Dangerous behavior.

There's a ledge about 1/2" wide and about 1/2" below the screen on my snakes enclosure. He's about three months old, maybe a bit more, around 18" long. He can fit about the first third or so of his body, including his head, onto that ledge. Then he pulls the rest of himself up as best he can, but he won't fit. He's been up there as long as a minute maybe, before he falls 12" down to the bottom again. And again and again. Seems to be his favorite thing to do since I got him three days ago.

At first I thought it was just a bit goofy, he'd learn to stop eventually. But now he's scaring me a bit. He's getting better at getting up, better and lifting the rest up after. I don't think he'll get stuck, I don't think he'll get too close to the lamps, but it seems like he's bound to hurt himself somehow. His falls are getting harder as he gets more of himself higher off the ground.

I think I'll have to glue something up there to fill it up. Any best ideas? Am I worrying too much?

I have a male pastel who is convinced that he can fly... I use to have him in a 2 foot tall cage and he would do the same thing. (He's now in in a 1 foot tall cage like the rest of my BP's)

he is about 7 months old now and hasn't any issues result from it, I wouldn't be too worried.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/38e924db.jpg

Mine likes to climb up on the thermometer and hygrometer (Stick on ones from the previous owner that I don't use) and do belly flops into his water bowl :rolleyes:

He never seems to be to bothered from falling, its not that far.

Just make sure he can't get out and keep feeding him. He'll get too fat to fit. ;)

Double check your husbandry (i.e. hides). He might just be stressed from being in a new place and looking for somewhere nice and tight to hide.

He is probably just stressed out from being in a new environment. I've noticed babies tend to do a lot more climbing like this than adults. As for the falls, I wouldn't be worried, they are pretty tough!

Give him a week and he will probably settle into the hides. Assuming you have some? :snake::snake:

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Originally Posted by mackynz

Mine likes to climb up on the thermometer and hygrometer (Stick on ones from the previous owner that I don't use) and do belly flops into his water bowl :rolleyes:

He never seems to be to bothered from falling, its not that far.

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My daughter started with one of these but her snake pulled it off one day as it got larger. The adhesive stuck to the snake and it pulled off a scale which is a permanant scar. If you are not using them, I would remove them. If your thinking about getting one, don't.

Sounds like he could be stressed. What is your set up like? If all husbandry is good, he may just be in need of some time to settle in.

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Is the snake feeding well? if so it is un likely to be stress. Royal pythons are a very curious it is normal to see them poking about here and there. The pace of activity is a good tell lazy calm exploration is good frantic fast is not. Check the temps but it sounds completely normal to me.

Hi,

Fill the ledge with rolled up newspaper so he can't get up there?


dr del

Another reason tubs are a more suitable housing choice.