Reg. Behavior?

[Martega]

Hey people,

I'm sorta new at owning Ball Pythons.
I 1st started in May of '08,
so its been several months.

Quick question though. . .

I NEVER seen my BP form in a ball & hide its head,
since I've had him.

What else, is that while he's in the tank,
he'll stretch his body and scale up the sides of the tank,
like he wants to leave the tank.
He either falls over, backside,
or slides back down slowly & sometimes does it again.

Is both these normal?

[bonbuck]

sounds normal to me, They curl up in a ball when they feel threatened or insecure, so you must be doing a good job of keeping him happy, as for the climbing the sides of the tank, My guy does that exact same thing.. ALL NIGHT LONG.. he has 1 mission.. escape from that tank.. if its possible He'll get out.. (kinda like Houdini)

sometimes ill hear *THUD* as he falls over.. dummy.. and then he goes right back and does it again.

Completly Normal

[jason221]

Does he ever go into his hide(s)? If not, then no, it's not normal, since most ball pythons are in their hides for the majority of the day lazy things.

[cktansys]

sounds normal to me, They curl up in a ball when they feel threatened or insecure, so you must be doing a good job of keeping him happy, as for the climbing the sides of the tank, My guy does that exact same thing.. ALL NIGHT LONG.. he has 1 mission.. escape from that tank.. if its possible He'll get out.. (kinda like Houdini)

sometimes ill hear *THUD* as he falls over.. dummy.. and then he goes right back and does it again.

Completly Normal

Thanks for the confirmed ~ My BP did the same exactly as what you said. I am quite worry about this indeed.

[rabernet]

Does he ever go into his hide(s)? If not, then no, it's not normal, since most ball pythons are in their hides for the majority of the day lazy things.

I agree - if he doesn't settle into a hide and is constantly doing this behavior, then it's a classic sign of being stressed and looking for means of escape.

It's not unusual for some to never ball up, but I personally start trying to figure out what's "off" if any of mine start the constant roaming behavior (other than the normal night time, casual cruising the enclosure).

If your temps aren't correct, if the enclosure is in a high traffic area, if the hides aren't snug and tight (able to touch them on all sides and they can't see out) - all of these can be reasons that your snake is displaying stress behaviors.

You can try filling the enclosure with loosely crumpled newspaper - to the very top) to help settle him and then when he stops the constant escape behavior, you can wean him off the newspaper, removing one piece every few days.

[aaschmitt]

I agree - if he doesn't settle into a hide and is constantly doing this behavior, then it's a classic sign of being stressed and looking for means of escape.

It's not unusual for some to never ball up, but I personally start trying to figure out what's "off" if any of mine start the constant roaming behavior (other than the normal night time, casual cruising the enclosure).

If your temps aren't correct, if the enclosure is in a high traffic area, if the hides aren't snug and tight (able to touch them on all sides and they can't see out) - all of these can be reasons that your snake is displaying stress behaviors.

You can try filling the enclosure with loosely crumpled newspaper - to the very top) to help settle him and then when he stops the constant escape behavior, you can wean him off the newspaper, removing one piece every few days.

thats cool, i haven't heard that newspaper fill angle. you must have well read snakes >.<

[wax32]

Who reads newspapers anymore?

I guess I'm lucky, mine don't "pace" at all except at night.

[Texas Dan]

I don't know if this means anything, but my balls hardly ever try to escape. They come out everynight, but never try to leave. I think that'd be a good thing.. right?

If he's scared, try enclosing his tank.

http://www.schoolofdan.com/images/snake/tankupdate/

There's some of mine.. since i've added a bigger hide in vincent's and more shrubery.



and a herring.

[Texas Dan]

here it is

http://www.schoolofdan.com/images/sn...008/img003.jpg