New ball doesn't like his hide

My new ball doesn't seem to like his new hide... He knows its there and its perfect size (small but with enough room for him to move around a little in). He will go in when I put him back in his cage with his head in the doorway. Then he sticks his head out, and leaves. He then goes and curls up in the corner or against a wall. Also his temps are good so heat isn't a issue. Here are some pics.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/28/3yhu8uma.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/28/a8agutup.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/28/jezuzase.jpg

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Is the heat lamp your only heat source? What are you using to measure temperatures? Why is there only one hide in the cage?

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Is the heat lamp your only heat source? What are you using to measure temperatures? Why is there only one hide in the cage?

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Yes the heat lamp is the only source. It has a 75watt blue UV day bulb in one socket and a 75watt black night bulb on timers. I know I need to suspend it, and am getting a stand. There is a thermostat and humidity gauge towards the bottom under the light to measure basking temps and another air probe thermometer I use to check other temps. Yes, its his only hide but the brush adds cover (he loves playing in it). I've owned multiple balls before and never had this problem. He explores the cage bit only sleeps in the most open spot he can find... Lol.

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My guess is that because the hide is on the cool side he doesn't like it. You really should have one on the warm side as well.

Is it a thermostat or thermometer? If it is a thermostat what is it set to?

There is no reason to suspend the heat lamp, or have more than one bulb in it. An infrared or blacklight bulb can be used 24/7.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

My guess is that because the hide is on the cool side he doesn't like it. You really should have one on the warm side as well.

Is it a thermostat or thermometer? If it is a thermostat what is it set to?

There is no reason to suspend the heat lamp, or have more than one bulb in it. An infrared or blacklight bulb can be used 24/7.

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Haha a thermometer... I'm posting from my phones and it likes to mess with me. :)

I'll add a hide on the warm side and see how he likes it. I don't know if it will work, seeing as he slept all last night in the other front corner(cold side) against the glass in the open. He is so weird. Its worth a shot.

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He isnt weird at all, he is feeling insecure and needs 2 hides that are identical , please do a little more research on husbandry!

I don't want to come on as harsh but it makes me a little sad to see a set up like this, you are coming to the right place for help tho! :gj:


why is the water dish so big?

If it is big enough for his whole body to be under water he may drown.

Please do not place the hygromiter (humidity gauge) under the heat lamp, it will not give you a correct reading, it needs to be on the cool side as the heat lamp will give you a much dryer reading.

If you got him from a breeder he may of been in a small tub rack system with no hides (as they were not required in the setup) and could just not be used to the hides yet, my new baby was just like that but now likes both of his hides since he is in an adult rack.

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Originally Posted by southwind

If it is big enough for his whole body to be under water he may drown.

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he won't drown.

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Originally Posted by southwind

He isnt weird at all, he is feeling insecure and needs 2 hides that are identical , please do a little more research on husbandry!

I don't want to come on as harsh but it makes me a little sad to see a set up like this, you are coming to the right place for help tho! :gj:


why is the water dish so big?

If it is big enough for his whole body to be under water he may drown.

Please do not place the hygromiter (humidity gauge) under the heat lamp, it will not give you a correct reading, it needs to be on the cool side as the heat lamp will give you a much dryer reading.

If you got him from a breeder he may of been in a small tub rack system with no hides (as they were not required in the setup) and could just not be used to the hides yet, my new baby was just like that but now likes both of his hides since he is in an adult rack.

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I'm putting in a second hide of similar shape and size, not identical. I don't think it has to be, if you speak snake feel free to ask yours. I have owned balls, corns, and other harder to care for snakes such as my Brazilian rainbow boa. He had to be kept in super high humidity as he is native to the rainforest. I know about husbandry.

FYI, his water dish is big enough to submerge himself in, as are all my snake water dishes. This is recommended as snakes like water. Well most of them lol.

Yes the hygrometer is under the lamp, a bad spot, but it is built into the thermometer as a dual unit and I use it more for the temperature. Gives a good general idea for humidity also.

Sorry if I also came across a little harsh but I think his set up (minus his 2nd hide and 2nd temp/hum gauge I'll get) is very nice, maybe a tad large, but he will grow into it. I love my animals and try to take top care of them.

