Odd behaviour in females question

Just noticed something going on the past few days with three of our adult female ball pythons. All three are good sized females, all three have cycled at least twice with a male and I've observed locks with all pairings. All these females on are layers of newspaper instead of a loose substrate. I have not seen any large ovulation swellings yet.

The odd behaviour is all of a sudden all 3 of these females are trashing their enclosures. Where they used to just laze around or use a hide, they are now burrowing under and between layers of newpaper, hauling it around, scrunching it up, even ripping it here and there. Basically trashing their enclosures daily which is not normal for any of them.

I swear if you looked in those three tubs you'd think I don't tidy tubs...what a mess! The females all seem quite content with their mess, coiled up under the newspaper tents and burrows they've created so I haven't disturbed them.

Has anyone else experienced this with adult breeding female ball pythons that are on newspaper?

I haven't experienced it, as I don't use newspaper, but perhaps they would like some moss to nest in?

Sounds like nesting to me..I have heard of females wanting to "build a nest" during breeding season. could be that or could just be that you took their boy toys and they were throwing a hissy..pardon the pun

That's not a daily occurrence there? Seems most of mine, babies or otherwise, will wad their paper in a corner, tump their bowl and then wad it in a corner, rip it to shreds, fold it neatly(somehow..) and I find it in a back corner, or they use it as bedsheets. Weirdos.

I have some adult females who either leave their paper alone or completely trash the tub. It can go both ways :)

I'm with Becky, I clean cages and by the time I get off work everyone has trashed them. My husband has asked on more then one occasion if I ever clean cages anymore!

My girls do that when they are demanding one of 2 things, either a male nearby or else, their nest boxes. I give them a box with damp moss and they go to work scrunching it into just the right formation. Usually a good omen of things to come, although I have one girl who I swear just prefers to sleep in the moss rather than the hard floor of the cage (ha ha). Good luck with them.

Cheers,
Kat

Wierd, i have a female doing the same thing. Normally pretty shy, she has been locked up with a pastel and a cinny, she shed about 3 days ago and now shes a "tear da tub up thug"(3 6 mafia voice).

Yeah mine did the same thing the other day. LOL the day before that she even bit me :(.

My ladies do this also. I use a few layers of newspaper, and place a heavy water bowl (dog crock) in the center, weighing it down more or less. I don't use hides for my breeder girls, so they usually snuggle along the side of the tub halfway covered in newspaper.