Ball Python likes cold?

I rescued a male normal ball python about 5 months ago. He was kept I a 10 gallon tank with a screen lid and no heat, next to a bedroom window. He was kept very cold and fed very little. Only one large mouse once a month. Since I have gotten him he eats like a freight train and has his hides and heating fixed so he can be a normal snake. The weird thing is that he never goes to the hot side. He stays on the cool side. I tried lowering the temps and he still stays on the cool side. Even when I lower it to 78 degrees. Is it possible that being in the other cage made him like the cold?

No, it is bound to be strange for him, but are you also sure you're measuring the temps. accurately? What was the temp. on the "hot side"? It's more
likely that it's just too warm*, so he's opting for the other side. I'm so glad he's at least got you on his side now...poor snake. (*are you using a
thermostat to regulate it?)

Definitely rule out any possibility that your temp measurements are off first and foremost.

Also, it’s very possible he uses the hot side in the middle of the night when you are asleep.

That said, I’ve actually heard of this happening before. I think just like any other animals they can acclimate to less than desirable conditions over time and their bodies will adapt to survive. You may just need to ease him into higher temps. Obviously the cold temps aren’t ideal, but if he’s been living for years in a cool environment it might take him a while to adjust. I would do a gradual change, like maybe have just your ambient room temps on the cool side and then a hot spot of 82* available for a week or so and see if he eventually uses it. Then up it to 84 the next week, then 86, then 88. Or something like that. Again, that’s only if you’ve ruled out any other husbandry issues (or him using the hot side at night).





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78F is fine for a cool side.

What's the hot side temp? What's ambient?

Are you measuring temps with a temp gun and regulating temps with a thermostat(s)?

It's possible that the hot side is too hot and that's why he's on the cool side mostly. He may also use the hot side only for digestion or when you are not watching.