Oiling snakes?

[Sylvias]

I was just reading a question on Iherp about oiling snakes. This person was talking about how they do it everytime they bathe their snakes...which is apparently on a regular basis and they were asking what kinds of oils other people use....
does anyone here oil their snakes??? i have never even heard of that before.

[Donnie_K]

absolutely not. These animals shed their skin and are brand new once a month. Maybe they're having problems with dry skin and bad shed? usually a humidity issue there. I have heard of people trying to use baby oil to kill mites and having the snakes scales flake off when they do this. Come on people, ya'll don't need to "oil" your snakes...

[Sylvias]

yeah thats what i was thinking, she was talking like she does it all the time and asking others what types of oils they use and how often they do it like it's completely normal! I was just kinda like...what? are you serious??

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

I've heard this as well and usually it's people being uneducated and just reading what other people or listening to people's advice.  It is usually to do with the humidity levels being off but either way, it's not really a good choice for them in my opinion.

[LadyBloodRose]

the only oil i have ever used on a snake or any reptile fo rthat mater was when i would get one in that had a bad mite infestation. The oil suffocates the mites. But as far a using it like we would   after abath etc. no way.

[collins]

i knew someone who had mites on there boa so they would bath it and then dry it off and rub extra vergin olive oil on it and it was a temporary fix but the mites would come back and it affected the shed of the snake it would have alot of shed on it or it would flake off so i agree it is crazy to oil a snake. pluss i think it would be hard for it to kill its food beeing all slick

[LadyBloodRose]

i knew someone who had mites on there boa so they would bath it and then dry it off and rub extra vergin olive oil on it and it was a temporary fix but the mites would come back and it affected the shed of the snake it would have alot of shed on it or it would flake off so i agree it is crazy to oil a snake. pluss i think it would be hard for it to kill its food beeing all slick

In the past when I have had to dealw ith it the infected snakes wouldn't eat because they where so irritated by the mites. I never had an issue with reoccurances after using the oil or any issues with a shed  gues si'm just lucky like that.

[Brandon]

i made a post bout it jokein bout oiling ur snakes but heres what i really think bout it


i dont see the reason to oil ur snakes i never heard of such a thing i dont really know what to think of it i personally think its not good for the snake i think considerin the oil would go though the snakes scales it will do damage to the snake or possible kill it i would never oil my snakes if you wanty the humidity to be right just ask donnie what to do or do what he told me to do put saran wraps on the screen and tape or duck tape

[snakelady456]

The only time and the only oil i have put on my snakes is vegy oil and it was when i got my boa she brought me mites. I only put it around there eyes and head on under there neck. And that was because i didnt feel right spraying the mite-off on and around there face. But other than that I would never put oil on my snakes they dont need it. Do you think the snakes in the wild use oil? I know stupid ? but come on lol thats just crazy and that person is uneducated. My 2 cents