The Night Time Antics

[Akren_905]

So last night i couldnt sleep at all i dont know why, but i decied to go out in the lviing room to watch tv. When i opened up the bedroom door i seen Arthur my normal male just racing around in his tank. So i sat back and watched its was funny. He went climbed up his sticks, hide behind his leaves, tried to get out, bathed and basked it was all in 30-45M.

Question, they are all nocturnal rite been told but the ones at the store are up all day and moving not in the house like Arthur is. But are they? and is it just a "schedual" each snake has like every dog has a routine?

[kitedemon]

Question, they are all nocturnal rite been told but the ones at the store are up all day and moving not in the house like Arthur is. But are they? and is it just a "schedule" each snake has like every dog has a routine?

If I understand you there is 2 questions here? A ball python that is moving around all day (at the store...) have some issue that is preventing normal behaviour. Ball pythons are nocturnal and a lot of activity during the day points to husbandry issues!

Some ball pythons will be active during the night some stick to a 'schedule of sorts and some do not. 2 of mine 2 or 3 days after feeding will come out around 1am or so and make the 'rounds' climbing or poking around the plants or caves I have in the enclosure. That lasts for a hour maybe a bit more then they often return to hides again. Others it isn't so regular and one or two not al all.

An interesting side line all but one of mine that are in a rack do not explore at all. The explorers with a single exception are in enclosures. P de Vosjoli makes reference to that in his book on keeping snakes. I find that very interesting. I am planning on switching tub snakes for enclosure to see if the tub snakes will start night time explorations after a 3 or 4 month adjustment period.

[TomC]

From what I have seen pet shops do a horrible job of taking care of their ball pythons.

Most of them around here are either not provided with a hide or the hide they have is totally wrong for the snake. In the pet shops I have been to around here they have one ambient air thermometer with no floor thermometers and do not even monitor humidity in the enclosure.

I think the pet shops are more interested in displaying them than in them having the proper living enviroment so their behavior is not normal in a pet shop.

Having said that I am still new to snakes but I have learned enough here to know more than the people that work at my local pet shops.

[jonesy72]

its hard isnt it? not to say something ..this one shop i frequent .i tell them about my snakes .and they kinda get snooty sometimes cause i didnt buy my snakes from them.. but at the same time dont properly house reptiles.. But they do have good rodents.so whats a guy do when they ask you "why dont you buy from us?" we can get whatever you want..I even had too a couple of weeks ago .. tell them that the mouse they had thrown in to be fed. was biting this pastel they had.. Man i hate bad pet shops!!!

[flatsix02]

I'm pretty sure thats normal... My girl is never seen during the day, then again, I work all day. When I get home from work at night (like 7pmish), her head is usually sitting right outside of one of her hides, almost like she's waiting for me to come home. Usually around 12 or so, she's out and about for a while, then goes back to one of her hides within an hour. The only other time I see her out is because she pooped in her hot side hide, and is doing the "dad, clean my home up dance, so I can go back to bed." haha

[ae88weaver]

its hard isnt it? not to say something ..this one shop i frequent .i tell them about my snakes .and they kinda get snooty sometimes cause i didnt buy my snakes from them.. but at the same time dont properly house reptiles.. But they do have good rodents.so whats a guy do when they ask you "why dont you buy from us?" we can get whatever you want..I even had too a couple of weeks ago .. tell them that the mouse they had thrown in to be fed. was biting this pastel they had.. Man i hate bad pet shops!!!

The reptile shop I go to is great actually. The owner was really helpful in choosing what to buy to house my BP and my garter in, he even told me it would be cheaper to make the hides rather than buy from him. He also tells me where I can find better prices on stuff, like bulbs or other items. I always buy my mice from him though because (a) he is the only reptile store around and (b) I know he breeds them and I trust that they are not carrying any parasites and if they are prekilled, I know that he does it in a humane way. I bought my BP from a breeder, which the store owner knew, and he was very supportive of my decision even though I did not buy from his shop. He's offered to help me with my previous snakes and even my BP if I need it. The only complaint I can make is that not all the snakes in his shop have hides, but I'd like to mention that he does handle them regularly, so I guess I'm fortunate to live close to a shop owner who manages his snakes and store so well. I know there are plenty of unsatisfactory store keepers out there but there are the few rare gems lol

[kitedemon]

I believe in supporting local stores if they are responsible some are some are not from what you have said it sounds like yours is doing a reasonable job although it isn't really normal to see to much activity from balls during the day.