Spotting dehydration and what to do
A lukewarm bath as low-stress first aid
Typical signs
Pronounced wrinkling of the skin, sunken-looking eyes and lethargy can all point to dehydration – for example when an animal is not drinking on its own.
First aid: a lukewarm bath
- Prepare a bath of lukewarm water at around 30 °C.
- Let your animal soak for 20 to 30 minutes – many snakes will drink or take up moisture during this time.
- Return the animal to its vivarium afterwards and let it rest.
A bath is considerably less stressful than administering fluids by hand, which makes it the better first step.
If your animal is lethargic, has noticeably red patches of skin or signs of infection, or if its condition does not improve quickly, please see a reptile-experienced vet immediately.