Active baby?

I think i'm super worrisome when it comes to my ball python, I want to make sure i'm doing everything in my power to make sure he's comfortable. And I'm glad you guys are here to help ^_^

Ok so I heard that "a hiding ball python is a happy ball python" But my baby seems pretty active and curious. He ate a medium sized mouse ( He eats rats and mice, they only had rat pups that were only 6 grams at the time so i bought good sized mice) 4 days ago. I usually feed every 5 days since he's only a baby. I also make sure he's eating 15% of his body weight and he's a whooping 119 grams right now (the mice are about 16 grams each). He's usually active after the third/ fourth day after he has eaten. And he's never refused a meal (the little piggy) He also shed once with me and was all in one piece. Should I feed him more? I heard baby's are more active then adults so am i worrying over nothing?

And before everyone asks, the warm side is 90 right now with the cool side being 81. The humidity is 54%. My heat source is a heat pad thats being regulated by a rheostat. Taboo resides in a 30 gallon tank that is very crowded ( because i know its alittle big for a baby) and i use cypress substrate. I think thats about everything :P

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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Originally Posted by mallowolf

I think i'm super worrisome when it comes to my ball python, I want to make sure i'm doing everything in my power to make sure he's comfortable. And I'm glad you guys are here to help ^_^

Ok so I heard that "a hiding ball python is a happy ball python" But my baby seems pretty active and curious. He ate a medium sized mouse ( He eats rats and mice, they only had rat pups that were only 6 grams at the time so i bought good sized mice) 4 days ago. I usually feed every 5 days since he's only a baby. I also make sure he's eating 15% of his body weight and he's a whooping 119 grams right now (the mice are about 16 grams each). He's usually active after the third/ fourth day after he has eaten. And he's never refused a meal (the little piggy) He also shed once with me and was all in one piece. Should I feed him more? I heard baby's are more active then adults so am i worrying over nothing?

And before everyone asks, the warm side is 90 right now with the cool side being 81. The humidity is 54%. My heat source is a heat pad thats being regulated by a rheostat. Taboo resides in a 30 gallon tank that is very crowded ( because i know its alittle big for a baby) and i use cypress substrate. I think thats about everything :P

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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i have a baby ball python who eats great, sheds great and hides all day and comes out at night, when he eats he doesnt come out for at least 2 days even if the cage is very crowded being that big for a baby could cause him stress i keep mine in a large finarium, which he will be good in for atleast a year maybe you should try him in a smaller enclosure.. this is just my opinion weight for some other people to weigh in tho :)

So he is eating fine? Typically an active BP particularly during daytime hours would suggest stress but if he eats fine and there seems to be nothing wrong except the fact that he is roaming a lot I couldnt tell you. You appear to know what is needed. I would only suggest a smaller enclosure but you already know yours is too big for a baby.... Maybe someone else can help?

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Originally Posted by Andybill

So he is eating fine? Typically an active BP particularly during daytime hours would suggest stress but if he eats fine and there seems to be nothing wrong except the fact that he is roaming a lot I couldnt tell you. You appear to know what is needed. I would only suggest a smaller enclosure but you already know yours is too big for a baby.... Maybe someone else can help?

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Perhaps I'll have to look into a small tank then. He's he's been a great eater (knock on wood) He climbs around a lot, I'm watching right now. He basically looks like he is trying to get out of the cage. I just remembered hearing that you should cover 3 sides of a glass tank with dark paper, do you think that will help?

Its worth a try I suppose. :)

What kind of hides do you have? Maybe snugger hides? Black ones from reptile basics are great. I would say maybe he's hungry after 4 days but if you are feeding 15% he should be ok.

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I Have two hides, one on each side of the tank. I have a half of a log on the warm side and a homemade one that's a tissue box on the cool side. He usually hangouts in the corner of the tissue box the most.

And I'll try putting the paper around the sides, it won't hurt to try!

Those half logs are no good. They don't provide the security bps like. http://img.tapatalk.com/aee982dc-ef88-e6d5.jpg
These, are awesome hides, just ask my snakes. :)
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Replace the log hide with a cave-style hide, like the tissue box one. It sounds like he might be roaming because he doesn't feel secure in the log hide (since he doesn't use it and it's open on both ends). I would NOT stress him by moving him to a smaller tank. I don't see any need for such a drastic change when he is eating regularly.

Well i won't argue with your snakes then hehe! Alrighty I'll have to buy one then! The tissue box one looks pretty similar to that, do you think that one is alright? or should i just toss it?

Yeah that makes some sense. I'll keep him in that tank then. I'll make another tissue box hide until i order a new hide like mentioned! Thanks for all the help guys! Me and taboo both really appreciate it :)

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Originally Posted by mallowolf

Well i won't argue with your snakes then hehe! Alrighty I'll have to buy one then! The tissue box one looks pretty similar to that, do you think that one is alright? or should i just toss it?

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Ideally, you shouldn't have a cardboard hide in your cage (soaks up urine and other nasties). The RBI hides are great, or you can go cheaper with something shaped similarly and made of plastic (like flower pot saucers turned upside down with a small "entrance" cut out).

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Originally Posted by mallowolf

Well i won't argue with your snakes then hehe! Alrighty I'll have to buy one then! The tissue box one looks pretty similar to that, do you think that one is alright? or should i just toss it?

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I would toss it and get two the same. They will sometimes sacrafice thermoregulating to stay in a preferred hide.

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I didn't even think about that! Thats a very good point. Hmmm then what should i do in the meantime? keep the log or temporarily put a tissue box in there? I might have to go buy a new hide today then!

I might leave him and just order hides ASAP. That might stress him out if you keep changing hides too.

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Ok looks like im going to walmart and buying two flower pot saucers like suggested in a sticky. sound good?

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Originally Posted by mallowolf

Ok looks like im going to walmart and buying two flower pot saucers like suggested in a sticky. sound good?

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Definately better than half logs :)

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Originally Posted by mallowolf

Ok looks like im going to walmart and buying two flower pot saucers like suggested in a sticky. sound good?

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Sounds great. :) The plastic ones are pretty easy to cut with a box cutter/razor blade.

OK Thank you very much! I really appreciate you guys taking the time out of your day to help me out! :) I shall be leaving for walmart in 30 mins!

I raided my wifes flower pots for hides. I didnt want to keep ordering hides as youg BP's can grow out of small hides quickly so I used a couple of my wifes flower pots and cut them down to size. Cut a small entrance into them and my snakes love them. They were cheep easy to make and well came in a variety of sizes :)

Well here's an update. I went to walmart, asked them if they had any because i didn't see them, had no idea what i was talking about, and then later found out they had only ceramic lids. Went to two different dollar stores and still had no lids. So i bought two small plastic flower pots and cut an opening in them. I hope it's ok. I guess we will have to wait and see.

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Originally Posted by mallowolf

Well here's an update. I went to walmart, asked them if they had any because i didn't see them, had no idea what i was talking about, and then later found out they had only ceramic lids. Went to two different dollar stores and still had no lids. So i bought two small plastic flower pots and cut an opening in them. I hope it's ok. I guess we will have to wait and see.

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You get an A for effort. The people at Walmart are clueless. If need be, keep Reptile Basics in mind.

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Hehe thanks! The guy asked me what i needed it for, after i told him it was going to be for my ball python he then proceeded to tell me how it was going to eat me in my sleep once he got bigger. Some people :rolleyes:

I'm going to see how these work out and if no luck then i'll have to order those instead. No big deal :P

They really are dense....

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