Stressed or too comfortable?

[Zaenya]

(Reposting in the right thread this time.)
I'm going on my 3rd week now of owning a ball python, and I've noticed a huge change in his habits these past two days.

When I got him, he was constantly tucked into his hide, and I rarely saw him come out. More recently, he's been content to sleep on a branch that's in the center of the cage, straddling the warm and cool sides. Yesterday, he was awake all day and non-stop action. Bumping on the glass, pushing on the screen, falling off said branch (I repositioned it so he wouldn't roll off and hurt himself now), and he was ecstatic to get out of the his cage. He was also very reluctant to go back in when I tried to set him down.

He's only about a month old, and was fed on Friday. He's fed with pk rat pups. He's in a 10 gallon, with zoo-med forest flooring, two hides (on different sides), appropriately sized water dish, and a temperature of 85-90 degrees. I maintain his humidity with a spray bottle and a damp towel. He's also in a very low traffic part of the house.

I've read that balls are usually really shy the first week or so, then they'll spend some time looking for a way out. I kind of expected that, but now he doesn't want to go back into his hide. The only thing I could really equate any sort of stress to would be his humidity. With him being out and about, I can't spray the tank without scaring the bejesus outta him, so I've tried not to. Could a damp towel maintain his humidity levels alone, or is lack of humidity completely irrelevant in this situation?

A shot of the lazy king himself.

[Tannerrrtx]

In this instance I'm going to suggest reptimoss. 3.99 at petco-petsmart
does WONDERS with humidity levels

[Annarose15]

What part of his tank is 85-90 degrees? The hot spot or the ambient temp? Ambient should be 78-80, with the hot spot in the high 80s. If your whole tank is 90 degrees, he's probably hunting for a cooler spot to hang out.

[Zaenya]

What part of his tank is 85-90 degrees? The hot spot or the ambient temp? Ambient should be 78-80, with the hot spot in the high 80s. If your whole tank is 90 degrees, he's probably hunting for a cooler spot to hang out.

His hot spot is 85-90 degrees, but he rarely spends time directly under the lamp. The ambient temperature feels significantly less than the heat the lamp is putting off immediately, and I keep my thermo right under the light (as suggested) so I can monitor the highest temperature in the tank, and make sure he's not being overheated at any point.

I just came back from helping my brother move, and it looks like he's back in his hide, and comfy as usual. I was able to spray his cage again, but I will definitely invest in some of that repti-moss. Living in Colorado, it makes managing humidity an absolute nightmare.

[Zaenya]

Wanted to provide a quick update, and also further concerns.
I'm still not 100% sure if he's comfortable, or if he hates his home beyond belief.

This snake is constantly on the move, but he'll settle down every 5 minutes or so before he's back to life. I invested in some repti-moss, and shifted his hides around a little bit so they were better accessible. I also caught him burrowing this morning, which I read that there are a multitude of reasons for. I've also noticed that he sleeps during the night, on top of his tree branch.
Is it possible that he's not stressed, and he just became diurnal? Should I buy some different hides for him and see if that helps at all? He currently has a half log (don't yell at me) and a dragon head sculpture that's closed in the back. Is this just a personality thing? I don't notice any other alarming signs when I watch him.

[Annarose15]

Get him two snug-fitting, cave-style hides. It sounds like he's roaming and digging because he still doesn't feel secure.

Also, what are you feeding him and how often? He could potentially be hunting for more food to top off the hide concern.

[Zaenya]

Get him two snug-fitting, cave-style hides. It sounds like he's roaming and digging because he still doesn't feel secure.

Also, what are you feeding him and how often? He could potentially be hunting for more food to top off the hide concern.

I feed him rat pups, and I was feeding him every Friday, but I decided to feed him today to see if it would settle him down. He's snuggled up between a hide and his water right now, under the hot spot, so he may have just been hungry. I'll be heading out with my boyfriend later to check out some snugger hides, regardless.

[Annarose15]

I feed him rat pups, and I was feeding him every Friday, but I decided to feed him today to see if it would settle him down. He's snuggled up between a hide and his water right now, under the hot spot, so he may have just been hungry. I'll be heading out with my boyfriend later to check out some snugger hides, regardless.

Depending on his size, you might want to increase to a 5-day schedule or a slightly larger rat. It's hard to say without knowing his weight.

[Greekinese]

Get him two snug-fitting, cave-style hides. It sounds like he's roaming and digging because he still doesn't feel secure.

Also, what are you feeding him and how often? He could potentially be hunting for more food to top off the hide concern.

This ^

My snake is pretty close to Zaenya's and at night he'd cruise all over the place, up on the vines hanging out or craning his neck upwards towards the lid.
He had a half log before and would sit in there during the day curled up, but at night he was very active.

I recently got those cave style hides and he sits in there all day & at night he barely moves around. I only know that he does move because he switched from one hide to the other hehe. I don't get to see him as much as before, but I think he's a happier snake now.

I fed him yesterday when he was inside the hide and he took his dinner inside.
I'm guessing he's never been happier hehe. Here's his room service video:

[Kaorte]

As long as he is eating well, I don't think his behavior is cause for concern. Its warming up outside and a lot of my snakes are more active.

Snugger hides wouldn't be a bad idea