How to tell if hurt/stuck?

[ballpythonluvr]

I'm not sure what kind of hides you use, but he definitely won't get stuck in these reptilebasics hides. They're smooth and light enough to lift on their back, so you can tell when they've outgrown it.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

I think if you have doubts about the shape of your hide, better to just switch to a new one. Better safe than sorry.

Thank you. You posted the hides I am talking about while I was typing my earlier response to this thread.

[KingWheatley]

Not to be rude but how about using an appropriate hide for Wheatley? I would not use one meant for a lizard.

RIGHT!??!! Petsmart fricken sold it to me saying it would be a great snake hide.... I didn't argue because this was months ago but I'm so MAD.

I was told it was meant for a lizard from my friend who owns a couple bearded dragons and an iguana, as welll as a retic python. She's trying to find a better hide but she said she doesn't think he's stuck but I really think he is right now.... or possibly hurt!

[KingWheatley]

This is it. Not taken today it was when I first started questioning it back a week or so ago when I was refurbishing his tank. It's smooth up all the way but it has sharp edges in the very top I can't fit my camera through. But they look like this



Also I started worrying about this a couple days ago but I have to wait until I get paid, so if he is unstuck, and is waiting out another shed, which might be possible given that he's grown, Ill be switching it out ASAP

But how can you tell if he's really not stuck


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[BPGator]

I think if he got in, he can get out. They're remarkably malleable.

[KingWheatley]

He eats in two days, hopefully the smell of food will coax him out then. Then I'll know for sure and be able to switch it out...

He has a very healthy and strong food response, so I have no doubt that if he can still squeeze out of there, he will definitely do so then... but two days is a really long time to wait...



At this point I'm ready to give in and just toss this tank system I have out and just go with the breeder-go-to of a simple pull-out shelf with paper bedding and plastic box hides/water dishes....

Although when affordable I'll be getting a permanent tank with one of those doors instead of what I have now....

I'll take him to the vet after.


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[amrakweno]

I just stopped back by Lowes and got me a couple more 6" small black plastic flower pots. Before I went and picked up my buddy , I was told he was about the size of a baseball. Well that may be so but he lays more flat in the hide. I originally took about an inch off the top (bottom) but I still feel this is way to tall for him as I've seen several places they like to feel 3 sides of hide against them. So I went and bought a couple more and cut them in 1/2 so they are about 3 " tall and soldered a crawl hole and smoothed edges from cuts. Now I will get home change these out , have the ones hes in now for when he gets a little bigger! They were every bit of a couple dollars and I could cut them to size. If hes bigger than buy the next size up and do the same. Or that link that someone posted a few up seems they have pretty good hides as well for fairly cheap. I'm sure hes not stuck probably just reallllllly comfortable. All the best.

[jbzapanda]

Like BPgator said, they're very malleable. I had a long log which was hollow inside and it acted like a tunnel. Jumbi was never stuck in it, but I could tell he was growing out of it due to some scales being scratched. So I took that out.

If you're really concerned, you can blow dry a mouse and use the scent to lure him out. I just wouldn't risk holding him if he's in feed mode though.

[voodoolamb]

Most sure fire way to know they're stuck is when you catch that scent of decay...

He's probably fine. He just found a nice tight place where he feels safe and secure. He doesnt want to be bothered. The more you mess with him. The more you pick up the hide to check on him the tighter he is going to wedge himself in there.

I worked for a big box pet store and new employees would always put a hide like that in with the snakes by mistake. It was annoying for my inventory accounts but they were fine.

Leave the snake alone for a while. If he isn't out after a week then I might consider carefully breaking open the hide.

And seriously. Get him a proper hide so this doesn't happen again. Flower pot saucers are perfect and cheap.

[KingWheatley]

Most sure fire way to know they're stuck is when you catch that scent of decay...

He's probably fine. He just found a nice tight place where he feels safe and secure. He doesnt want to be bothered. The more you mess with him. The more you pick up the hide to check on him the tighter he is going to wedge himself in there.

I worked for a big box pet store and new employees would always put a hide like that in with the snakes by mistake. It was annoying for my inventory accounts but they were fine.

Leave the snake alone for a while. If he isn't out after a week then I might consider carefully breaking open the hide.

And seriously. Get him a proper hide so this doesn't happen again. Flower pot saucers are perfect and cheap.

I was hesitant before, when Deborah suggested it, and I used a temporary hide and after fixing his husbandry in his tank I had thrown the plastic saucers out. Going for showy because I see a lot of BP owners who use really pretty set ups. Like SuperMaryFace (and her hubby CinnamonToastKen) who met up with Brian. So I assume she knows what the heck she is talking about.


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[voodoolamb]

I was hesitant before, when Deborah suggested it, and I used a temporary hide and after fixing his husbandry in his tank I had thrown the plastic saucers out. Going for showy because I see a lot of BP owners who use really pretty set ups. Like SuperMaryFace (and her hubby CinnamonToastKen) who met up with Brian. So I assume she knows what the heck she is talking about.


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I don't understand... you threw the plastic saucers away because Deborah suggested you use them???

I have no clue who those people are. They sound like weird twitter or youtube handles. I don't understand what them meeting brian (of BHB I assume? And I'm pretty sure he keeps the majority of his animals in simple tub set ups) has to do with their credibility. I once dated a sports medicine doctor. Does that make me an expert on neurosurgery? No. I don't understand why you choose to listen to random youtubers instead of following the advice of established ball python breeders who have dealt with many many many baby balls over the years.

Which isn't to say that you CAN'T have a showy enclosure - but remember showy is for your benefit. Not your snakes. I personally would not put a young hatchling into a pretty open show tank, because juvenile snakes stress easily and the conventional wisdom from the people who have been breeding ball pythons for decades - is that babies THRIVE in small, tight enclosures and really like low profile dark hides.

These snakes love somewhere between 20 and 30 years. There is PLENTY of time for handling and putting them into display tanks when they are adults.

All that said I was at Atlantic zoo and aquarium over the weekend. Guess what I saw in their reptile house? Pretty planted vivs AND a few reptile basics style black plastic hides. They also didn't have juvenile snakes on display either...