Incessant wall climbing

I just got a pair of juvenile ball pythons, one a few days after the other, but from the same tank so quarantine was moot. anyway, one is acting more or less normally, but the other is nonstop climbing up the walls of its tank. At night, during the day, all the time. it does spend time in its hide, but not as much i think is normal. I have had it, and its been doing this. for about 2 weeks. It will slide up the side of the tank, standing on its tail, and either come down on its own and try some other part of the wall, or completely fall over, sometimes hitting its water bowl or hide. is she stressed? Can anyone explain whats going on?

First make sure it's hide is tight, secluded and really really well hidden. Half logs don't cut it.


If you got good hides, then just chill. Mine still climbs the walls every once in awhile. but it is very normal for some wall climibing the first couple weeks.

I do have a half log and it is tight, but my other ball doesnt seem to be bothered by it. what type of hide would you recommend?

A good cave-like hide. One entrance, small, made of plastic of clay.
You can find them at most pet stores.

A half log will not do, even if the other one is fine with it, get them both new hides.

Two, how big is the tank? Is it heated properly? Are both BP's in there together?
Just a couple questions to start off with.

feed it. it will stop.

its a 40 gallon tank (36x18x16), ive got 2 heat lamps on one side of the cage, that side being around 85-90 degrees. the cooler side, where the hide is, is around 75-80 degrees. And yea, both of them occupy the same tank. theres a large water bowl on the warm side, and a smaller one on the cool side, with a basking log in the middle straddling the two temp zones. does that sound about right?

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Originally Posted by mpkeelee

feed it. it will stop.

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she actually doesnt really become lethargic after she eats. just keep climbing

no. u need to go into the husbandry section for BP's, find the sticky posts on top and read those and then fix everything. if u have question after that then ask anything. but the stickies should solve ur problems

They should both be in separate 20 gal tanks. An UTH would be much better, and a thermostat is a must-have. You can keep one heat lap on the cool side if the UTH doesn't make the ambient temp 80ish but you shouldn't need two. They don't need basking logs (they don't bask in the wild...), but you can keep it.
They need two hides each, one on hot one on cold and no half-logs, only cave-like ones.

Do you know what the humidity is? We have care sheets on the site, please read them.

Good luck.

cool, thanks for the help! Read the stickies, and ill make some changes. Ive got thermostats already, but ill hit up pet world for some new hides and perhaps some UTH's tomorrow.

ok good. if u need anymore help do not hesitate to ask. good luck

You can set them up separately in plastic housing for pretty cheap. 15qt tub, 10-20g UTH for each tub, plastic bowls from the dollar store as hides and paper towels for substrate and tada! Instant snake enclosure for under $40!

Are you sure you have thermostats and not thermometers? There is a difference. A thermometer only reads temps while a thermostat uses a probe to measure the temperature of a heating device and adjust the temperature of it according to what temp you set it too. You need both of these.