Dehydrated Ball Python

When a ball python's body lacks sufficient water then your ball python becomes dehydrated, and dehydration can result in a whole host of health problems such as lethargy, stuck sheds, weight loss, etc. Dehydration can be caused by an overall lack of water in the body.

When it comes to ball pythons, dehydration is a very serious problem if it is not treated as soon as possible; if you disregard Dehydration in ball pythons, your ball python will die; therefore, pet owners who are familiar with the signs of dehydration in ball python can prevent their ball python from dying. We provide all of the information about Dehydration in ball pythons in this article. Please make sure you read it carefully so that you are able to prevent your ball python from dying.

How do I know if my Ball Python is dehydrated?

Ball python owners are often concerned that how they will know when their ball python will suffer from dehydration and how they will know this. In order to know the signs that your ball python may suffer from dehydration, you will need to read the below symptoms.

When wrinkles appear on their skin,
Sunken and damaged eyes
When they have constipation
Food was refused by them
When they become sluggish or lethargic
Having trouble shedding
Rapid weight loss.
Weakness
Their skin becomes flaky and dry
The mouth and tongue become dry.

How long can a Ball Python live without water?

A healthy ball python can survive without water for up to 12 days, but a hatching ball python can normally survive only for a short period, but if you feed it plenty of moist food, it may be able to live much longer.

The ball python will become shut down if it is not supplied with water, its body functions will stop and its body organs will fail, which will lead to their death, therefore keeping them hydrated is a must so they will function properly.

Does a Ball Python need water to survive?

As a matter of fact, ball pythons need water to survive, they use water for drinking, shedding their skin, regulating their body temperature, and many other things. Without water, they become dehydrated and can suffer serious health problems or even die if they do not have access to water.

Why does my Ball Python become dehydrated?

In many cases, ball python owners have questions about the reason behind their ball python's dehydration. Below, we will provide some reasons ball pythons may experience dehydration, which is given below.

When the tank temperature is high

If the temperature in the ball Python enclosure is too high, it will cause the enclosure to be very hot. This will cause the ball python to lose a lot of water, resulting in dried and wrinkled skin due to the lack of moisture in their body.

If the tank humidity is incorrect

As a result of inaccurate humidity levels in the ball python enclosure, the air behind the tank becomes dry, which is a condition that leads to the ball python becoming dehydrated. Balls require a constant humidity level of 60 to 80% to start becoming hydrated.

If you don't provide water to the Ball Python

If you fail to provide water to your ball python on a daily basis, your ball python can become dehydrated which can lead to compaction and indigestion in the python. It is important that you provide fresh water to your ball python to avoid dehydration.

Additionally, ball pythons can suffer from dehydration when they are kept in an unclean environment, when they are infected with parasites, etc.

Is it possible for a Ball Python to die from dehydration?

Yes, it is possible that if you ignore dehydration in a ball python, then the ball python may also die due to dehydration.

Other health issues may occur to the ball python as a result of dehydration, which is listed below.

Failed kidneys.
Shedding problem.
Sock
Infection of the respiratory tract.
Having trouble passing waste.
Eye infection
Disabilities in hearing
Digestion problems

What can you do to prevent your Ball Python from dehydrating?

It is common for ball python owners to ask what they can do to prevent their ball python from dehydrating, so below we have provided a list of some tips you need to follow in order to prevent your ball python from dehydrating.

There should be regular monitoring of the humidity levels of the ball python tank and an optimal humidity level in the enclosure should range from 60 to 70%.
You will need to keep the ball python enclosure at an optimal temperature because if the temperature of the ball python enclosure is too high, then there is excess heat inside the ball python tank that can cause it to dry out and cause the ball python to become dehydrated.
For the enclosure of your ball python, it is important that you use the right substrate which minimizes the chance of dehydration and has an extremely high moisture content, such as coco husks and sphagnum moss.
It is recommended that you mist your ball python's enclosure regularly with fresh, clean water up to two times a day. This will prevent dehydration of your ball python.
It is always recommended that a dish of fresh water is kept in the enclosure of the ball python and that the water is changed on a daily basis.
As a rule, you should always make sure that you place a dish of water on the cold side of the tank since the water on the warm side will evaporate faster than on the cold side
A hygrometer should be used for measuring humidity and a thermometer should be used for measuring temperature in the enclosure where ball pythons are kept.

Buy a Reptile Thermometer Hygrometer from Amazon.

What are the best methods for rehydrating your Ball Python at home?

It is not necessary for you to visit a vet if your ball python suffers from mild dehydration. You can rehydrate your ball python at home by following the three methods below.

Put the ball Python in warm water

The first method for rehydrating a ball python at home is to soak it in warm water for a few minutes. For this, please follow the steps below.

Select a tub of the appropriate size with a hole-cut locking lid.
Add water to the tub.
After that, warm the water to 85 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit
After that, place your ball python in warm water for no longer than 20 minutes.

Mist inside your Ball Python enclosure

A spray bottle filled with clean water at room temperature should be used and you should spritz inside the enclosure of the ball python twice a day as this can help to keep them hydrated.

Prepare the Ball Python meal by soaking it in water

In order to keep your ball python hydrated, you can immerse its food in lukewarm water for more than 1 to 3 seconds before feeding it. This method will help your ball python retain extra water.

When should I take my Ball Python to the vet when it is suffering from dehydration?

If you feel that the dehydration of your ball python has become severe, and the above rehydration treatments have not been effectual within a few days, then you should take your ball python to a veterinarian for further treatment.

There are various types of treatment options that your vet may use in order to rehydrate your ball python depending on the severity of the dehydration. As an example, the vet may confine your ball python in a humidity chamber or use fluid therapy to rehydrate the pet temporarily.