Is there a problem?

I just got a small ball python on December 5th. I have had two successful feedings so far and everything seems to be normal. I have the temps set right, a cooler end and a basking area at the other. The snake has tended to be quite active, more at night, but for the past two days he has burrowed under his large water dish and has not come out. I don't know if this is normal or what is going on. I don't know if snakes can sense weather, but there is a storm front moving into my area. Any advise is greatly appreciated. Thanks

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Originally Posted by butlerd4

I just got a small ball python on December 5th. I have had two successful feedings so far and everything seems to be normal. I have the temps set right, a cooler end and a basking area at the other. The snake has tended to be quite active, more at night, but for the past two days he has burrowed under his large water dish and has not come out. I don't know if this is normal or what is going on. I don't know if snakes can sense weather, but there is a storm front moving into my area. Any advise is greatly appreciated. Thanks

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You must be in my area then, cause I'm getting that storm too!

Do you have two tight hides available? No log hides! It seems like the animal is stressed and looking for a way out to hide.

Ball pythons spend most of their time hiding. And that is the way they like it. Make sure to put one hide on the warm end(90-95F) and one on the cool end(80-85F). Identical, small hides are best.

Also, if you aren't currently heating with a UTH (under tank heater) I highly recommend getting one with a controlling thermostat. Basking lamps are not very good for temperature settings, as they need belly heat, and should only be used if lighting is wanted or if ambient temperature (80F) needs to be higher.

I have the temps in the range you mentioned above, and I have two areas for the snake to hide in, he generally goes for the tighter squeeze one and usually stays there most of the time. The water dish is in the cooler side, so I don't really understand why he's trying to get under there..... any more suggestions?

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Originally Posted by butlerd4

he generally goes for the tighter squeeze one and usually stays there most of the time.

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You should use two identical hides so that your snake doesn't have to choose between security and thermoregulating. BPs love squeezing into tight spaces so he might just be looking for a good cool down spot if the other hide provided isn't small enough.

As blackcrystal said, BPs will spend the majority of their time hiding so the behavior sounds perfectly normal to me.