New Ball Python Exploring for Hours

[Cyndymei]

I finally got my ball python Kaa today and he has been exploring around his tank for a few hours now. At the pet store he rarely moved from his "habba hut hide".

I got a new one in the same size for him as well as a cave that fits him just right, but he seems content to either lay outside of them or try to get out of his cage when I go up to it.

Should I just continue to leave him be? He seems more interested in me than hiding. As for his parameters his cool side ranges from 80-82F and his warm side is at 90F which he has flattened himself over at the moment. The humidity has jumped from 50% to 77% over 4 hours which I am assuming will fall back down overnight. The housing is a 40gallon breeder Zilla Critter Cage.

My question is, is this normal behavior for a new snake in a new enclosure? He doesn't appear to be stressed. My other question is, if he is hungry what size food should I be feeding a 538g snake? I asked the pet store people what they fed him and they said "mice" and showed me rather small mice. They said he eats two a week, should I move up to a small rat perhaps?

Here is a picture of him drinking as a thank for your help!

[KMG]

Sounds normal to me. Many of mine check out their cage every time they are put back in after a good cleaning or a rearranging.

You could switch to rats but it might be a better idea to continue feeding mice for a few feedings so it settles in to its new home. With that I'm not saying you need to feed two mice if you would rather feed one appropriately sized one. After a few good feedings then try a rat. That's what I would do.

[Cyndymei]

That's quite a relief thank you! As for mice is it just 10-15% of the body weight? He seems to be at least 30 inches long, maybe a little less. I am unsure of his age. So after a few feedings with an appropriately sized mouse it should be okay to upgrade to a small baby rat perhaps?

[KMG]

Yes, 10-15% is the usual recommendation. Then when your ready to try a rat just stick with the same weight range.

[vangarret2000]

Completely normal behavior for a bp in a new tank.

If you moved into a new house don't you think you would look around a little?

[BPavery]

Every time I hold my Ball Python, he does this (so does my leopard gecko). It's normal


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