How Long Can A Snake Go Without Water- Signs Of Snake Dehydration

Snake owners often get confused if snakes need water. They have this constant and confusing question of do snakes drink water or how long can a snake go without water. Many may not know that although snakes don’t need to drink regularly like humans or other animals, snakes do drink water or they need water to survive and prevent dehydration.

If you’re wondering how often do snake needs water it totally depends on the type of species and its environment.

But often as they drink too little water that too not very often, the owners get worried about their health. However, it’s better to keep in mind that fresh drinking water is essential for the survival of any snake. Here you’ll be able to know everything about snakes’ water requirements.

Table of Contents

For How Many Days Can A Snake Go Without Water?

As snakes are creepy and hard animals that don’t need to drink water regularly. Although some species of snakes can go weeks and even months without water, it’s pretty safe to not leave them alone without water for more than one week.

If your pet snake has other health issues it will cause degradation, therefore, it’s best to know that the snake can go almost one week without drinking water. But after that, I will need water to stay healthy. Snakes won’t die without the deprivation of freshwater for more than ten days but it can affect their health immensely.

Moreover, if your snake has other health issues that cause frequent dehydration, it’s better to never deprive it of freshwater.

Snakes with scales can stay without water longer than snakes with no scales. Pets snakes that are not exposed to outside rain or ponds need to drink water a little more than wild snakes. As the snakes which are not pets can get water from rain or ponds they won’t get easily dehydrated. Although snakes are known to be warm-blooded animals, the water requirement depends on their type.

Signs Of Snake Dehydration

Snake pet owners are always worried that their snakes would get dehydrated from not having water properly. Even though snakes are hot animals requiring minimal water and food to survive, they do need sufficient water to stay hydrated.

If you’re looking to find out whether your snake has dehydration, you should know what the signs or symptoms tell. Dehydration will go away as soon as it gets water.

Here’s a list of signs your snake will show if it has dehydration.

You may notice a white sticky crust around its mouth. It will have dry and very sticky saliva.
The muscles around the eyes will get drained out of fluid if it has dehydrated. So it may have sunken eyes that would appear to fall into its skull.
Dehydration will cause visible bones because the muscles are dehydrated which further makes the bones and spines under the skin promptly noticeable.
Your snake may lose its energy to stick its tongue out frequently and be interested in the environment.
You’ll also notice a lack of coiling as a sign of dehydration. You may notice that the snake is rarely coiling to lift itself. Instead, it’s lying none reactively.
Pieces of skin stuck around the eyes and incomplete shedding is other symptoms.

How To Make A Snake Drink Water?

Worried about your snake not drinking water for long? You should remember that snakes don’t require drinking water regularly like cats or dogs. But they do require fresh drinking water to stay hydrated and healthy. Although snakes get most of their liquid from their food which can reduce their thirst, it needs to drink water. Snakes also can absorb water to hydrate themselves.

Here are some tips that you can follow to help your snake drink water when it needs it.

It’s recommended that you use a water bowl for your snake to drink water.
However, always make sure that it’s clean. As snakes absorb water through the skin, a clean bowl will help.
Use a large bowl instead of a smaller one which must be large enough for the snake to soak.
You should disinfect your snake bowl twice a month. If the bowl isn’t clean, your snake may not want to soak in it.

Snake Not Eating – An Indication

If you’re wondering why is my snake not eating, you should know that snakes don’t need to eat a large amount of food daily like cats or dogs. But if they’re not eating for a long time or showing no interest in food recently, there may be other underlying causes.

Stress: Snakes don’t like changes and if their environment has changed recently or shifted to a new home, there are pretty good chances that it’s because of the stress of adjusting to a new environment. You have to leave it alone till it gets used to the place.
Humidity or temperature: Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles requiring a warm atmosphere to help retain their appetite and avoid indigestion.

If the enclosure is too cold then it might be because of digestive problems and lethargy.

Pre-shed period: Sometimes when it’s time for skin shedding, snakes refuse to eat. This can continue for days or weeks till the shedding. Milky-looking eyes with pale skin are the symptoms that can make you sure that it’s a pre-shedding condition.
Hibernation period: Some snakes hibernate naturally during cool weather. When they’re hibernating they don’t need food but require water to survive.
Old age: Younger snakes eat more than older ones. Older snakes may need to eat once in two weeks or less.
Privacy and Surrounding: Snakes like to stay in holes and corners where nobody can see them. If they’re left in a relatively open space, it may cause a loss of appetite.

Helping A Snake To Eat

If you’re wondering how long can a snake go without eating, you should know that snakes don’t require to be fed daily or they don’t need water frequently to stay healthy.

