The Great Escape?

[baazi1]

We have had our Ball Python for a little over 6 months now. For th majority of those 6 months, she has stayed in her hide, only coming out when we get her out or remove the hide for feeding.

We think it was due to the temperature in the cage and now that the weather has turned warmer and more humid, the house itself is much warmer and more humid and, likewise, her habitat is much warmer and more humid.

Now, she's out and and about almost nightly.

However, she seems to actively be searching for a way out. She's fully extended to the top of the cage, swaying and whatnot, I guess searching for her great escape. This is worry-some, not for me, but for the cat and dog and for her safety.

Should I be worried? The cage is secure and just to be sure I put a couple of books over it. Are balls smart enough to move the latch (or luckily knock it out of the way) to escape the tops door? Is it time for a new cage that is more secure than a mesh top?

Thanks for any advice!

[bcr229]

Is it time for a new cage that is more secure than a mesh top?

Yep. One day someone will forget the books, and those spring clips eventually wear out and end up flying across the room when your snake puts pressure on the mesh top from underneath. Get a secure tub or proper reptile enclosure.

[blue roses]

If you are that concerned i would go with another enclosure. I love the exo-terra tanks, but they are tricky to keep humidity up in them in the winter here where i live, because winters are very dry. Animal plastics make a good enclosure, and they have front door openings making feeding, cleaning, and just handling easier. I will be switching my young bp girl to a new tank this summer also. You can get a great deal on line.

[Albert Clark]

Well, the first thing I think of is that the snake is uncomfortable due to some husbandry issue. Next, I think the snake may be hungry. What are all the husbandry temps and humidity including substrate. How has the animal been feeding lately? A roaming snake is a hungry snake until proven otherwise.

[baazi1]

Agreed with the hungry part. We just switched to frozen and she had herself one healthy sized small rat last Thursday. We tried to feed her the same this past Thursday, but she wasn't taking. I'm going to try again today and she if she takes it.

Humidity, as stated, was always low during the winter. Now that temps has warmed up here in the midwest, the entire enclosure is a more stable temp. Her hide is 89 and the outside is around 75-80. Humidity hovers between 55-70.

I'm looking into a new enclosure anyway, as she has grown considerably since we got her back in November.

I'm certain the feeding will put her back into her normal chill state, as long as she takes the bait!!

[Lovelyluna69]

Hi I just bought a beautiful juvenile ball python. She seems to just sit in her hide which has the heat mat under it. I have a 75 watt red light for night time but she will start to come out then go right back in her hide she does this through out the day then more so at night how do I make her feel more comfortable being active she eats well I have seen her drink from her dish yet please help!!

[mrspoindexter]

I have a terrarium that the top locks and so does the door from the side!! And my little pastel figures a way out. And my killerbee follows him. We found the pastel in a boot. But not the killer bee yet! So they are escape artists and will eventually find a way out!. Its unbelievable they could get out of that tank, but they did! Be careful.

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