Brucey, the arboreal BP!

I have read and been told that BP's are terrestrial and don't normally climb. My juvenile has always climbed what ever was climbable in his enclosure, which I assumed was just him exploring the new environment. He has just started sleeping on a perch, so to speak. I'm sure it's nothing to be concerned about but I am curious as to why he might be doing it. He normally uses his hides, this is a new behavior. I was just wondering if anyone else has seen this before or had any insight on it.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2FYSkiZQb.jpg

Like I said, he has two hides (warm and cool side) that he has used regularly in the past.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2FtfuJUUr.jpg

Lol that is weird. None of mine has every done this but the ones at petco do all the time. Might be trying to get closer to the light

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Originally Posted by Griz/Rosco B.Pythons

Lol that is weird. None of mine has every done this but the ones at petco do all the time. Might be trying to get closer to the light

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That might explain it, he is from petco... The thought crossed my mind that he might be trying to get warmer or cooler, but (a) the heat lamp is on the other side of the tank and (b) the cool side stays between 77 and 80 degrees... I don't think he is too hot. Maybe it's just a petco thing. lol

All petcos buy thier reptiles from the same supplier right? Maybe it's something the breeder is during or maybe genetics. Lol I'm about to test this out tho. Imma Buy a few normals from petco and see how they act.

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Lol! Let me know if they are climbers too!

My bp has always been a climber, too. Started out in a 3.5' tall enclosure (if I remember correctly), and he pretty much lived in the tree I had in there. He'd even eat in it. Now I've got him in a 4'x2'x2' and he loves to bask on his basking shelf during the night and crawl back into his hides during the day. He wasn't bought from Petco, but he was bought from a pet store. Pet Supermarket, not sure if it's still around or not, haven't seen any in a couple years. He's 10 years old now.

My BP likes to climb as well given the chance. She would spend her nights crawling around her shelf in her T10 until I poached it for my retic. Now shes in in my Proline until I get her another T10. She still tries to climb in the back too. I think she misses her shelf lol.

If BPs aren't supposed to be climbers then someone needs to let Elvira in on that common knowledge. :oops:

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...861e074e22.png

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...90df5f6e04.png

Ever since I moved one of mine into a tank with actual opportunities for climbing, he climbs every night to "hunt". I watch him go over everything from the branches to the suction cups for the fake leaves. He's also noticeably built muscle from the activity, which is obvious when I hold him nowadays, compared to the blob he was before LOL. He grips things tightly with his tail when moving now. While before, his back end seems a bit useless and he lets me support his weight.

It's also been disproven a long time ago that ball pythons "can't climb". Wild bp's have been recorded found in trees in the wild many times, though mainly for hunting purposes, and mainly males and juvies. Even though their main habitat is the dry lowlands, they're also commonly found in forested mountainsides. They live in a pretty wide range of habitats, at least wider than people believe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Griz/Rosco B.Pythons

All petcos buy thier reptiles from the same supplier right? Maybe it's something the breeder is during or maybe genetics. Lol I'm about to test this out tho. Imma Buy a few normals from petco and see how they act.

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I don't think Petco gets all their BPs from the same place more so as if they have several stores near a breeder. Also if they're purchasing from a breeder, I highly doubt the breeder is going to be using lights.