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Originally Posted by DeathByDabs

I'm putting in a second hide of similar shape and size, not identical. I don't think it has to be, if you speak snake feel free to ask yours. I have owned balls, corns, and other harder to care for snakes such as my Brazilian rainbow boa. He had to be kept in super high humidity as he is native to the rainforest. I know about husbandry.

FYI, his water dish is big enough to submerge himself in, as are all my snake water dishes. This is recommended as snakes like water. Well most of them lol.

Yes the hygrometer is under the lamp, a bad spot, but it is built into the thermometer as a dual unit and I use it more for the temperature. Gives a good general idea for humidity also.

Sorry if I also came across a little harsh but I think his set up (minus his 2nd hide and 2nd temp/hum gauge I'll get) is very nice, maybe a tad large, but he will grow into it. I love my animals and try to take top care of them.

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Ball pythons are not like those other snakes. They require differwnt things. Bal pythins in nature spend a lot of time in tight places like rodent burrows and are secretive due to the fact that there are large predators that would love to have them for lunch. And since they are secretive creatures they need many hides. 2 at a minimum on the hot and cold side. And ball pythons do not soak unless they have skin irritations like mites. They do need a humidity if 55 to 65 but that is maibly due to the fact they they inhabit burrows and termite mounds.


It would be helpful if you went to the bp husbandry section and filled out the "help us help you" form (it's stickied).
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The size of the water dish isn't really an issue...if anything it is helping with humidity....more surface area=more humidity.
And I have really never heard of a snake drowning in a water dish that was too deep...never really heard of a snake drowning :confusd:

Your ball is fine. If he can relax enough to sleep in the open, he is fine. Not every ball python has to be kept in the exact same conditions. As long as he has a warmer side, and a cooler side, he will thermo regulate himself whenever he pleases. If he felt that insecure, he would burrow himself into the substrate. They are a very hardy species.....and he won't drown.

If he eats I'd say he's fine. If he's refusing to eat he is probably stressed and could use another hide.

Do hides have to be identical? No, but the reason people say that is so that you know he is not choosing one vs the other b/c it feels more secure just because it looks similar enough to you doesn't mean anything. That doesn't mean different hides are bad, it's just good to remove one variable sometimes.

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Originally Posted by VooDooDoc

If he eats I'd say he's fine. If he's refusing to eat he is probably stressed and could use another hide.

Do hides have to be identical? No, but the reason people say that is so that you know he is not choosing one vs the other b/c it feels more secure just because it looks similar enough to you doesn't mean anything. That doesn't mean different hides are bad, it's just good to remove one variable sometimes.

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Thank you, I'm waiting til next weekend to feed him as I just got him on sat and they (irresponsible dealers or breeders) didn't have a feed or shed schedule. Also couldn't tell me if it takes f/t yet. All I got was they feed them on weekends and they didn't know if he had eaten yet. Since there was no belly lump I assume no, but I want to give him time to adjust before feeding. Also make sure he's hungry so better chances he takes my f/t offering.

Also I just got him another similar hide, different colors but I don't think he can see color.... Correct me if I'm wrong. Its now on the hot side. I'll post pics soon. :)


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I don't think color matters too much other then for your pleasure.. I mean I went with two 1$ lime green salsa dishes from Walmart n cut a hole in them

So I added a 2nd hide, new bulb set up, and wallpaper to his cage. Also moved things around for optimal heat management. Here are some pics, his infrared light is on.

Set up:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/30/qehu8y3e.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/30/ydata4yr.jpg

Ambient temperature and humidity:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/30/gumu5upy.jpg

Basking temperature:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/30/arequzan.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/30/uga7y9u4.jpg


Let me know your thoughts!

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BTW if you can't see, about 80-84 ambient and 55% humidity.

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Not bad for a tank/lamp setup... How long did it take you to even out the temperature and humidity like that?

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Originally Posted by catzeye21138

Not bad for a tank/lamp setup... How long did it take you to even out the temperature and humidity like that?

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About two days of figuring out what bulbs to use. For now its a 75watt black night bulb and a 75watt infrared bulb combo that's working perfect. The temps have always been in a good range... I'm just a perfectionist lol.

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