Odd behavior

[sarahlovesmiike]

My adult male, Zeus, seems to cruise around his tub all day and hide all night, whereas my adult female, Louise, stays hiding all day and maybe comes out for a drink at night. Is this normal?


Also, after about a three month fast we switched him to a tub he took two live small rats and now I can't get him to take anything and he's missed three feedings. I'd really like to get some weight on him soon, he's looking triangular... Any suggestions?

[muddoc]

If your male is truly an adult (i.e over 3 years old), it is possible that he doesn't need any more food, and no matter what you do to him, he may not eat. I have quite a few males that only eat 3-5 meals per year, and are involved in active breeding programs.

As far as his behavior, I don't know for sure, but I would recommend double checking the temps in his cge (especially if the hide is over the hot spot). It sounds to me like he may be too hot, and is cruising looking for a cooler place to rest. In a typical snake room, or household, the ambient temperature is warmer during the day (thus raising the hot spot temp), and cooler at night (thus reducing the hot side temp). It may be that during the evening, the hot spot is cooler, and much more to his liking. That is just my theory, but snakes are as individual as humans, and this may not be the expolaination at all. However, I do think it is worth investigating.

[Kaorte]

Since ball pythons are nocturnal, hiding during the day and moderate cruising at night is what you should see.

How long has he been in the tub?

[sarahlovesmiike]

He was in a 34qt for a month but we bumped him up to a 40qt because he kept smooshing his head between his hide and the wall of the tub. He's been in the 40qt for about two weeks now. He doesn't seem stressed but he is used to being a 55 gallon tank, but even then with two hides he stayed out most of the day.

I find if I lower his hot spot to about 89* he goes and hides after a while, but it gets too cold in here at night to leave it that low all the time.

[Faber]

My snake is also very active, sometimes i figure because he's "hunting" so ill feed him, but others im not really sure, he likes to keep his head outside of his hide but the rest of his body inside. I keep his warm side at about 90 and his cool to about 70 because i cant raise it any higher and his water bowl keeps it cooler

[BigBlue56]

He was in a 34qt for a month but we bumped him up to a 40qt because he kept smooshing his head between his hide and the wall of the tub. He's been in the 40qt for about two weeks now. He doesn't seem stressed but he is used to being a 55 gallon tank, but even then with two hides he stayed out most of the day.

I find if I lower his hot spot to about 89* he goes and hides after a while, but it gets too cold in here at night to leave it that low all the time.

Perhaps putting the heat elements on a dimmer or even better, a timer so that it automatically goes down to 89 during the day, and higher at night?