But some snakes are just picky eaters and refuse to eat anything. To feed those picky snakes, you can follow these few tips. These tips Will encourage the snake to eat and restore your snake’s interest in having food again. But if these tricks fail, make sure you consult a vet.

You can warm the feeder and then offer your meal to it.
As snakes enjoy playing with their prey, you can also use the trick of playing with their prey, moving it up and down so that the snake can enjoy its food.
You can also try to dangle the feeder above the head of the snake and take it closer to its nostrils or other sensitive areas.
You can also change the scent of its prey to something it likes by wiping it with different prey.
Arrange a sheltered and private cozy spot for your snake.
You can also cut open the feeder to let your snake smell the scent of blood.

Unknown Facts About Snake’s Drinking And Eating

Some facts about snakes related to water and food are not only unknown to many but they’re very interesting too. If you’re a snake owner concerned about your snake’s health, you should know about these unknown facts about snakes and water to have a better understanding of how you can take better care of your snake.

Snakes have a very slow metabolism, especially the ones who ambush their prey.
Many snakes that eat large food like boas require less water. They also have a very slow metabolism compared to the ones who eat small animals and insects.
Although snakes are known as warm-blooded replies requiring less water, many snakes dehydrate more quickly than they’re thought to.
Sea Snakes get dehydrated when it doesn’t rain.
Although sea snakes swim and stay in saltwater, they get dehydrated frequently as they can’t have saltwater.
Even it can die of dehydration after being surrounded by water in the sea.
The fresh rainwater pools in the saltwater on which the snake first lives and then drinks it.
Snake’s scales prevent the loss of water from the snake’s body.
The snakes of deserts can carry water on their back to drink it later, drop by drop at a time.
Brumation snakes don’t need food but they need water to stay hydrated.

Pet Snake Bowl- How To Choose The Right Size?

When snakes drink, they usually guzzle it down. If you’re a pet Snake owner you should know that your snake must have a bowl to drink water from. It not only provides drinking water to the snake but also offers your snake’s enclosure humidity.

You need to choose a bowl made of ceramics for your snake to drink water from it. It gives enough resistance and sensation to it just like it gets it in a hole.

But the most important part of choosing a bowl for your snake is its size. If your snake is bigger, you should go for a quart ceramic bowl for it. You don’t need to buy a larger bowl than 2 Liter for a big snake.

For the snakes smaller in size, you need a bowl that’s big enough to hold at least one-two cups of water.

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Health Issues That Cause Dehydration In Snakes

If your snake is getting dehydrated frequently and more often, many underlying causes may be leading to it. If your snake is showing symptoms of dehydration even after drinking or absorbing water, seek veterinary help.

Often when snakes suffer from blood poisoning they get frequently dehydrated.
When the air in their enclosure is not very moist, they often get dehydrated.
When exposed to dry air while they’re shedding, snakes get dehydrated.
Elderly snakes get dehydrated often when they get diabetes.

Snake’s Survival Length – Lifespan

Wondering how long snake lives as pets? A snake’s lifespan depends on its kind. But compared to other animals snakes live a long life. Although it’s found that snakes who live as pets live longer than the wild ones. The wild ones are often attacked by other animals, or they die due to dehydration or other diseases.

However, pet snakes can live for more than 17 to 18 years.

The pet snakes survive longer than the wild ones, as the wild ones are killed by other attackers. Moreover, the pets’ snakes are taken care of constantly by their owners, they’re given food and water. When the pet snakes fall sick they’re taken care of, unlike the wild ones.

Tips To Follow While Providing Water

Here are some basic instructions that you should follow while providing water to your snake :

Keep your snake’s water bowl in a place where it’s cool.
Avoid placing it near the heater where it can evaporate quickly.
Know about your snake’s level and then place the water for it to soak.
Don’t keep the same water for weeks, but change it every week.

Faqs

1. How do you rehydrate a snake?

Warm up the water for fifteen minutes to place the snake inside it. Close the lid and then the snake soaks itself for 30 minutes.

2. What does a dehydrated snake look like?

Dehydrated snakes look dull and have a wrinkled appearance. They also have dry and flaky skin, with folds.

3. What pet snake has the longest lifespan?

Ball python lives longer than any other kind of snake.

Conclusion

Snakes need to have water once in a week or two. It depends upon its type. But often they get dehydrated which turns them pale and dull. Providing water in bowls can encourage the snake to drink and soak in water and also prevent dehydration. Pets snakes have longer lifespans than wild ones as they’re taken care of and looked after by their owners.

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