cage. For her I just use several layers of paper towel to soak up any spills that may occurr while I am gone.

Never had an issue, and I have been doing this for 4 years now. My other animals on the other hand either get misted every other day, or someone comes over to clean the water dish every other day (My Frilly). Plus they get fed accordingly (my tarantulas will typically go the full time without food while my frilly eats every other day during this time).

Just my own personal experience.

Rob

[tegu_man]

when I go away it's usually between 3-7 days I fill the dishes and feed heavy for a couple days prior and then leave water dishes full and forget about them. I have large water dishes in all my enclosures so I never have them dry when I get back. also I use no tip disnes so no worries about that happening. flared dog water dishes with flat bottoms work well or those blue and brown clay dishes work well too.

[GONESNAKEE]

Snakes of course are better not to be fed right prior a trip, unlike the lizards.

On the dishes in addition to "no tip" they also need to be large enough so that if the animals submerge themselves in them they do not displace the water out of them while doing so.
In the case of a big snake some dishes can only be filled like 1/3 to 1/2 full to prevent displacement & many folks of course do not provide dishes large enough for soaking so total displacement is always a factor thus why dishes large enough to soak in SHOULD always be provided IMHO
Even "no tip" dishes can still be easily dumped by large animals content on "remodelling" LOL
Todays tidbits, Mark

[tegu_man]

I think ideally a large pond for soaking should be provided, HOWEVER, in a situation where humidity is not a problem it's not completely necessary. also a humid hide is an alternative to a soaking tub. if you do feed before leaving snakes alone a temp drop is not a good idea, I see no reason not to feed before leaving if you don't drop temps.

[GONESNAKEE]

I think ideally a large pond for soaking should be provided, HOWEVER, in a situation where humidity is not a problem it's not completely necessary. also a humid hide is an alternative to a soaking tub. if you do feed before leaving snakes alone a temp drop is not a good idea, I see no reason not to feed before leaving if you don't drop temps.

^Ditto^ except in the case of Colubrids where if fed prior being left alone for a week its a given you will come home to a HUGE mess LOL
IMHO its better to have them hungry for a week or so then living in their own filth (smeared everywhere), specially those apt to crap in their water as many Colubrids tend to do. Boids on the other hand MAY have a bowel movement, Colubrids its a given they will have multiples, Cheers Mark

[tegu_man]

lol, true that.

[vangarret2000]

Thanks for all the advice guys.