my snake loves his new hide...maybe a lil too much

[montie420]

well when i first started with my BP he had a hide that was somewhat translucent and he would use it all the time. but then i made the mistake of lifting it and taking him out of the cage not stoppping to think that the hides are supposed to be their little safe houses from everything and that being yanked from there is probably quite stressful. anyways, he stopped using that hide after i did that a few times.

So i went and bot him a flower pot and cut an openeing for it etc. to offer him a new, darker, hide that he may feel more secure in. but he hasn't come out of it for almost days now. is this abnormal?

[gozetec02]

I think that is perfectly normal. Ball Pythons are "lazy" snakes they are used to being down in rodent dens and love dark places. If you only have one hide in the enclosure I highly suggest getting another one. Ball Pythons need to be hiding no matter where they are in the tank. They are also the type of snake that think every thing is out to get them. If he loves that flower pot then he will love another one on opposite side of the tank.

[montie420]

i would love to put another one it, but at the present moment he is still in a small 15 gallon tank and with his water dish and everything there isn't really much room. i will be upgrading him to a rubbermaid in about 2-3 weeks at which point he will have 2 hides

[JLC]

Yes, as Damien says, it's perfectly normal. And don't feel bad about having to lift the hide to get him out because if you didn't do that, you might never be able to take him out! My gopher snake is the same way. He LIVES in his hide and the only way I get to see him is if I pick it up and take him out of it. When we're done "socializing" I put him back in his tank, and he will often wait until I am out of sight before going back into it....perhaps he thinks if I don't see him go in, I won't know where to find him next time??? LOL

[First_time_herp]

perhaps he thinks if I don't see him go in, I won't know where to find him next time??? LOL

LOL! Maybe.

[montie420]

so it doesn't stress them out too much doing that, taking himfrom his hide?