Should I bathe the snake?

[bulrush]

My garter is getting stinky even though I keep his cage clean. I noticed it when I was holding him. Should I bathe him in warm water? Or should I get a bowl big enough for him to curl up in, and fill it with water and put it in his cage?

Thanks.

[Stefan-A]

Stinky, how?

[larean]

Are you sure he is not just 'musking'?
Although I must say I've never actually experienced one of my garters doing it...I guess I'm lucky

[Stefan-A]

If it's not musking, then it can be something serious. But the snake doesn't need a bath, unless the smell really is caused by a filthy enclosure.

But the snake should already have a water-filled bowl big enough for the snake to curl up in.

[larean]

By the way, I would personally always have a bowl the snake could lie in completely. For any snake, but especially for a garter, since they are semi-aquatic, or at least live near water in the wild.

[Zephyr]

Sometimes wild caught snakes come with an "odor." My theory is that they may "roll" through their feces a bit, to help discourage predators. Also, if the snake musked you when caught, it may still have the smell.

[Snake lover 3-25]

i bathe mine after they eat and feed tham in a seperate enclosure..... maybe their food is causing the smell???

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

that would be pretty hard for a 12' python though

By the way, I would personally always have a bowl the snake could lie in completely. For any snake, but especially for a garter, since they are semi-aquatic, or at least live near water in the wild.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

that would be pretty hard for a 12' python though

Nah, its not as hard as you think... when I was vending at the hamburg show, at the end of the day, I had this BIG plastic container that I did not have room to take home because of the new snake racks... I asked if anyone wanted it and a guy said does it hold water... I said yea... why? "oh im just gonna use it as a water dish for my 14 foot anaconda"

LOL water "dish"

[Snake lover 3-25]

OMG!!!!!!! is it even legal to OWN an ANACONDA!!!!!!!???????????? esp one that's 14 ft long?????!!!!!! where would he put it??????